Brunei Carries On With Valentine Love Day Despite Controversy
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bouquets nationwide recorded booming sales yesterday as people of all walks of life rushed to flower shops to order roses for their loved ones for Valentines Day.

The much-needed sales boost was much welcomed as flower shops had also been affected by the economic downturn.

Florists said many people ordered one-rose bouquet for their spouses, unlike in the past when they ordered as many as ten roses per bouquet. A bouquet with one rose stalk cost $10 to $15.

However, for those intending to win the hearts of lovers, they ordered as many as ten to twelve roses per bouquet.

Flower shop operators singled out February 14 for their best day of business as thousands of customers rushed to order bouquets for their spouses and partners.

Even some Muslims were also seen buying flowers for their loved ones not to remember Valentines Day but to say their love and thanks to their marriage partners.

"I know celebrating Valentines Day is frowned upon by Muslim clerics but I feel there is nothing wrong in buying flowers for my wife to demonstrate my love to her," said a Muslim who joined the rush.

Another Muslim man in his early 40s bought flowers for his wife for the first time in their marriage just to thank his partner for the good married life they were blessed with all these years while another Muslim also purchased a bouquet of roses to remember the day he proposed to his girlfriend.

"I proposed to my girlfriend on February 14 many years ago with a bouquet of roses and a pair of gold earrings. She accepted and we got married that year. So every February 14, I buy her roses as remembrance," he said.

Apart from spouses and partners, beautiful waitresses at restaurants were also targets of anonymous flower handouts.

A blushing waitress at a Gadong restaurant yesterday received a large bouquet or roses from a secret admirer sent through a delivery boy, to the cheers and applaud of patrons.

"Being a waitress I came across many people everyday. I have no idea who sent this," she said.

Meanwhile, scattered cafes and restaurants offering special menus and romantic treats in the capital were fully booked yesterday evening.

Despite the surrounding controversy on this auspicious day of lovers, cafes and restaurants were fully committed to providing their best services for their customers celebrating the Valentine's Day yesterday.

In many of the city's cafes and restaurants, outside or in hotels, celebrating Valentine's Day has become a tradition attracting regular customers yearly. Especially this year it has become vital to cushion the current downturn.

As love is the central theme of Valentine's Day, all are providing romantic themes, in their choice of decorations, entertainment, events, food and drinks.

Colourful flowers and songs such "Endless Love" greeted their customers while woman patrons also received roses as gifts and "love" chocolates were included in the menu. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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