solo date

National Times Bureau, July 31, 2025: Cafes with a single book propped open across the table. Cinema halls where people settle in without a companion. Parks dotted with individuals sipping coffee alone, earphones in, phone down. The idea of going on a "solo date" is no longer a quiet rebellion it’s now a conscious lifestyle choice.Once seen as awkward or even lonely, doing things alone is being rebranded as empowering. More people, especially in urban spaces, are carving out time to take themselves out—be it to a new restaurant, a weekend art show, or just a walk with their favorite…