Want to make Mother’s Day special for Mom but don’t have the moolah? It doesn’t take much to make Mom feel special. Here are some unique Mother’s Day surprises, all under P500:

1. Treat her to a relaxing home massage. Spaholics Home Spa brings relaxation right to your doorstep, so Mom doesn’t have to leave the house for some pampering.  Their signature kahuna massage and one-hour foot reflexology costs P500 each. Call (+63917) 531 3531 or e-mail spaholics_homespa@yahoo.com.
2. Buy her a box of Krispy Kreme’s special edition Apple Cheesecake doughnuts for P375 a dozen. We tried it last Saturday, and we loved it! It’s not as sweet as the original glazed or chocolate ones varieties, plus the apple filling and the red and green apple slices balance the sweetness. Best enjoyed with a cup of coffee, which Mom can never go without. (It’s a great after-Sunday service treat, Mother’s Day or not.)
3. Cook her a healthy, gourmet vegetarian lunch. Mom has always done the cooking for you, so why not let her sit it out for a change and get busy in the kitchen? Learn to cook a Japanese vegetarian meal through Yoga Wholistics iNQ’s vegetarian culinary class on May 9. Cristina Feibel will teach you quick and easy vegetarian recipes that will surely impress Mom. Call (+632) 382 7849 or (+63918) 907 9659 for reservations.
4. Impress Mom with your culinary expertise with these other easy-cooking alternatives: Chef Rob’s salad of smoked salmon and onion fritters with honey-mustard vinaigrette or  Chef Harry’s penne with white sauce or Claudine Barretto’s adobong Ilonggo.
5. Whip up a special doughnut cake for Mommy. Krispy Kreme’s Junior Chocolate Chef program (cost: P499) will teach kids 7 to 10 years old the basics of cake and doughnut preparation. Call Wanda de Guzman at (+632) 840 3694 or 812 6596 to sign up.
6. Get Mom a P500 gift certificate from Echo Store. Located at Serendra, this sustainable lifestyle store offers a wide range of food, home and houseware, and personal care products, among others, that are environment-friendly, locally made, and manufactured under fair trade practices. You’re not only giving wisely, but you’re also supporting local entrepreneurs, which is what’s needed in this economic climate.



7. Take Mom for a marine adventure at the Manila Ocean Park. If Mom is the marine lover, she’d appreciate seeing the different kinds of marine life at this oceanarium. Admission rates are P400 for adults and P350 for children. Manila Ocean Park is open on Sundays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (You might reconsider the idea of having a seafood lunch afterward.)
8. Buy your arts-loving Mom the Harana album, which features traditional Pinoy serenade in a new arrangement by Von de Guzman. Cost: P350.
9. Get Mom some Russian cookies, now available at the Podium. You can pretend you had to scour the metro for these melt-in-the-mouth cookies. Trust me, your mother will be wanting more.

Mother’s Day happens only once a year, so make Mommy feel like a queen this Sunday.