This is going to be a good one. February just swung by the corner. A lot of people love this month, while more seem to dread it, and a considerable more just treat it as another month of the year. February may be the month where the end of winter and the start of summer converge and gets the weather all screwy, where students tend to laze around waiting for March to show its joyous, immaculate face saving their butts from one school year almost past. But one thing about February is a particular date - right in the middle of the month.
February 14. Valentine's Day.
Contrary to popular belief, February 14 is not only honoring one saint or martyr in particular, but rather a number of them, as numerous Christian martyrs were named Valentine. It is reported to have been the names of three Christian priests/bishops/holy men martyred around AD269-AD197. Thereafter, with the coming of the 14th century, myths regarding the supposed lone saint whom Valentine's Day is named after began to circulate. Some bordering on the mundane to the utterly romantic. My personal favorite is a story where St. Valentine opposed a Roman Governor's edict that all men remain single because of the belief that married men suck at soldiering. Valentine was put in jail, befriended the jailer's daughter and left a note - supposedly the world's first ever Valentine Card - that said sweet nothings of love unfulfilled with the end being signed, 'Your Valentine'.
Sweet.
Nevertheless, Valentine's day is widely celebrated in all cultures, countries, and demographics. Some say it is institutionalized, while others claim it is being commercialized. Regardless of which, Valentine's Day is here to stay, and is fast approaching. While others dread it, I welcome it (on one hand, it's my girlfriend's birthday, and on the other hand, it is a great opportunity to Troll the unsuspecting lovestruck), mainly because I enjoy the smell of hormones lingering in the air. Smells kinda citrus-like.
And it is so interesting to watch people run around about it, and I'm betting my inheritance that for once in your life you made a great deal of that day. You bought flowers, chocolates, scribbled a line borrowed from a song or wrote a poem on a heart-shaped card, didn't make sense when you announced your undying love, or understood half of the lyrics to a love song you serenaded with. Or rather, you received tons of flowers, almost got diabetic, sneezed on dusty stuffed animals, heard an incredibly large amount of love songs, probably got busted, dumped, or finally found that long awaited love on that day. The other side of the coin would see guys and girls staring either: longingly, or something short of indifference to those who practice the whole hearts-doves-cupids day like it's something like tradition. In a couple of days, you'll be seeing posts, memes, and a whole lot of 'Patayin si Kupido' movements for one reason or another. And more from the members of SMP. I heard they're now petitioning to make Single Awareness Day the more politically-correct term for Valentine's Day.
In the more seedier side of the cities, certain motels will start putting up Valentine's Day discounts on room rates. Sleazy, yet one way of rekindling the fire, so to speak. So far, this year, I haven't seen the usual cadre of romantic films. Seems that romantic comedies are the order for the day.
Speaking of rekindling the fire, why not celebrate it differently? I remembered that event where the Philippines attempted to beat the world record for the most number of kissing couples in one day and place. Certainly a great alternative to the usual dinner-movie-date. Just earlier I was tuned in to the Magic and Guru Shivaker was giving tips on shaking up the relationship so that it will get spiced up and not lose the flavor. You gotta love the Guru (giving love advice like a boss).
Why do we invest so much on this ONE day? On Love? Now that would be something to talk about, granting that love can walk right up you in all forms and sizes on any day of the year. Hell, make it everyday Valentine's Day! Make love, not war everyday. There's a story about an eighty-or-so-year-old man who comes home from work with flowers every end of the week to give to her wife. Love is not about the chocolate, nor is it about how much that diamond ring costs. Love is not sweet talks and flowers, but love is forgiving and compromising (girlfriend comments: "really?"). Whatever I say here in this entry does not matter, anyway, since we all have our own conceptions on Valentine's Day and on the topic of Love.
I'm ranting again. So, there you have it. Dangwa will be flooded on that day, and I suggest getting a head start or getting something different for your significant other. Just don't make the mistake I saw one Valentine's Day. The guy arranged the flowers it looked like a Christmas wreath. Even got poinsettias for good measure. Despite the fail, it turns out his girlfriend was a big fan of Christmas so it turned out well. Everybody's fine and happy, and maybe the guy got to use his discount card... From Pizza Hut.
To close this post, I'll be leaving you with a few words.
"Never be afraid to love. To love is to live. And those who are afraid to love, are already half-dead."
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