“February na, LOVE MONTH na!”

People who are in a relationship are so excited every time February would come simply because of Valentine’s Day. We grew up with the custom that couples go on a date on February 14 or that men are required to surprise their partners with chocolates, flowers and lots of love. This custom may only become disastrous when it starts to cause heavy traffic in roads near major malls and parks like the Rizal Park. Nonetheless, the entire customary “Valentine’s Day” we have here show how much loveable and loving Filipinos are.

But wait, here are more:

“Bakit hanggang 28 ang February? Hindi ba pwedeng hanggang 13 na lang?”

“Pwede naman sigurong tanggalin na lang yung February sa kalendaryo. After ng January, March na dapat agad.”

“Yung Valentine’s Day ko, Independence Day kasi mag-isa lang ako.”

And of course, the very famous… “WALANG FOREVER! #CapsLockParaIntense”.

But why? Why do single people and people who have been hurt get bitter about Valentine’s Day? Do they know its real meaning? Let me shed a bit of a light regarding the very special Valentine’s Day and why it is centered on love.

There is no particular event recorded that clearly traces the history of Valentine’s Day. However, there was one Roman festival called Lupercalia, also known as celebration for fertility which Pope Gelasius in 496 A.D. decided to rename as Valentine’s Day in honor of St. Valentine who was martyred on February 14. St. Valentine was a bishop who performed secret wedding ceremonies for soldiers who were in love in opposition to King Claudius II who prohibit marriage for young men. This known, Claudius II tried to have St. Valentine converted to believing the Roman gods which the latter firmly rejected. Because St. Valentine wouldn’t agree with Claudius II about banning marriage, the king had him executed of February 14.

The love St. Valentine showed is clearly not that of Eros (passionate love) but of Agape (Christian love). Undoubtedly, Valentine’s Day is not only for couples and lovers. It is for everyone who shares and spreads love. It is for families, co-workers, classmates, and friends who have trust, understanding, and love for each other.

Now that everything is clear, let me answer your question “Mayroon nga ba talagang forever?”

I say there is forever.

“Saan? Kailan? Sino?”

Forever may not be found in a lover, so in an object or in a comfort zone. Forever is found in one’s own willingness to have forever. Love is a matter of decision. You decide your forever. And it only comes to hearts which are willing to give, wait, and believe that there really is forever.

By Erika M. Ilagan