The evolution of wooing

CEBU, Philippines - “Uso pa ba ang harana, marahil ikaw ay nagtataka,” is just one of my favorite songs which hit the airwaves in the early 90’s. The song speaks about a man’s way of seeking attention of a woman in a discreet and friendly manner using songs. This traditional way of courtship is denominated as “harana”. Its lyrics portray a romantic theme, usually portraying love, passion, or sadness.

Traditional courtships, according to Wikipedia, in the Philippines involve “phases” or “stages” inherent to Philippine society and culture. Evident in this kind of courtship in the Philippines is not just the practice of singing romantic love songs, but also the act of reciting poems, writing letters, and gift-giving. This respect extends to the Filipino woman’s family members. The proper rules and standards in traditional Filipino courtship are then set by Philippine society.

However, in the advent of the new media, Filipino wooing has evolved into conversations done by the man and woman through the use cellular phones, that is, sending messages, and the use of the internet. Modern technology has also become a part of the further evolution of the present-day courting practices in the Philippines. Romantic conversations are now done by the Filipino bachelor to the prospective bachelorette by throwing pick-up lines.

Pick-up lines are conversation openers with the intent of engaging an unfamiliar person for romance, or dating. Overt and sometimes humorous displays of romantic interest, pick-up lines advertise the wit of their speakers most likely the wooing bachelors to their target listeners.

1.You must be in a wrong place - the Miss Universe contest is over there.

2.Was that an earthquake or did you just rock my world?

3. I may not be a genie but I can make your dreams come true.

4.Are you a magnet? Because I am attracted to you.

5.You’re like a student and I am like a math book; you solve all my problems.

6.Why does it feel like the most beautiful girl in the world is in this room?

7.Life without you would be like a broken pencil...pointless.

8.Can I take a picture of you, so I can show Santa just what I want for Christmas?

9.If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.

10.If beauty were sunlight, you’d shine from a million light-years away

11.Can I have directions? [“To where?”] To your heart.

12.Are you an alien? Because you just abducted my heart.

13.If beauty were time, you’d be an eternity.

14.I was blinded by your beauty, so I’m going to need your name and number for insurance reasons.

15.I know I don’t have a chance, but I just wanted to hear an angel talk.

16.Are your legs tired, because you’ve been running through my mind all day long?

17.I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away.

18.Girl, you better have a license, because you are driving me crazy!

19.Are you an interior decorator? When I saw you, the room became beautiful.

20.Hello, I’m a thief, and I’m here to steal your heart.

There may have been modifications in the courtship process, but the courted women consider these lines as cheesy, romantic and humorous, which would pave the way to the chances of giving their “yes” to the wooing bachelor. But parents, however, still prefer that their daughters be wooed formally inside the confines of their respective homes, which is a respectful way to honor the father and mother of the courted Filipino single woman.

Singing and whispering songs of love, writing letters, reciting poems and gift-giving for me, are still some of the best ways to winning a woman’s heart. (FREEMAN)