MANILA, Philippines — Couple Tom and Nicole stood in line within the aisle of the centuries-old cathedral, the seat of the Manila archbishop, awaiting the marking of cross ashes on their foreheads.
This Valentine's Day marks their third anniversary as a couple, a day they hold dear not only for falling on February 14 but also for being the date when they officially became a couple.
Related Stories
Despite having a reason to celebrate, they opted for a more “not loud” approach on this year's Day of Hearts, dedicating the day to expressing gratitude to the Lord.
“Yearly naman ang Valentine’s Day, this time, para kay Lord muna,” Tom said in an interview with Philstar.com.
(Valentine’s Day is celebrated yearly, this time, it’s for the Lord.)
While some couples are enjoying dates in parks or selecting freshly-priced flowers in Dangwa, Manila, others have opted for a day of fasting and penitence rather than going out for traditional dates.
Some couples began their day by queuing up at their churches to receive ashes on their foreheads, then continued with their usual routines without indulging in anything particularly "special."
This year's Valentine's Day, dubbed by some as 2024's "Barbenheimer," falls on Ash Wednesday, a significant day for Catholics that marks the start of the Lenten season, prompting many to abstain from everyday indulgences.
RELATED: CBCP to faithful: Date with God on Valentine’s Day
Couple Jush and Chiqui barely meet each other due to their tight schedules. They had a chance to do what they call “leisurely activities” on February 14 as they both had the time.
Chiqui, a devotee of the Black Nazarene who consistently observes the Catholic Church's liturgical events, requested her significant other to "dedicate the day to the Lord" rather than engaging in a traditional date.
“It's really just a day created to celebrate love kasi masyado tayong babad sa fast-paced world,” Chiqui told Philstar.com.
(It's really just a day created to celebrate love because we're too immersed in this fast-paced world.)
Jush happily agreed, finding it special to spend time together on Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, feeling the Lord as the "foundation of their relationship."
“Nag-uusap kami like o simba tayo here sa Greenbelt…or sa Quiapo…(pero) nakavisit na rin kami church sa UST,” Jush said in an interview with Philstar.com.
(We were talking about going to church, like maybe here in Greenbelt... or in Quiapo... (but) we've also visited the church in UST.)
“Both times we haven't been able to celebrate it together on the day itself kasi nga medyo alanganin sa timing, pero you know it's kinda amazing na second year ko na siya ina-ask to be my Valentine,” he added.
(Both times we haven't been able to celebrate it together on the day itself because the timing is a bit inconvenient, but you know it's kinda amazing that it's already my second year asking her to be my Valentine.)
Lent is a 40-day period observed by Christians, focusing on key aspects of Jesus Christ's life leading up to his death. It starts during Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.
During Ash Wednesday, the faithful flock to their local church and parishes to be marked by cross in ash on their foreheads.
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, research head of the Catholics Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that the season of Lent is anchored on one's penance and penitence.
The Lenten season, according to the CBCP research chief, has a “tripod” mainly: fasting, prayer and abstinence.
“We celebrate Ash Wednesday by the cross of ash on our foreheads symbolizing penance and penitence,” Echalas said in an interview with Philstar.com.
God has loved us first
On Valentine’s Day, which is a celebration of love, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula reminded the faithful that nothing is permanent but the love of God to his “children”
During his homily at the Manila Cathedral on Wednesday, Advincula said that the ashes marked on foreheads during Ash Wednesday serve as a reminder that all things come to pass.
“Ang abo ay paalala rin ng paglipas ng lahat ng bagay sa mundo,” Advincula said.
(The ashes are a reminder that all things in the world may come to pass.)
“Tayo ang first love ni Lord and first love never dies…siya lang ang totoong forever,” he added.
(We are the Lord’s first love and first love never dies. He is the real forever.)
In a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations in December 2023, it said that the most preferred Valentine's Day gift of Filipinos is money.
However, Advincula also reminded that material things such as money and one’s position in life may disappear in a snap.
“Hindi forever ang pera at yaman, pwede rin manakaw at mawala,” he said.
(Money and riches are not forever, they can be lost or stolen.)
Single blessedness
Beyond couples and priests, individuals identifying as "single" expressed their love on Valentine’s Day and the first day of Lent by engaging in acts of kindness, such as praying for others and helping those in need.
When asked about how individuals could make the day more fulfilling than usual, Fr. Echalas suggested: "By doing at least one good thing for a person in need."
On the other hand, Hannah, a student from Manila, shared that, in addition to bringing joy to her friends by gifting them flowers, she attends mass to pray for both herself and others, adding a deeper sense of fulfillment to the day.
“Bakit magsisimba? It’s a great way to remind ourselves na nandito tayo sa mundo, na kaya nating magmahal dahil Diyos ang unang nagmahal satin,” Hannah said in an interview with Philstar.com.
(Why go to church? It's a great way to remind ourselves that we are here in this world, that we can love because God loved us first.)
“It’s easy as it sounds I think it’s the best way to show our love and to give back,” she added.
Unlike Hannah, Mocci’s Valentine’s Day wish is different: For him to immaculately follow his “Lenten penances.”
Mocci, being a “traditionalist” Catholic, said that he would fast and abstain from meat.
“If you want to be fully for Christ, to focus in prayer, to be able to avoid sin, you have to remove those that bring you away from Christ,” he told Philstar.com
“It's a practical way of saying, ‘I want nothing Lord, but you,’” he added.
In contrast to Hannah, Mocci holds a different Valentine’s Day wish: to immaculately follow his “Lenten penances.”
As a devoted "traditionalist" Catholic, he plans to observe fasting and abstain from meat.
“If you want to be fully for Christ, to focus in prayer, to be able to avoid sin, you have to remove those that bring you away from Christ,” he told Philstar.com
“It's a practical way of saying, ‘I want nothing Lord, but you,’” he added.
According Veritas Truth Survey, 51% of Filipino Catholics fulfilled their spiritual obligation of going to confession at least once a year.
“As such, only about five out of 10 Filipinos after having reached the age of discretion have fulfilled his/her obligation to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year pursuant to Canon Law 989,” the survey read. — with reports from the Star/Evelyn Macairan