I think I may have had too much. It is Valentine’s Day, and we are here at the Supreme office, staring at our layouts as the whole world locks lips and holds hands to celebrate Kris Aquino and Heart Evangelista’s birthday.
As we can surmise from the above-mentioned women, it is okay to show your love (to the world!), it is okay to commit! Why are we so afraid to flaunt our feelings? Why are we so hesitant to uncover our admiration for the people who heighten our senses and tug our hearts? What’s up with our inability to expose our emotions?
Okay pardon the overflow of cornball romanticism. I just saw a sea of people swap spit — with CloseUp confidence at that. There it was, a hundred plus plus couples from all walks of love, kissing the night away. And there I was, in the eye of the snuggly storm, gripping a microphone, having to do the full countdown by my lonesome.
Of course, this love parade is what is otherwise known as CloseUp Lovapalooza, the historic and record-breaking event that brings together lips and liaisons. As guests entered the NBC Tent, they were treated to a frost fest — “the better to feel you, my dear,” as the Naughty Wolf would say. I entered the backstage area to feel the chill, as a haze of blue and silver filled the whole party hall, turning partyphiles into frozen delights. This was, after all, the launch of the oral love gel’s new squeeze — CloseUp Crystal Frost. Aha! So that explains why it was winter in Manila this past season.
Instead of throwing the event at good ol’ Roxas Boulevard with a million other couples (been there, done that), the good ol’ folks at Unilever decided to focus on what really makes this occasion throb — and it is really the couples who make this season bright. So again, back to me. There I was, with Sam Oh, in front of a hundred plus plus people in love, attempting to demonstrate the “icy cool” kiss, until I realized that “Hey, this looks like a scene from Jewel in the Palace!” And then her boyfriend AJ Galang went up onstage to claim his throne.
Because there he was, shining, shimmering, splendid with a MyDiamond necklace, ready to give her a standing Oh…vation. That’s what I did after watching all of them (led by Taguig’s Mayor Fred Tinga and First Lady Kaye) smooch right in front of me, for 10 seconds (but I, as the host, intentionally made it longer) straight.
My lips had a mind of their own, I kept talking as I beheld the draw of devotion. This was history for me, being peeping Tim, a Valentine’s voyeur onstage. Time stood still, and the only movement came from the lips of the couples, as they nuzzled each other. From frost arose steam.
The heat of those extended 10 seconds still lingers, and even if I may have had too much — hey, too much of a good thing, at least for Lovapalooza, is a good thing.