The caste of being single

While watching the revelry on Maria Orosa Street at the recent gay pride celebrations in Malate, I overheard the following conversation between two male adults at the next table (herein fictitiously named Pedro and Juan):

Pedro: "Do you have a lover?"

Juan: "No, I’m still single."

Pedro: "I can’t believe you’re still single! Why don’t you have a boyfriend?"

Juan: "I guess I still haven’t found the right one."

Pedro: "You poor thing!"

Juan: "I’m alright."

Pedro: "Kawawa ka naman! (Oh you poor thing!) We must find you a boyfriend!"

Juan: "I’m really OK."

Pedro: "No, I must introduce you to someone…blah…blah…blah…"

(I’m assuming that the reader pretty much knows where this typical conversation would lead to.)

A similar discussion also often takes place at big family reunions, where an aunt repeatedly pokes that nagging query to her niece who’s in her early thirties, "Bakit wala ka pang asawa? Sayang naman kung maging matandang dalaga ka!" (No husband yet!? It would be such a pity if you would turn into an old maid! Tsk Tsk.)

I’m certain that most of us have heard or have even personally experienced the same circumstance quite a number of times. It’s a subject matter that is blind to status, situation or gender. I am, therefore, not surprised that many individuals have been led to avoid being associated with the two words "single" and "adult". It is something mentioned in bad taste or even looked down upon as a separate caste in certain cases.

Our society seems to be preoccupied with couples as the only expression of love and passion. Everywhere I turn, every radio station I tune into and every movie or television show that I watch – it seems that couples are being shoved down my throat. Who’s the latest love team? Who’s with who? "Aga and Charlene", "Richard and Lucy", "Jericho and Kristine", "Piolo and Judy Ann", the list endlessly goes on.