It is not only in the Philippines that terrorists like to strike on a day set aside for lovers to express their love to each other. In the United States, the most spectacular mob hit in gangland history was timed with the Valentine observation and it has gone down in history as the St. Valentine’s Day massacre. The story is that Al Capone killed seven members of Bugs Moran’s gang by lining them up against a wall and spraying them with machinegun.
We hope that we can have a peaceful and orderly Valentine’s Day this coming Tuesday. The nation has not recovered from the Ultra stampede. The last thing we need is a terrorist attack this coming Valentine’s Day. The good thing is that St. Valentine’s Day commemoration does not draw crowds. The day is celebrated with a mutual exchange of love notes known as Valentine cards. Valentine’s Day is one of the two feasts that the Americans introduced to the Philippines. The other was Halloween, although the folk had their own Halloween celebration called nangangaluluwa.
Some Latin countries have their equivalent of St. Valentine’s Day. Brazil, for example, celebrates Dia dos Namorados or Day of the Enamored on (of all times) June 12, the day we celebrate our Independence Day. The day was chosen because it is the day before St. Anthony’s Day, popularly regarded as the marriage saint, a day when many single women perform popular rituals to find a suitable boyfriend. In Columbia, Dia del Amor y la Amistad, or Love and Friendship Day is celebrated for two days – the third Friday and Saturday of September. It is popularly referred to as the Amigo Secreto or Secret Friend tradition. What they do is raffle gifts without the recipients knowing the identities of the givers.
Valentine’s Day has spread to Japan and Korea where it is celebrated by women giving candies to men. Then on White Day, held on March 14, the men reciprocate by giving them chocolates. In Korea, an addendum to the celebration is held on April 14, known as Black Day. Men who did not received anything for Valentine’s Day gather together to eat Chinese noodles with black sauce. China has a counter part of Valentine’s Day. It is called The Night of Sevens because it is held on the 7th day of the month of the lunar calendar. The Japanese also have such a celebration and it is known as Tanabata and celebrated on July 7 of the solar calendar.
We had no such celebration until the Americans came and introduced Valentine cards to commemorate the occasion. One of our favorite songs is "My Funny Valentine." We love it because it is dedicated to a very ordinary looking girl, yet, the singer says, "Don’t change a hair for me." In short, I like you as you are. All we want for Valentine’s Day is peace and order.