I am now an 84-year old widower. Valentine’s Day for me is Widow/Widower Awareness Day, a reminder that I can no longer classify myself with lovers who exchange Valentine cards. Still, the occasion never fails to elicit a festive and warm spirit of expressing love. Today being a Saturday, we expect most people to be outside their homes to celebrate the occasion. Businessmen take advantage of the occasion to gain more sales. It is the most popular celebration second to Christmas, and most Filipino couples just have to celebrate the day differently this time, or better than the last time.
When movies started in the Philippines way back in 1912, they were called “silent” movies. This was particularly memorable to me because my family owned Cine Ideal, a movie theater located then at Plaza Goiti and what was later known as Avenida, Rizal, and the romantic movies that were shown there. The title of the first of a selection of European movies shown at Cine Ideal was Amor Sublime. Later, in 1927, the movie theater obtained exclusive rights to show MGM pictures, like the romantic film “Gone With the Wind” and “Queen Christina”. Few people remember one of the stars of the “silent movie” era, Italian actor Rudolph Valentino whose real long name included di Valentina, giving him a romantic image.
Growing up with this family enterprise, I, as a young man, had the inspiration to produce a movie entitled La Campana de Baler, which was directed by Lamberto Avellana. The movie was given a prize in Spain. A group of Spanish enthusiasts took interest in the movie and were inspired to make their own version with the title “Los Ultimos En Filipinas”. The story told of Spaniards who held fort inside a church in Baler, Quezon and who refused to surrender because they did not believe that Spain lost the war. After almost one year, the Spanish soldiers finally surrendered to Filipino revolutionary leaders. They stayed in town and the people did not kill nor persecute them. The Filipinos never harmed them. Despite the war, there was no stigma; the Filipinos and the Spaniards enjoyed a good relationship and even intermarried. To me, the movie is most memorable for its story of forgiveness and understanding, of love during a time of war.
As usual, Valentine’s Day will be celebrated with the giving of gifts, cards and flowers. Beyond expressing our love and devotion to our mate, it should also be a time for remembering to express love and concern, not only for our parents and loved ones, but for others who have no one besides themselves, orphans, old people, widows and widowers, even separated couples around us who may need help or attention. Let this also be a time to forgive and forget, to go out beyond the self and understand the greater need of the people around us.
Let me leave you with the greatest definition of love in the words of Apostle Paul in the Book of the First Corinthians, Chapter 13 of the Holy Bible: “….If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”. Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!