From your Valentine

CEBU, Philippines - One day, the three kittens known as Blackfoot, Whitefang and Stripe were spending the afternoon with Brad, the world’s smartest rat.

Though they had spent long afternoons together in the past, there was something different about that particular afternoon: there were a lot of people passing by, bringing flower bouquets and heart-shaped cards with them.

Noticing this, Stripe, the smartest of the three, asked Brad about it.

“What’s going on Brad?” he asked. “Why is everyone bringing flowers and heart-shaped cards today?”

“Yeah,” said Blackfoot, who had also noticed the flowers and cards. “Is there an ongoing flower and heart-shaped card contest we don’t know about?”

Being the smartest rat in the world, Brad was used to the three kittens’ questions, just as he knew about what was being celebrated that day – Valentine’s Day.

He explained to the three kittens what Valentine’s Day is all about, telling them that it is a special day that is celebrated by the act of giving flowers, cards and other gifts to those we love.

Still, even after Brad’s explanation, the three kittens had one more question to ask.

“Who was this Valentine person and why the day is named after him?” they asked in unison.

Brad then shared what he knew about Valentine, and why we celebrate Valentine’s Day today.

“One legend about Valentine’s Day says that Valentine was actually a priest a long time ago, in a time when an emperor named Claudius II reigned supreme.”

“During this time, Claudius decreed that marriage would be outlawed for young men, since he was convinced that married men didn’t make good soldiers.

“Though Claudius’ army was strong because of his decree on outlawing marriage, it didn’t make the people of his kingdom happy, especially young couples who wanted to be together.

“Valentine, who felt that Claudius’ decree on marriage was too extreme, decided to be of service to young couples, marrying them in secret, bringing them together in matrimony.

“Sadly, Claudius found out about Valentine’s secret marriages, and imposed the strictest of punishments for his actions – the death penalty.

“It is said that the death of Valentine moved the people of the kingdom so much, that they kept the memory of his deeds alive by remembering the day of his death.

“Another legend says that Valentine, while being in prison for secretly marrying couples, healed the daughter of his jailor, a girl who is said to have been blind.

“The story says that he left a note for the girl to say goodbye, writing down the words ‘from your Valentine’. Many are convinced that this was the first ever Valentine’s note ever made.

“Though the true story behind Valentine and Valentine’s day remains to be shrouded in mystery, the celebration of Valentine’s Day has happened for more than 500 years, a day when the virtue of love is given its due attention.

“As a day, it continues to be a special day all over the world, not just for young couples, but for everyone, as a whole.” (FREEMAN)