SINCE it was Valentine's Day yesterday (February 14), I thought of writing something that touches on the word “LOVE” in our society. Indeed, it is the focus of the celebration characterized by the giving of gifts and showing actions related to that of expressing a feeling of care to somebody close to us. Yet, it could also be possible that we have trivialized its context down to the point of just enjoyment and merrymaking.
In normal times, the heart’s day means a festive mood where lovers would go out and spend time together, whether in restaurants, parks and places they chose to spend the day. There are also reservations on hotels and motels, and display of items in malls that make up the feeling of the celebration.
There is nothing wrong with celebrations like this. It highlights our identity as a society and people, who look up to the role of culture as important in the survival of society. This affirms our culture that has been transmitted to many generations. With the appreciation of its function, it is truly functional for our society.
The downside, however, is it simply creates a mindset that doesn't make sense of its significance in a deeper social context. The implications of togetherness and solidarity were not thought about as important in the formation of roles and values system. It could be because of forgetfulness or destined result of the unconscious nature of many.
I am reading the expansion of the role of love in the larger social context. From the levels of institutions up to the individual interactions, love supposedly plays a role. In all this, why we are in this state of our lives, it is summed up to how love finds its ways in our interactions and social arrangements. It also defines how love is read and expressed beyond the confines of a one day festivity.
Like the family as a social institution, there is no doubt love is at the center among its members. But expressing love for one another is also about playing their individual role to ensure a family as a functional component of society. Hence, love is expressed in concrete terms. Should this requirement be not realized, the manifestation of love could be questionable.
The pandemic is also a gauge on how Filipinos express love and concern for others who are also in distress during these difficult times. The need to look at the self and family is inviting because survival is probably the rule until a solution can be pursued by the medical professionals. Should love become an important part of our system, we should not be looking at how we could survive as individuals, but as a society. Our behaviors are to be taken with concern on the plight of others at the same time.
In strengthening our family, I agree with the statement of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran that Valentine’s Day is family time. This is not only for lovers or individuals with opposite sex to go out and talk about themselves. While we are still in a pandemic, better to stay home to make sure every family member is safe from Covid-19. No doubt love is expressed and felt.