OUR historical values and ideals in Philippine history, culture and the arts coincidentally reach its issue today on the universal date for the historic feast of Valentine’s Day. This interesting coincidence was entirely unplanned for this issue as we had already connected several weeks ago Filipino values and ideals with similar global cultural traits.
This writer was thus quite surprised that our initial discussions on Filipino values and ideals have now reached this high point of positive inter-relationships of those other countries of the world from history until contemporary days.
To briefly recall in our column, we reiterate our global interconnection of Filipino values and ideals, especially on our last item of "bayanihan" or "bayan ko" to indicate our people joining hands together and thereby strengthening the entire nation. This primary Filipino value of bayanihan is also related to the global cultural trait of democratic nationalism or patriotism. It is notable that from the positive aspect, the true nationalists or patriots of one country do not have to dislike or put down other nationalities, races or cultures to uphold their own love of country. In these cultural traits, we can correlate these values to those of other countries whose citizenries have also been strongly motivated by the same positive cultural traits or values which have promoted global multiculturalism which have benefited countless human beings throughout the world.
In our issue today therefore, we join many other countries in highlighting the universally joyous value and history of human love.
It is understandable that we ask the question today of the meaning of human love as it has been remembered over the centuries throughout the world. What indeed is the real meaning of human love as celebrated on Valentine’s Day? Without much discussion, people throughout the world have understood love as a very basic and essential human characteristic which has been widely written about in many different ways.
For some examples, we have known of the popular definitions of “love making the world go round” and the favorite meaning of love in romantic relationships based on the universal saying of people “falling in love.”
We agree therefore that there are various meanings of love and while they are similar, these different definitions need to be distinguished depending on the circumstances among concerned human relationships. Thus, for most nations of the world, love is most deeply rooted in the family relationships, as love among parents and children and relatives in the extended family system. We also have the unique love of people for their communities, nations or peoples and the world in general. In these relationships, we distinguish the idea of romantic love which is often the start of relationships between men and women who fall in love, get married and eventually raise their children and families.
On the other hand, love of community or country is based on a non-romantic relationship, but in both cases the essence of human love goes beyond feelings and exclusivity. In general, the most vital aspect of love is the unselfish or unconditional sharing of ourselves for the good of others: our families, communities, nations and eventually for all human beings.
For the more ideological aspects of love, people have turned to the spiritual guidance of the Christian bible which has internalized the universal value of love as the greatest in history. One of the most notable definitions of love is the spiritual value of loving our enemies.
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we should always remember these different values of love which have, despite the contrary existence of negative traits or evil relationships, love has prevailed among human beings throughout history.
We wish everyone a blessed Valentine’s Day! (For inquiries, my email add: roquejrhofilena@yahoo.com.ph)