By Vicky De La Peña
February 14 of every year is designated as Valentine’s Day or Heart’s Day all over the world. Singles, couples, families who believe in love, consider this day special, an occasion to celebrate and express a positive, feel-good hormone which induces an emotion recognized as love.
February 14, 2020 was no exception. Being a Friday, a weekender, the streets teemed with vehicles rushing to malls, restaurants and places purposely prepped up with red hearts, flowers and balloons, all symbols of love. Prior reservations were arranged to accommodate celebrators of the occasion. Lovers and non-lovers enjoyed candle-lit dinners, eyes locked on each other, savoring the moment and the ambiance, while listening to the band playing one love song after another, making more memories before the moment explodes to oblivion. End of day.
But wait, the BCBP Mactan Chapter cooked up a post-Valentine celebration. February 15 was a joint breakfast fellowship, but more than the usual shared “breaking of bread,” a surprise awaited everyone.
Kuya Rolly and Stef Olalo, heads of the Celebrations Ministry, came up with an idea of an after-breakfast “love event” for the attending couples. “Co-conspirators” Family Life Ministry Head, Kuya Ram and Ate Mina Loterte and Breakfast Ministry Head, Kuya Eton and Ate Veron Apao spruced up the venue of the breakfast fellowship by prepping the venue in red and putting up a “love-seat” cum “photo booth.” Colorful swatches of cloths draped the seat’s backrest. Red was still the favorite color of the attendees and everyone was in the “mood for love.”
The couples were then called to the front for the renewal of vows, officiated by no less than Fr. Solis. As in wedding ceremonies, they faced each other, held hands, looked into each other’s eyes and on cue, recited the vows they made on their wedding day. It was a kilig moment even for the single members of the community. Love truly pervaded the air. The “you may kiss the bride” command of Fr. Solis highlighted the ceremony.
Of course, the event wouldn’t be complete without the participation of Kuya Joe and Ate Lynne who acted as light sponsors, and Chapter matriarch Ate Susan Recamara, who inspired the “just-remarried” couples with her message on love and marriage.
Finally, the couples lovingly held each other and danced to the song, “How did you know,” rendered by Ate Vicky de la Peña. Love needs to be experienced or shown not only on Valentine’s Day, but every day of the year. As a line in Frank Sinatra’s song goes, “each day is Valentine’s Day.”