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Though the country’s first COVID-19 case was reported over a year ago in January, the last time Valentine’s Day was observed is drastically different from this year’s celebration. In 2020, couples memorialized their love through dinner dates, out-of-town trips and watching movies. But with COVID-19 still at large, movement is restricted with establishments forced to limit their number of guests to maintain physical distancing.

To find out how lovers will celebrate this day of hearts, Panahon TV interviewed three couples.

 

Charlotte Ramirez and Jan Gianan

 

Young Love

Jan, 29, and Charlotte, 30, met in their previous job as call center agents. Both Singles for Christ members, the couple plans to celebrate their 4th year of togetherness with their usual Valentine’s date. “We’ll do the same thing that we did pre-pandemic—hearing mass, eating together, and having a conversation,” says Jan. “Every day is Valentine’s day when you show your love for each other.”

For them, love means supporting each other in their professional paths. While Jan aims to be a full-time teacher, Charlotte is busy as a working student. “There have been many challenges in our relationship but with the grace of God, we’re thankful to be still together,” shares Jan. To secure their future, they began a coffee drip business, which they wish to expand. As soon as Charlotte graduates, the couple plans to get married and start a family.

Because their relationship is anchored in God, Jan believes that love should be constant, able to sustain couples through tough times. “For me, love is unshaken whether there is a pandemic or not,” he says.

Teofilo Singcol and Marcela Singcol

 

Long and Lasting Love

64-year-old Teofilo shares how he met his wife 60-year-old Marcelo during his grandmother’s wake in 1974. “My sister introduced me to her, and we fell into conversation because the color and fabric of her dress perfectly matched my polo shirt’s. That same year, we became a couple.” Exactly a decade later, Teofilo and Marcela got married. “We are aiming for a forever relationship. With the help of God, we try our best to be together until the end.”

This year, the Bohol-based couple plans to spend Valentine’s Day in a beach resort. By strictly following health protocols, Teofilo hopes to make their 35th year of marriage memorable for both of them. 

Though it is easy to give into fear in the face of uncertainties during the pandemic, Teofilo believes in replacing fear with love. “In any relationship, both sides should be understanding. They must learn to give and take, and to simply talk things out during both good and bad situations.”

 

Jovemar  “Bojie”  Palorma (left) and Arceli Palorma 

 

Long-Distance Love

Physical distancing may be a requirement these days, but for Arceli, 33, and Bojie, 35, their long-distance relationship has been keeping them apart even before the pandemic. “My husband is working in Saudi Arabia, and he can’t come home because of the pandemic,” reveals Arceli.

She describes their relationship as simple and practical. “When my husband’s here, we’d go to the movies even when there’s no occasion.” After a 13-year-relationship blessed with four children, Arceli shares their goals as a couple. “We plan to grow old together, see our kids graduate, and stay in love.”

Beyond roses and chocolates, Arceli believes that the greatest gift she and her husband can give to each other is trust. “A long-distance relationship is both a physical and emotional challenge. Trust and having an open mind are important in overcoming difficulties in our relationship.”

Wondering how to celebrate this special occasion? Here are tips to help you spread the love and not the virus this Valentine’s Day:

 

Sing at home. Serenade each other to your heart’s content in the safety of your own home. No videoke machine? No problem! Search the internet for instrumental versions of your theme songs. Better yet, bust out that old guitar and start serenading the old-fashioned way.

 

Couple spa. Take turns giving each other a soothing massage to melt away pandemic stress. Light some scented candles and put on some music to put you in a romantic mood.

 

Share a virtual meal. Couples with long-distance relationships can share a meal virtually. Decide on your common menu, and watch each other eat at the same time to enjoy a semblance of a real date. Meaningful conversation makes the experience even more memorable.

 

Write a poem. If your partner’s preferred love language is through words, why not express your love through a poem? Your loved one will appreciate your time and effort in completing such a challenging yet heartfelt task. Reading your poem aloud can be your way of renewing your couple vows.

 

Disconnect. Shut out the chaos of the online world so you can focus on your partner. By getting rid of distractions, you can take time to talk about things that matter. Reminding each other of why you fell in love can be a powerful force in sustaining your relationship. 

 

Now that we are in the middle of a pandemic, give your loved one the gift of health by being healthy yourself. Be responsible for your actions and follow safety measures. Stay healthy; stay in love!

According to the UN Environment Program, every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tons of solid waste are collected worldwide. The amount of waste doubles during holidays, long weekends and special occasions, such as Valentine’s day.  So why not try these gift ideas for a zero-waste valentine?

Potted plants. Instead of giving flowers, consider giving plants. A potted plant lasts longer than a bouquet of flowers. Living plants help the environment since they release oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, serves as habitat and food for wildlife, and help regulate the water cycle.

DIY gifts.  Making gifts may consume a lot of time, but this allows you to get creative, resulting in more personalized items. Consider the hobbies and preferences of the receiver. Whether it’s a crocheted decor, a painted portrait, a hand-written letter, or home-baked cookies, your giftees will appreciate the effort you’ve poured into your gifts.

The gift of experience. To avoid unnecessary waste that usually starts with unnecessary shopping, hop on to the “gift of experience” trend. Go and take your date to a movie, play or an amusement park. Or better yet, shower your special someone with acts of services, such as cooking meals, cleaning the house, or giving a massage. After all, experiences tend to be remembered more than material things. 

Go for locally-grown items. Support local crafters and workers by purchasing items sourced and made locally. This helps in cutting down fuel consumption and air pollution created by items delivered through overseas planes and long-truck trips. Also, skip the plastic wrap! 

Remember, it is not necessary to spend huge amounts of money to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Show the environment some love, too! 

Tropical Depression Basyang has maintained its strength as it traverses Sulu Sea. At 11:00 AM, the storm was located at 200 kilometers southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Moving westward at 23 kph, it has maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 60 kph. If it maintains current speed and direction, “Basyang” is forecast to hit Southern Palawan tonight and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow.

In the next 24 hours, moderate to heavy rains will still prevail in Palawan, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas. Light to moderate, with at times heavy rains, are also expected in the rest of Visayas due to the combined effects of the Tropical Depression and the Tail-End of a Cold Front. Residents are advised to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

With the presence of the storm, Palawan, Southern Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte will experience occasional rains with gusty winds. Flash floods and landslides are possible. With the combined affects of the storm and the Tail-end of a Cold Front, residents of Bicol Region, CALABARZON, the rest of MIMAROPA and Visayas, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur are also alerted against cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, making flash floods and landslides possible.

With the presence of the Northeast Monsoon, Cagayan Valley Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Aurora will have cloudy skies with scattered light rains. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains. The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

Gale warning is still hoisted in the seaboards of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and Visayas, and the eastern and western seaboards of Southern Luzon. In these areas, fishing boats and small seacraft are prohibited from venturing due to rough to very rough seas.

From four-month celebrations, to serving black noodles and women buying men gifts and chocolates, Valentine’s is indeed a much-celebrated day in different parts of the world.
 
Whether you’re single or happily taken, one thing you can enjoy is this list of how people celebrate Hearts’ Day in unique ways around the world.
 
DENMARK
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Men give women gaekkebrev, a “joking letter” consisting of a funny poem written on intricately cut paper and signed only with anonymous dots. If a woman can correctly guess the sender of the card, she earns herself an Easter egg later that year.
 
SOUTH KOREA
 
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Valentine’s is celebrated each month starting February through April. On February 14, women give their men chocolates, flowers, and candies. During White Day (March 14), men will not only give their partner chocolates and flowers, but also a special gift. April 14 is a celebration for those who are not in a relationship. This is called Black Day, wherein singles mourn their status by eating “jajangmyeon” or black bean noodles.
 
SOUTH AFRICA
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Women pin the names of their crushes on their sleeves, allowing men to discover their secret admirers.
 
JAPAN
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Girls give the traditional Giri Choco to male colleagues, friends, or even bosses. It has no romantic association unless a handmade gift is given with another chocolate variant, called Honmon Choco. A month later, males have to return the favor with gifts, chocolates and more.
 
GERMANY

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Lovers will not only exchange chocolates, flowers, and other heart shaped gifts, but also pigs. It is believed that pigs represent luck and lust, and can be given in different forms—pictures, miniature statues, chocolates, etc.
TAIWAN
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Valentine’s is celebrated twice a year. On February 14 and July 7, flowers play an important role. Red roses represent “only love”, 99 roses represent “love forever”, and 108 roses signifies popping the question “Will you marry me?”
 
WALES
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The Welsh celebrate their patron saint of love Saint Dwynwen on January 25, which is equivalent to Valentine’s Day. Wooden love spoons are given as gifts.
 
MIAO, SOUTH WEST CHINA
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During the Sister’s Meal Festival, women cook an assortment of colorful rice dishes, which are wrapped in silk and offered to serenading suitors. The fate of the relationship rides upon the item found within the rice. Two chopsticks mean love, but a clove of garlic means the romance is over before it even started.
 
 
— Researcher: Panahon TV intern Gem Lat

“I Love You” – three words that are spoken to let our dear ones know how special they are.
 
In the Philippines, more than 7,000 islands serve as home to roughly 100 languages. Each has its own unique way of expressing the love language.
 
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Regardless of the language, it is always a delight to hear these words even on a normal day. Who knows? There may come a time when you’ll need any of these words as you travel across the Philippines. Happy Valentine’s Day!
 
HILIGAYNON (1)
 
SURIGAONON (1)
 
SAMBALI (1)
 
TAGALOG
— Researcher: Panahon TV intern Jeroh Hiyastro
 
 
Researcher: Panahon TV intern Jeroh Hiyastro

February is indeed the month of romantic expression. Proof of which is the explosion of heart symbols everywhere you look. Fittingly enough, February is also considered as the Philippine Heart Month. This is by virtue of Proclamation No.1096 as declared by the national government in 1973. So, just like how we guard our hearts when falling in love, so must we learn how to keep our hearts healthy and disease-free.

The heart is a muscular organ located under the rib cage at the center of the chest. The muscular walls beat or contract, pumping and providing blood to each part of the body. This pumping motion creates heartbeats, which can be measured by counting the pulse felt through the arteries near the skin’s surface.

A healthy heart pumps blood normally, also ensuring the healthy of the different parts of our body. However, some factors could lead to coronary diseases, making the heart function improperly.

Several heart diseases are common around the world. One of these is the heart attack which, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is the number one cause of death in men and women in the United States. Heart attacks are often related to coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, a condition in which plaque builds up within the arteries that supplies the blood to the heart. As a result, the heart muscle becomes blocked and can hardly get oxygen.

The Department of Health (DOH) says the risk factors of coronary heart disease include heredity, high levels of cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high-fat diet, lack of exercise and emotional stress.

Causes/Risk Factors of CAD. Photo from: Department of Health
Causes/Risk Factors of CAD. Photo from: Department of Health

Signs and symptoms that a person may have the disease include cardiac arrest and chest pain. Discomfort is usually felt over the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or the left side of the back. A patient may also experience shortness of breath, palpitations, irregular heartbeat and dizziness or fainting.

Signs & Symptoms of CAD. Photo from: Department of Health
Signs & Symptoms of CAD. Photo from: Department of Health

Medical treatments

With the help of technology, there are medical procedures that can be done to treat heart problems. According to NHLBI, two major treatments can be conducted to limit the harm of the damaged muscle: the clot-bust medicine and the coronary intervention. Thrombolytic medicines or clot busters are given to the patient to help dissolve blood clots in the arteries.

On the other hand, the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also called coronary angioplasty is a nonsurgical procedure that unblocks the arteries using a thin, flexible tube threaded through a blood vessel.

DOH also recommends the coronary bypass operation in which a healthy vein or artery is removed from your body and is connected or grafted to the blocked coronary artery.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is also suggested. It is a medically supervised program that helps people with heart problems through exercise training, counseling and education.

Prevention

Go for a proper diet. A healthy diet is very effective in lowering the risk of heart disease. This includes fruits and vegetables, whole grain, lean meats, fish and fat-free or low-fat milk products. A healthy diet is low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, sodium and sugar. Alcohol must also be omitted from the diet because it can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and increased caloric intake.

Bid smoking goodbye. Smoking affects almost every organ of the body. Chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco smoke can damage blood cells that could lead to the malfunctioning of blood vessels and the heart.

Lose it. Weight gain does not only raise your mass index but also raises your risk for coronary heart disease. Studies show that obesity can also lead to heart failure, a serious condition wherein the heart is unable to pump enough blood for the body’s needs.

Get moving. Regular exercise is a major component of weight loss. But beyond that, it also helps one’s fitness level and health. Being active is a vital factor in good blood flow and normal blood pressure.

Be stress-free. According to the World Heart Federation, a stressful life can generate bad habits like smoking and over-eating. Stress also affects blood flow and the heartbeat.

As the saying goes, you cannot give something you don’t have. So take care of your heart first before giving it away. Remember that your own heart deserves your love, too.

Sources:
Department of Health
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
World Heart Federation
http://www.gov.ph/1973/01/09/proclamation-no-1096-s-1973-2/