February – the month when the air is filled with the smell of last-minute drug store chocolate, love, and misery. Some couples take this love season as a chance to make their relationships more special, while others grieve their bittersweet single life. For our Valentine’s Day special, we asked CADBE students what their 14th of February was like. From the sweetest friendship to lovers plot twist, to finding ‘the one,’ to accepting our single eras, here are different stories of CADBEshies’ love life experiences...
Home – where it all begins
“It’s the month of love! and we know that some of us automatically associate this with couples going on dates, giving each other gifts and everything. Pero you know? Love isn’t just between couples, love can be found inside our homes. Me? I celebrated the 14th with my family, saktong-sakto kasi it was my sister’s birthday. There’s only three of us, and we just had a meal tapos back to quizzes na agad ako that day. I felt stressed, but one look at the people who’s always been there for me, I felt all the love and support I needed.”
“Love can also be found in our furry babies who’s always cuddling up to us, with those eyes that shows how much they adore us. We have two dogs in our family na kala mo baby kung alagaan. They’re my stress-relievers, and just one hug from them makes everything feel okay. Love can also be found within each and every one of us. Sabi nga nila, how can you love someone else if you can’t love yourself? Sarili lang naman natin ang laging nandiyan for us, and we should learn how to love ourselves despite all the “flaws” that we think we have. In short, love is everywhere! You don’t have to be in a relationship to feel loved!! And it doesn’t need to be the month of February for you to share and receive love.”
Cheers to the single life!
Throats of goats and dogs were slit, and their fur were skinned to create animal hide for the purpose of whipping women during the 13th to 15th of February. This is because the practice was thought to make women fertile during the period of Ancient Rome back then. It is fascinating how centuries later, this festivity would then turn into the globally commemorated day of hearts and chocolates, Valentine’s Day. Nowadays, our celebratory practices are tamer in comparison, as we celebrate February 14 with the precious things we can offer to the even more precious people in our lives, as it is the day of love, love, and love.
"Love is in the air sabi nga nila, but if you ask me, ang tawag ko diyan polusyon. ‘Di naman ako heartbroken, it’s just that this month, I realized na I have more important priorities like yung sarili ko, and that too counts as love, right? Kung katulad mo ‘ko at may tiktok ka na puno ng young couples ang fyp, isipin mo na lang na hindi sila magtatagal. darating ang panahon (around 3 months at best) na malalaman nila na hindi pa pala sila ang "itinadhana". maghihiwalay sila ng landas throughout college, iba na magiging ka-close, magkaiba na ng school, magkaiba na ng course, magkaiba na ng priorities. Dahan-dahan silang mapapalayo sa isa’t-isa sa paglipas ng panahon, at hindi nila yun mapagtatanto hanggang sa dumating na lang yung oras kung saan mare-realize nila na wala na pala silang nararamdaman para sa isa't isa. Kaya cheer up, fellow single girls and boys! <3"
Lowkey – More Than Friends
It always starts with friendships. ALWAYS. Way back in Grade 7, our CADBEshie Jan Orlan and his Laham, Elyza were “barkada.” They were not “that” close, more of a lowkey friend, “wala barkada lang talaga tingin.” One time, our dear CADBEshie was going through a heartbreak. He reached out to Elyza, ranting about his ex and grudges. Eventually, their friendship blossomed, and Jan felt butterflies in his chest, but Elyza wasn’t sure about him. Then he made a “pogi move” by courting her, secretly. “Alam mo naman yung mga galawan pag high school, itatago sa label na bestfriend pero ang totoo nahuhulog na yung isa.” By the end of the school year in Grade 8, he finally plucked up his courage to confess. March 25, before midnight, on Twitter, he tweeted a long message. His Laham was not ready and confused, so she asked for help. Little did she know, the friend Elyza asked was one of Jan’s tropa, March 26, 2017, minutes after the confession, Elyza said yes. Our CADBEshie was in high spirits.
Being in a relationship at a very young age was challenging for them. Was this real love? Jan remembered their first separation; they lowkey cried in school while conversing. After this mini hiwalayan, they got back together because they were ‘marupok’ per se. They kept this relationship a secret, but Jan’s family was the first one to know. After 2 or 3 years, Elyza’s parents were kind of suspicious since Jan always stopped by. “Una natatakot pa nga ko, kasi laki ng tatay niya HAHAHAH kaya akong tiklopin sa walo eh.” In 2020, Elyza’s parents finally realized that Jan was the love of her life. He supported in arranging the debut, especially the venue. Also, that was the time both of their parents met, officially.Since the pandemic, meet-ups were limited. Last December 2021, Jan’s parents allowed him to date his Laham for four days (when kaya?). Also, last February 13, 2022, he visited again as an Advanced Valentine’s.
“Tapos sabi ko parang matagal na ulit kami magkikita, baka kahit march 1 na birthday niya di kami magkita kasi finals ng PUP yun. So ayon malungkot ako, tas Feb 14, ayon nagkatime onte, sakto aalis kami ng family ko, tas may mga sobrang cake and cupcakes si mommy, take chance ulit. Sabi ko punta kami saglit sa bahay ni jowa, surprise ko.”
Now, they are still strong and lowkey.
No More “Sana All’s”
The day that many are happy being in love, but some are being like "when kaya?" and probably saying "sana all", Valentine's Day. As per Koryne and, her motivation, her bb, and her mahal Dexter, who are happily inlove for a year and so can't say the same.
Even though may exam si Koryne on the 14th, they still pushed through their celebration, "nalaman nyang may exam hahaha so sabi ko wala tayong date hahaha, pero nung day na yon pumunta sya before tayo mag exam, binigyan nya cake si mama tapos ako, tapos pakatapos nung exam nagdate kami sa cafe nung batchmate namin. tapos lakad lang kami pauwi, kahit pagod sa exam ok lang nakapag bebe time naman HAHAHAHAHA," she said.
Koryne and Dexter were an old friend, they started in a cute way in my opinion. They were friends at first, " Siya talaga unang nag approach sakin, bihira ako makipagfriend sa boy hahaha pero sakanya comfortable ako pag kausap ko siya, siya na lagi partner ko sa mga activities and all, nagshishare ng mga kaartehan sa mga crush ko non hahaha." And not until nagkaaminan na nga but like in some kdramas we watch may plot wist, "tapos ayun umamin sya na may crush sya sakin, eh kaso yung matagal ko na na crush umamin din na may gusto sya sakin," she said.
But I think malakas ang prayers ni Dexter, because sadly Koryne and her boyfriend at that time didn't work out. So I would say that Dexter is the pinagpalang nilalang, because from being friends with his crush, he is finally with her, two of them being in love and celebrating Valentine's day together.
But for Koryne she is the lucky one, because of the understanding she gets from him and the cheering when she needs it the most, especially when it comes to acads. "Basta sasabihin ko lang ulit, kung wala sya siguro matagal na ako nag drop ng arki hahahaha mahina talaga loob ko e, pinapalakas lang nya," she said.
I think it's okay to hope, pray, dream, and wish for love. But we should not put our lives on hold just waiting for love.
So maybe there will be more "sana all" and when kaya?" for the single ladies and guys out there who are still waiting, because maybe the universe is giving you the time for yourself before you meet the person that'll make you happy genuinely.
Imaged by: Koryne Escauriaga Pangilinan
Comments