Posted on by Princess Psalmantha Grace

The Day after V-day (Rethinking Valentine’s Day)

February 14, isang araw na espesyal sa kalagitnaan ng Pebrero.

Marami kang makakasalubong na may dalang bulaklak sa araw na ito; pwedeng magkasintahan o nagliligawan, barkadahan or soloista na abot sa tenga ang ngiti dahil sa talambuhay niya ay unang beses pa lamang makatanggap ng bulaklak at galing pa sa secret admirer niya. (Awww. How sweet ‘di ba?) Masasabi mo nga sigurong, love is in the air.

Pero may makakasalubong ka ring walang dalang bulaklak o chocolates man lang. Wala ring stuffed toys at wala ring kasama. Siguro, maiisip mo, pinagkaitan sila ng tadhana. Ang masaklap, pwede rin namang hindi mo makasalubong kasi ikaw pala yung tinutukoy mo. Walang lovelife, walang bulaklak. Malungkot ang Valentine’s mo.

On receiving/giving flowers and the likes

Why do most girls (if not all) like receiving flowers during hearts day?

Yung tipong kahit hindi ka naman talaga mahilig sa bulaklak, there’s still that longing na makatanggap ka nito or maaappreciate mo kahit papano kapag may nagbigay sa’yo. Siyempre, gagana yung imagination mo kung anong bulaklak yung gusto mo. Pwedeng pulang rosas, o di kaya ay sunflower, o kahit anong kulay na lang ng rosas basta ang mahalaga ay meron. Kung walang-wala na talaga siguro, kahit plastic na bulaklak eh pupwede na iyon.

According to a few articles I’ve read, the history of giving flowers during V-day comes from the old custom of giving bouquets of flowers to convey non-verbal messages.
Noon daw, kung gusto mong makipag-usap pero hindi mo mailagay sa mga salita ang sasabihin mo, gumamit ka ng mga bulaklak para masabi ang mga ito.
Bawat bulaklak, may kahulugan. (Sa mga torpe diyan, alam niyo na ha?)

Kidding aside, people keep on giving flowers to express their feeling of admiration or love nowadays. Sinamahan na nga rin ang mga ito ng chocolates, stuffed toys at cards.

Pero kung praktikal ka naman, sa halip na isang bouquet na bulaklak, gugustuhin mong makatanggap ng isang sakong bigas. Kasi para sa’yo, kilig is for a day but gutom is forever.

Hindi rin kumpleto ang araw ng mga puso kung walang surpresa ang boyfriend/girlfriend mo para sa’yo. Yung tipong may pagharana pa sa’yo, o di kaya ay may pa-candle light dinner, o kaya ay pagdating mo ay may nakapatong nang mga regalo sa lamesa/desk mo. Lalo sigurong effective ang surpresa kung kakuntsaba niya ang iyong mga kaibigan at kapamilya. Siguro, ang taba ng puso mo kung ganun ano? (Ingat ka nga lang, baka atakihin ka sa puso.)

The hows and whys of V-day

February 14. Isang araw para maging masaya at makaramdam ng pagmamahal, sabi nila. Sa araw na ito nga lang ba?

Para lang ba ang araw na ito sa mga in a relationship? Para rin lang ba ito sa mga kabataan at kapag matanda na eh hindi na uso? Paano naman yung kagaya mo na single? Ooopppss… O kaya yung nag-aaral na mabuti? Yung walang pangdate o ka-date? Paano naman yung ang status eh ‘it’s complicated’?

The world has set a standard of how to do it ‘right’ on valentine’s day. And it is sad to think that this celebration has become part of our culture or even our identity.

Para itong tinta ng ballpen na nagmantsa sa bago at puting-puti mong uniform. Alam mong pangit tingnan at alam mo ring magagalit sa iyo si Nanay pero anong magagawa mo, nandun na yung mantsa. Mahirap nang tanggalin.

And this standard set by the world puts too much pressure on us.

Among the men, they need to think of how to level up the game for the next hearts’ days to meet the expectations or demands of their girlfriends or nililigawan.

For the women, we need to receive such and such to feed our ego and make ourselves feel beautiful, appreciated, noticed, accepted and loved. (Problema rin kung paano ka uuwi ng bahay na bitbit-bitbit ang bulaklak o stuffed toy at chocolates at kung paano ka makakaiwas sa tanong ng kapit-bahay lalo na ni Nanay at Tatay kung kanino galing ang mga dala mo.)

And somehow, this affects our mood, thinking and perception about ‘that day’ and about love.

Kamahal-mahal ka kapag may mga ganitong regalo. Pero kapag wala man lang bumati o nagbigay ng bulaklak, isang malaking failure and araw na ito para sa’yo. Kapag wala kang ka-date pakiramdam mo, walang nagmamahal sa’yo.

Nakalulungkot isipin na nakabase na ngayon sa isang araw ang halaga mo bilang tao. Normal na araw lang din naman ang ika-14 ng Pebrero pero tinuruan ka nitong hanapin sa mga bagay o tao ang pagmamahal na nais ng puso mo.

What this day should teach us

To be bitter? Nope. Kaya naman huwag mong sasabihin na “walang forever” o ‘wag mong iisipin na ‘undas’ kaya marami kang nakasalubong na may mga hawak na bulaklak.

To expect receiving more than giving? To base our love from ‘kilig’ given by these material gifts rather than focusing on the person or the giver? Nope, as well.

As a follower of Christ, I believe that we have to set a new standard opposite from the world’s. We have to do it the right way. When I say ‘right way’, it means that we have to rethink about what true love is.

So what does this day should teach us?

Pwede kang magmahal at mahalin kahit hindi February 14

Ngayon ay Feb. 15 na. Hindi ibig sabihin ay lipas na o hindi na uso ang pag-ibig.

As I have seen from FB posts, “LOVE IS NOT FEBRUARY 14 BUT JOHN 3:16.” But let me rephrase it. “LOVE IS NOT FEBRUARY 14 BUT ROMANS 5:8, JEREMIAH 31:3 AND JOHN 3:16.” Indeed!

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jeremiah 31:3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I can keep on citing verses to tell you that true love isn’t confined in a specific day/date. Because dear one, love is more than just a date. It is not seasonal. Hindi ito pang-February 14 lang.

True love is eternal and His name is Jesus. True love doesn’t end in a day. It started 2000 years ago and still continues up to this day.

Bago pa likhain ang mundo, kilala at minahal ka na Niya. Hindi mo pa siya kilala, minahal ka na. Ayon nga kay Brian Vee sa kanyang spoken word na “Abakada ng Tunay na Pag-ibig”, hindi pa naiimbento ang salitang mahal pero noon pa man minahal ka na Niya.

Ikaw ay Minahal, Minamahal at Mamahalin.

At dahil dito, kapag naunawaan at naranasan mo ang tunay Niyang pag-ibig, kaya mo ring magmahal kagaya ng pagmamahal Niya sa atin hindi lang tuwing valentine’s kundi araw-araw.

“We love because he first loved us.” -1 John 4:19

Ang Tunay na Pag-ibig ay Walang Kondisyon

Oo, madaling magmahal ng taong kamahal-mahal hindi ba? Yung nasa kaniya lahat ng mabubuting katangian na gusto mo. Pero tandaan mo, ang tunay na pag-ibig ay unconditional.

Eto yung pag-ibig na “Mahal kita kahit na at kahit pa”.

… “kahit na pangit ang ugali mo.”
… “kahit na hindi ka na maging kasing-ganda o kasing-gwapo mo ngayon sa pagtanda mo.”
… “kahit na hindi ka marunong kumanta o sumabay sa tiyempo.”
… “kahit na anong itsura ng katawan mo.”
… “kahit pa itinakwil mo ako noon.”
… “kahit pa hindi mo ako mahal.”
… “kahit pa puno ka ng kasalanan.”

… “MAHAL KITA.”

Eto ang tunay na pag-ibig–kahit na hindi ka karapat-dapat mahalin, minahal ka pa rin; pag-ibig na hindi naghihintay ng anumang kapalit. Hindi nagbabago sa kabila ng mga kahit na at kahit pa. Walang makapagpapabago ng pag-ibig ng Diyos para sa iyo.

Sabi nga ni J. D. Greear sa kaniyang isinulat na aklat na pinamagatang Gospel: Rediscovering the Power that made Christianity Revolutionary, “There’s nothing I can do that would make you love me more and nothing I have done that makes you love me less.”

Ang Pinakamainam na Regalo ay ibinigay na sa’yo sa katauhan ni Hesu-Kristo

Panis ang mga tsokolate, bulaklak, cards at stuffed toys na ‘yan sa ginawang sakripisyo ni Jesus para sa’yo. Hindi Niya lang sinabing mahal ka Niya. Pinatunayan Niya pa. Saan ka pa ‘di ba?

Huwag mong aakalain na ang tunay na pag-ibig ay matatagpuan sa mga bulaklak na pagdaka’y malalanta, sa tsokolate na mauubos din naman o kahit sa stuffed toys na maluluma at masisira. Love has a name and His name is Jesus!

And when we talk about the symbol of love, it isn’t heart but cross. Because there, at the ugly cross, died the lover of our souls. The maker of heavens and the earth took notice of you, accepted you and loved you. And He gave His life to declare it to the world. And I think that’s the sweetest and greatest PDA of all.

Kaya naman, tuwing sasapit ang valentine’s, huwag kang malulungkot kung wala kang date o kung wala kang gifts na natanggap.

The cross already declared that it is done!

Kaya naman uulitin ko.
Ikaw ay minahal, minamahal at mamahalin kahit hindi February 14.

Posted on by Princess Psalmantha Grace

The Day when it’s Finally Official!

I can see the intense emotions filling the room when you first laid your eyes on me. There’s no doubt. I know. I was beautiful.♥

I can feel the warmth of your love as you smiled and wrapped your arms around me. I can feel how excited you were to welcome me to this whole new chapter of my life. We’ve been through a lot, but today made the pain and struggles worth it.

Seeing me in that room gave you courage to face the unknown future with me. Yes, it will not be as easy as it seems yet that assuring smile gave me confidence that you are with me in this.

It is indeed a night we’ll never forget!

‘Twas around 11 o’clock in the evening and this is the moment awaited by our family members and friends . I know that they share the excitement that you have but nothing can be compared to yours.

Maybe you’ve told yourself, “Finally. This is the moment! Tonight is the night that it will be official.”

It’s a YES!

Even when some things are still uncertain, a brave “yes” was heard. That night, we said “yes” to a new chapter in our lives.

“Yes” to a lifetime commitment of unconditional love, patience, responsibility, understanding, discipline, support and faith.

“Yes” to a lifetime of journey ahead of us.

And I cried lot, I think.

That night when I cried, an inaudible “yes” was heard from you.

Why on earth would I cry on this happy day of my life?

Well, I was not sad. I cried because it is the only way I know that time how to say “hello” to the world and to welcome YOU–the two people whose love made it possible for me to be here.

Yes, you’re right!

The day I was born was the time that it became official for my mom and dad to become parents.

And I salute them that they bravely welcomed me. They said “yes” to the responsibility of taking care of and loving me despite the fact that they don’t even know who I will become. I owe my life to them and I thank God for giving me such parents who might not be perfect but who gave their best since day one!

And upon contemplating with this, I realized that God loves me so much more.

He loved and accepted me for who I really am even when He already knew since day one that I would hurt Him so much.

Romans 5:8

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

He knew who I was and who I will become yet He loved me the same. Even before I was born, He knew and loved me unconditionally.

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

What a great God He is!

God, in all His wisdom and goodness declared that it’s official when Jesus died on the Cross for me. For He said, “It is finished.”

I was chosen.

I was bought with a price.

I was fully known yet fully loved.

The Cross declares it is done.