#VDay: Valentine’s Day the Millennial Way

With the millennials making up 1/3 of the Philippine population, has the celebration and view of heart’s day changed in a drastic way? (Pixabay photo)

In the millennial world of hashtags, social media, photo filters, and trends, how could the annual celebration of love differ?

With the millennials making up 1/3 of the Philippine population, has the celebration and view of heart’s day changed in a drastic way? For a post-Valentine’s day special, Philippine Canadian Inquirer (PCI) brings you – Valentine’s Day the Millennial Way.

#LowkeyRelationshipGoal

Giant teddy bears, boxes of chocolates, bouquets of flowers, name it – these are all common and somehow expected everytime the 14th of February drops. But apart from all the hearts here and there, perhaps some of the most common sights in Valentine’s Day are of course the loving couples.

In contrary to the more ‘obvious’ ways of celebrating, Sarah, 22, had a more ‘lowkey’ date on Valentine’s. “Hindi siya planado. Ang plan lang, magkikita kami after trabaho tapos kwentuhan lang somewhere (It was not planned. The only plan was for us to meet somewhere after work and exchange stories),” she started saying.

Her day ended with her suitor escorting home and giving her a hand-made paper flower.

Sarah mentioned that she cannot pinpoint if there is a real difference on how her generation spends February 14, but she observed that this day has some sort of ‘pressure’ especially for couples to make ‘extreme efforts’ compared to any other day. “‘Yung idea na ma-s-spend lang nang may value ‘yung Valentine’s day ng mga may someone (The idea that only those with special someones can spend Valentine’s day with value). Parang nawala ‘yung (It is as if the) essence na reminder ‘yun na (and reminder that) we are to love one another (is gone),” she said.

V-day? More like work/school day

Yes, with February 14 falling on a Wednesday —  a weekday, perhaps it is just another work day? Or a school day for the students? Except that offices (and mostly everywhere) are filled with heart balloons and decorations?

For Marilee Ignacio, 22, her heart and mind had other priorities that day.

“I spent my day reading journals for my thesis. I also had a class so I attended it,” she said.

Ignacio noted that perhaps the biggest difference of the love day celebration is that people have more technological means and gimmicks to celebrate — like video greetings and social media related content.

With half of today’s workforce filled by millennials, a lot of them spent the day in front of their tasks-to-do for the day.

Casey, 22, said she treats February 14 as any other ordinary and normal day. “I was at the office. Did not really celebrate,” she said laughing. She did say that there is only a minimal difference in the millennials’ celebration since chocolates and flowers are still seen everywhere even before.

Aire, 21, who runs her own business, said that she actually spent most of her day running errands for her work.

“Nag-pre-prepare ako para sa event ko kinabukasan. So working ako buong araw, inaayos ‘yung layout, and mga dadalhin. Nung natapos ko na ‘yun ginawa ko na din ‘yung layouts para sa events ko next week (I was preparing for my event tomorrow. So I was working he whole day, fixing the layout and the stuff I have to bring. When I was done with that, I also did the layouts for the events next week,” she narrated.

However, a small gathering with her family to celebrate with her grandparents saved from her hectic routine. “So kahit papano, hindi malamig ang Valentine’s ko, punung-puno pa rin ng love (So in a way, my Valentine’s is still not that cold, it was still full of love),” she added.

Unlike Ignacio who pointed out creativity in today’s Valentine’s celebration, for Aire it is more of a ‘competition.’

“Post dito, post doon ng kung sino may pinakabonggang surprise or gifts ng Vday (Post here, post there of whoever gets the best surprise or gifts for Vday,” she said, clarifying that while she does not generalize, she just feels like the older generations had more love in their celebrations that did not involve the competition.

A date with the Lord

For Roman Catholics, the heart’s day this year is extra special since it is also the start of lent — marked by the ashes on believers’ foreheads.

For Skippy, 21, right after work, she and her officemates went straight to a church nearby. “I might not have a special someone yet to spend it with but at least I have my family, friends, and my dogs who I love very much. I love my job and clients love us too, at least we think so haha! And we got to celebrate the Holy Eucharist too because we know that we have our God that loves us all very much,” she said.

Skippy said that each generation has their own way of celebration, but perhaps social media is the real game changer for the millennials and it is not exactly a bad thing. “In this era, since all are very liberated, it’s nice too when people are proud  of their special ones and not just themselves, as long as they do not overdo it,” she added

Me, Myself, and I

Whoever said that Valentine’s day is only for those that are taken, is totally wrong. While love is often associated with romantic relationships, the celebration of Valentine’s does not have to center on being in one. In fact, some millennials chose to date the best person — themselves.

Trisha Marie Antonio, 21, chose to spend her day by watching a romantic movie, alone… and it is not a bad thing!

“Nanood po ako mag-isa ng (I watched) ‘Meet me in St. Gallen’ (alone),” she told PCI, then added, “Mas comfortable pala kaysa sa may kasama (It was actually  more comfortable than being with someone).”

Antonio admitted that before, Valentine’s day was a bit dreadful for her, feeling bitter with all the red balloons and flowers everywhere. However, she learned how to simply embrace the day and let couples and other people be happy with how they celebrate their day, just like how she did with hers.

While Antonio thinks that Valentine’s day celebrations are the same every year, she did however agree with Aire that this generation may have sensationalized the day through social media.

“Pero (But) seriously, feeling ko po walang nagbago (I do not think it changed). Mas naging big deal nga lang siya dahil sa social media at sa ugali ng millennials and GenZ people na nag-sensationalize po nito (It just became a bigger deal because of millennials and GenZ people sensationalizing it in social media),” she uttered.

On the other hand, Klei Jillian Capicenio, 22, chose to date herself at home.

“I am single, happily, mind you, so there was no celebration to be had. I spent the day at home lounging and relaxing,” she said.

Capicenio also agreed that not much has changed but noted that millennials seem to celebrate Valentine’s in a more casual way. “The older generations, I think, are fancier — the more romantic gestures, while the millennials treat it as a much more laid-back event,” she said.

Singles, assemble!

While people like Antonio and Capicenio spent the day alone to be relaxed, some of those who are not in a relationship chose to join forces for the day.

24-year-old Divina Robina said she spent the day with her orgmates attending one of the famous events every February — UP (University of the Philippines) Fair — the university’s week-long free concert featuring local bands.

“The band line-up was really great. Kaabang-abang siya (It was really anticipated). Also, yes we’re all single pero ‘di namin inisip ‘yun (but we did not think too much about it),” she added.

For Robina though, Valentine’s day has not changed and has always been a ‘social construct.’

“Tao lang naman nag-imbento kay balentino (Humans just created Valentine),” she pointed that while it was supposed to celebrate love, it simply became a day for chocolate and flower sales to boom.

While some of these millennials insisted that Valentine’s remained the same, it cannot be denied that social media has tapped and changed even a bit its celebration for some. But just like how this generation had their different takes, it is totally up to a person on how he or she will celebrate hearts day.