ShareThis
by Fred C. Wilson III
February 14, 2011
“Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place.”
– Billy Crystal-
Filipinos are a romantic people. When I watch my wife’s favourite soap ‘Mara Clara’ I can’t stop laughing! Seeing those ’20 Something’s’ crying and going into hysterics at nothing is funny. My wife frowns then raises the volume up to drown me out. Philippine novellas in their ‘innocence’ remind me of that distant time in America when couples walked down streets, held hands, hugged, and kissed; something you don’t see much these days.
Valentine’s Day has always been associated with the color red, the tone signifying passion, sacrifice, and revolution. Red roses, red hearts, red candies are traditional gifts given on this special day. In the Philippines on Valentine’s Day when wannabe’ lovers are in search of that significant other to share their special day with, it’s customary for them to wear red shirts/blouses. This tells the world that they are ready, willing, and more then able for whoever comes next.
In the United States restaurants, movie houses, and motels are booked solid. It’s almost considered ‘un American’ to display amorous signs of affection in public though there are those who consider sex a legitimate form of public sport and recreation for all eyes to see. Think Internet porn. Ordinarily when the ‘feeling hits,’ most lovers ‘get a room’ (or Grant Park) though I’ve seen pictures of Tokyo at night of lovers trysting away in public parks to legions of ogling cellular phone users taking pictures of their every thrust. Back home Filipinos generally limit public signs of affection to ‘kiss-a-thons’ popular on Valentine’s Day a holiday, holding hands, and maybe an occasional kiss and that’s all. Anything else is done behind closed doors.
Valentine’s Day in the Philippines is also a day when the country braces for increases in terrorist attacks. I’ve spent several Valentine’s Days in Manila. On one occasion my wife and I barely escaped death in a terror attack that left scores of innocent people killed, blinded, and horribly disfigured by Muslim and communist cowards who detonated a bus bomb near a crowded thoroughfare. Since Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of winter, most Chicagoans celebrate the lover’s holiday indoors. Unlike back home, here in Chicago we’ve been incredibly fortunate in regards to terror bombings…so far.
Filipino writer Mars Mosqueda, Jr’s. article ‘Valentine’s Day in the Philippines’ talked of teachers back home who organize school Valentine’s Day programs whose purpose is for students to publicly announce their love, loyalties, and devotion to their favourite instructors. He further wrote that Filipinos distribute red roses and candies to friends, co-workers, bosses, and even enemies.
With the current pedophilic witch hunt going on in this country, today’s teachers and other youth workers think twice about exchanging Valentine hearts, candies, Picture Day photographs, and cards to students for fear of receiving angry visits from child abuse authorities the day after. During my 32-year teaching career I exchanged Valentine cards and candy with my students (never photos) though if I were still in the classroom I’d be a bit more cautious in that regard. For many Americans sending Valentine’s gifts and greetings to same sex colleagues would be perceived as being gay. The only Valentine ‘cards’ Americans would dare send enemies would be inserted in court papers.
‘Of all my relations I like sex the best’ read the caption at the base of a then popular soft rubber statuette of a pretty half-naked young girl sitting in a provocative pose. This trinket was a hot item during the hedonistic periods of the 1960’s and ‘70’s. Valentine’s Day is also a celebration of human sexuality though ‘traditional’ minded pundits generally downplay that aspect. Though conservative by comparison to whites, blacks, and other Asians in matters of loins and hearts, sexually speaking, Filipinos are no different from anybody else.
Every culture has certain amorous habits that are unique within that society. During the 10th century the Limahong people (Chinese) introduced the concept of monogamy to the Islands. Before the Chinese came it was common for men to have as many wives as they could financially support. With the advent of Christianity monogamy became the national norm, though exceptions were allowed for Muslims and certain indigenous tribes people. It was with the introduction of Christianity in this writer’s opinion that human sexuality back home became solely focused on the family values, elevated the dignity of women, and made physical pleasure take a ‘back seat.’ Virginity achieved high status due to the cult of the Blessed Virgin Mary introduced by the Spanish.
Ancient Tahitian men had their penises mutilated during very early childhood in order to provide their women with that extra measure of penile pleasure upon puberty. This practice transformed penises into fleshy French Ticklers. By definition a French Tickler is a latex condom/sex toy that’s designed with extra protrusions to heighten female pleasure during intercourse. Reader I hate to leave you ‘hanging’ but times up.
After romance come parental realities. The next edition will be devoted to Chinese-American author-educator Dr. Amy Chua’s controversial parenting methods. I’ll compare hers to techniques employed by Filipino and African-American parents; till then GOD bless you, stay warm, sober, read and pray more.
(vamaxwell@yahoo.com)