'Love Day' inspires AFP, extends 'heartfelt' greetings to Reds
Valentine dinners, musical shows, "heart specials" and "Love promos" marked this year's celebration of the Valentines Day in Iloilo City.
There was Pure Bar's "stick-a-cupid-lingerie open." There was Sarabia Manor's "A Celebration of Love" lunch and dinner buffet. "Romantic Interlude" from Day's Hotel's The Promenade. "Savor the World's Flavor on Valentines" in Iloilo Grand Hotel. Intimate fine dining at the Emilion and romantic music by the great Ilonggo musical trio, Tiara band. Or that "Classic Midnight Dreamcake" at Bigbys. And so much more.
So love must truly be in the air that even the hardliners in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had a change of heart and tune against communist terrorists New People's Army (NPA). Or so at least yesterday.
In a message sent to The News Today (TNT), the AFP extended a public "Happy Valentines" greeting to "ordinary CPP/NPA/NDF." The NPAs are the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the AFP's 3rd Civil Relations Unit issued the AFP press statement.
"The Armed Forces of the Philippines also commemorates this universal tradition," Captain Marquez said. "I also extend my greetings to our brothers and sisters in the mountains – to all ordinary members of the CPP/NPA/NDF – who are also victims of injustice and lured for personal interest."
Captain Marquez then went on to issue an appeal.
"My appeal to our brothers and the sisters in the mountain is for them to celebrate Valentines with their family. Go back to the society, leave the terrorist organization and help us build our country and serve the masses with all of their heart and not to follow the illegal footstep and terrorism instruction of Joma Sison who is the number one pestilence of the country," he continued.
The AFP in Western Visayas, Captain Marquez added, are willing to help any CPP/NPA.NDF "who will choose to go back to normal life."
Meantime, it was literally a red-letter day for both "young ones" and "young once" as the city hosted numerous Valentine shows, Valentine dinners, Valentine specials and Valentine treats. Various restaurants offered special choices and special gifts for couples and families out for the Valentine dinner.
It was also to be a "peak season" for motels and taxi drivers, a regular occurrence every year come Valentines day. For a change, taxi units were particularly busiest in motels rather than the regular areas such as the city's malls.
Flowers were also to be most sought commodity with prices particularly higher yesterday. Next in line for the most-sought were chocolates and heart cakes and goodies.
Among the Valentine shows was "Love Heals," a Valentine dinner and musical show that featured award-winning Ilongga, Marisa Montelibano-Apuan.
A production by the Mga Kaibigan ng mga Kabataang may Kanser (KKK), it was to be "Love Heals" that was the most distinct of all Valentine shows. Marisa was joined by the Iloilo Youth Orchestra, the Sol Fernandez School of Dance, Arian Tabiling, Marlon Marllo and Dax Delos Santos.