Valentines and Its Purpose

 The History of Valentine’s Day: Its Origins, Traditions, and Customs

           Each year, February 14th marks Valentine's Day, a worldwide day of love and admiration33. Although this holiday is generally celebrated by exchanging cards and gifts, the true meaning of the holiday is recognizing the loving relationships that unite people from many different cultures.[3] Valentine's Day is a day for lovers, and to thoroughly understand it, we must first trace the convoluted history behind this sweetheart day, including its true meaning, as well as the various ways in which people express love3.

          Valentine's Day has complex and somewhat obscure origins, most of which is just an academic discussion of various theories about its genesis[1]. One theory links it to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a pagan rest that took place in mid-February3. This festival to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, involved rituals aimed at fecundation, purification of the land, and dismissal of evil spirits3. Lupercalia did not have ties to love in the way that we practice it today, but the dates are close to each other, prompting some to speculate that the tradition prompted Valentine's Day to evolve at all[3].

          The other interesting part of the history of love on 4th February is the story of Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr3. Some of these legends make the case that he challenged Emperor Claudius II's ban against marriages (to keep men in the field and free from their wives)4. That Valentine married couples in secret, for which he was imprisoned4. Another story follows he became friends with his jailer's daughter and wrote her a note signed "from your Valentine" before he was executed[4]. Whatever the case, over time St. Valentine became associated with love and romance, helping establish the holiday’s identity4.

           The 1500s saw formal declarations of love in the form of “valentines,” with “commercial” printed cards first being used in the late 1700s[1]. The mass production of Valentine's Day cards in the 19th century, particularly through the work of Esther Howland in the United States, helped to popularize the holiday immensely[1]. These cards typically had romantic poems and elements like hearts and cupids[1].

           Valentine’s Day is all about expressing feelings for each other which come in several forms depending on how lovers relate to each other[3]. However, traditional gifts—candy and flowers, especially red roses, which represent love and beauty—are still some of the most popular; however, the most meaningful expressions often come in the way of personalized gestures1. Such as acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, thoughtful gifts, and physical touch, each of which have special meaning to the recipient[3].

         A Final Note: February 14 is a little of each — an amalgamation of historical, cultural and personal expressions of affection3. Ending with its likely origins from ancient Roman celebrations, the legends of St. Valentine, card commercialization and the global recognition of love and connection that we know today in the form of collective love and appreciation1[2] Armed with this knowledge of Valentines' complex history, and an understanding of the diverse ways of expressing love, we can rise above the commercialisation of the occasion and learn to forge deeper and more meaningful connections with the people we love.

References:

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2025, February 7). Valentine's Day. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Valentines-Day

Valentines Day  - World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Valentine's_Day/ Retrieved from

(2024, February 14). Valentine’s Day 2024: Ahead of its history, significance, customs and more The Indian Express. Valentine’s day 2024: Tracing its history, significance, traditions and more

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2017, September 7). St. Valentine. Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica does not have a video to accompany this article.

"Exploring Hidden Garden as a Tourist Destination"

Hidden Garden of Vigan: A Tourist Destination Through the Lens of Community-Based Research"

 

 Team Discussion and Planning

We are having a discussion to finalize our strategies and ensure that our research process runs smoothly.  

Planning Session

 We are carefully planning our next steps, organizing our tasks, and refining our approach for the research.  

Searching for Respondents 

We are looking for potential interviewees to gather a variety of perspectives that will enrich our study.  

Conducting an Interview

We are actively engaging in an interview, gathering valuable insights to support our research.  

Interview with a Stall Owner

 We are conducting an interview with a stall owner, asking questions related to the research.

Exploring Hidden Garden

 We are roaming around Hidden Garden, observing its attractions and gathering relevant.

Interview with the Barangay Captain

We had the opportunity to speak with the barangay captain, collecting important information about the community’s perspective.  

Writing the Research Paper

We are focused on writing our research paper, compiling data, and organizing our findings.  

Navigating Challenges and Growth: My Third Quarter Reflection

"From Codes to Confidence: Lessons Learned in the Third Quarter"

          I am currently ending third quarter and reflecting on my biggest learning experiences, challenges, and opportunity to overcome obstacles. This quarter has taught me a lot in terms of research and building a website, forcing me to step out of my comfort zone.

What I Have Learned/Discoveries I’ve Made? 

          This quarter, working on our Community-Based Research (CBR) and creating websites has been one of the greatest learning experiences. With this, too I learned new coding practices, how to properly formulate web pages, and how to write lists. I loved to see how various codes work side by side the different features of a website; I saw a new perspective into web development.

At What Points the Problems/Challenges Hovered Over Me? 

          While these are things we learned, it wasn’t an easy process. I had a hard time memorizing codes, and there were time errors while building the website, which needed some patience and debugging. Since we were also trying to do interviews for our CBR it was quite daunting. Because the rest of my group and I were naturally hesitant to talk to strangers, reaching out for interviews felt like a daunting task. To further complicate matters, we stuffed the CBR as well, which added to the stress of it all.

How Did I Resolved These Challenges? 

          To deal with these struggles, I decided to practice and practice until I got the hang of writing code. When errors popped up, I didn't get frustrated, I just made the time to debug and troubleshoot. To make things easier for the interviews, my groupmates and I divided tasks. And so we wrote scripts and questions ahead of time to feel more confident about talking to people. We also had to organize like never before and think on our feet.

Moving On, I Will…

          Now that we are in the last quarter, I will be working on my time management skills so that I do not have to cram on important projects. I will also continue practice website development in order to accelerate skill parts and become more acquainted with it. Key Post to work on — Confidence Communication is very important because interviews & interactions are part of future projects.

          While this whole quarter may have been hard on all of us, it has taught me things such as resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of teamwork. These experiences will definitely contribute to my academic and personal growth in the future.

Why Filipinos Embrace the Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year 2025: A Celebration Bridging Cultures

          The year of the Wood Snake (Chinese New Year 2025) is celebrated on 29 January 1. The festival is also referred to as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival1. The festivities are rounded off with the Lantern Festival on 12 February[5]. The public holiday in China spans January 28th–February 3rd[5].

          Some of the traditions associated with the celebration include dragon and lion dances, giving of ang pao (red envelopes), preparing lucky foods, and decorating in red and gold[1]. Firecrackers and fireworks are lit to scare away evil spirits[1]. Many go to temples and shrines to pray for blessings[1]. Many also follow Feng Shui practices[1].

           In the Philippines, Chinese New Year is a unique non-working holiday[3]. With its diverse multicultural heritage and the cultural influence of China, Chinese New Year is also observed in the Philippines1. The Chinese or Lunar New Year celebration has been in the Philippines for hundreds of years[2]. Without question, Chinese culture is ingrained in Filipino culture and life[2]. Filipinos celebrate by sharing greetings, feasting on Chinese food and consulting Feng Shui experts[3]. They will also give ang pao and eat tikoy[2].

Citations:

[1] https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/619422/chinese-new-year-2025-8-traditions-practiced-for-the-spring-festival

[2] https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/22/celebrating-chinese-new-year-as-a-filipino

[3] https://asiasociety.org/philippines/chinese-new-year-celebrated-philippines

[4] https://www.traveloka.com/en-en/explore/tips/where-to-spend-chinese-new-year/17491

[5] https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/chinese-new-year-celebration.htm

[6] https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/1/27/celebrate-chinese-new-year-with-festive-dining-1348

[7] https://www.globe.com.ph/go/travel-food/article/chinese-new-year

[8] https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/28/500-000-flock-to-jones-bridge-for-chinese-new-year-countdown-0707

New Year, New Goals

 

"2025: A Year of Growth, Balance, and Achieving My Goals"

         As 2025 begins, I want to focus more on my studies. I’ve had fun and enjoyed life, but now I need to take my education more seriously. I’m ready to challenge myself and stay on top of my work this year. At the same time, I want to make sure I still find time to relax and enjoy myself. It’s all about keeping that balance between hard work and fun.

         This year, I’m also determined to buy the things I’ve always wanted. But instead of just buying them on a whim, I want to earn them. I believe working hard to get what I want will make it even more rewarding. I’m excited about the idea of earning those things and making my goals a reality. It will feel great to achieve them through my own effort.

         Taking care of my mental health is also a top priority. I want to feel truly happy and at peace with myself. I know that by focusing on my well-being and learning how to relax, I can be more content. Stress can easily take over, but I want to let go of that and embrace a positive mindset. Creating a calm mental space will help me handle challenges better.

         Along with my mental health, I want to focus on being healthier physically. I want to feel strong, energized, and take better care of my body. This means exercising regularly, eating healthy, and giving my body the attention it needs. I know that if I do this, I’ll feel better overall and have more energy. Staying healthy will help me feel more confident and ready for anything.

         Finally, I want to do better in school this year. I’m aiming for good grades and pushing myself to improve. It’s not just about being perfect, but about working hard and doing my best. I know that if I stay focused and put in the effort, I can achieve my academic goals. This year is all about setting high expectations for myself and striving to meet them.

A Christmas Filled with Love and Laughter

 

"Celebrating the Holidays with Family, Fun, and Fond Memories"

          Our Christmas vacation was filled with nothing but happiness. My grandfather flew in from Davao City to Vigan just to spend the holidays with us. The start of the Christmas break wasn’t exactly exciting at first, as I didn’t book a flight to go anywhere, unlike others who were traveling. But then I thought, why not spend this time with my family? So that’s what we did. On December 20th, we traveled to Ilocos Norte for some shopping and just to have fun together.

         On Christmas Eve, December 24th, we woke up early to prepare a delicious spread, including macaroni and other tasty dishes. In the afternoon, we headed to San Vicente to celebrate with my dad’s side of the family. There were so many fun games with prizes, and the whole place was filled with smiles and laughter. It was a blast seeing everyone so happy and enjoying the moment. Christmas Day arrived, and we had a wonderful breakfast before heading out to take some pictures around the city. In the afternoon, we visited San Juan to celebrate with my mom’s side, where they had prepared the main course: lechon. It was absolutely delicious!

         I was lucky to receive gifts from my friends and family, but honestly, as much as I appreciated the presents, having them by my side was the best part of it all. It really hit different. I truly hope Christmas always feels this happy and full of love.

CODING MY WAY

 

My Second Quarter Ict Journey 

          The second quarter of ICT classes was a valuable learning experience. I gained a deep understanding of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), including how HTML tags are used to structure and format web content. I learned about the importance of web standards, defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and explored essential standards like HTML, CSS, XML, and XHTML. I became proficient in using various HTML tags and attributes for formatting text, creating links, embedding images, and defining page structure. I also learned how to structure a basic HTML document using tags like  <html> ,  <head> ,  <title> , and  <body> . Understanding hyperlinks, including how to create links to other web pages, email addresses, and images, was another key takeaway.

          While I found the learning process rewarding, I encountered challenges, particularly with understanding complex HTML tags and attributes, debugging code errors, and applying my knowledge to practical projects. To address these challenges, I relied on online resources like W3Schools and MDN Web Docs, practiced writing HTML code extensively, and sought guidance from instructors and peers.

          Moving forward, I will continue to practice writing HTML code to further improve my skills. I will also explore CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)  to enhance the visual appearance and interactivity of my web pages. Finally, I will apply my HTML knowledge to build real-world projects, such as personal websites or simple web applications, to gain practical experience.