‘Si Lord muna’: Couples dedicate Heart's Day to church amid 2024’s ‘Barbenheimer’

MANILA, Philippines — Couple Tom and Nicole stood in line within the aisle of the centuries-old cathedral, the seat of the Manila archbishop, awaiting the marking of cross ashes on their foreheads.

This Valentine's Day marks their third anniversary as a couple, a day they hold dear not only for falling on February 14 but also for being the date when they officially became a couple.

Despite having a reason to celebrate, they opted for a more “not loud” approach on this year's Day of Hearts, dedicating the day to expressing gratitude to the Lord.

“Yearly naman ang Valentine’s Day, this time, para kay Lord muna,” Tom said in an interview with Philstar.com.

(Valentine’s Day is celebrated yearly, this time, it’s for the Lord.)

While some couples are enjoying dates in parks or selecting freshly-priced flowers in Dangwa, Manila, others have opted for a day of fasting and penitence rather than going out for traditional dates.

Some couples began their day by queuing up at their churches to receive ashes on their foreheads, then continued with their usual routines without indulging in anything particularly "special."

This year's Valentine's Day, dubbed by some as 2024's "Barbenheimer," falls on Ash Wednesday, a significant day for Catholics that marks the start of the Lenten season, prompting many to abstain from everyday indulgences.

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Couple Jush and Chiqui barely meet each other due to their tight schedules. They had a chance to do what they call “leisurely activities” on February 14 as they both had the time.

Chiqui, a devotee of the Black Nazarene who consistently observes the Catholic Church's liturgical events, requested her significant other to "dedicate the day to the Lord" rather than engaging in a traditional date.

“It's really just a day created to celebrate love kasi masyado tayong babad sa fast-paced world,” Chiqui told Philstar.com.

(It's really just a day created to celebrate love because we're too immersed in this fast-paced world.)

Jush happily agreed, finding it special to spend time together on Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, feeling the Lord as the "foundation of their relationship."

“Nag-uu