BY the time this particular issue of the Bicol Mail hits the street, most of us must have celebrated St. Valentine’s day with either dinner or lunch or some other ways with our love ones.

        From what I have read, it appears that the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day originated from the Roman Feast Lupercalla, which was held each year on February 15. During the feast, Roman boys and girls drew lots that would pair them off in courtship for the following year. Later, this ancient festival custom became associated with the name of a Christian martyr, St. Valentine, the anniversary of whose death was February 14. According to some traditions however, February 14 was chosen as the day to honor lovers because in many countries, birds begin to mate at that time of the year.

        My research shows that Valentine’s day is actually the feast of two saints of the same name, both of whom were martyred in the 3rd century A.D. One was a priest who died in Rome, and the other was Bishop of Terni. Either St. Valentine may be regarded as the patron saint of love.

                                                ***

        The revealing testimony of star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. at the Senate hearing on the National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corporation has opened the proverbial Pandora’s box on the gamut of corruption in the Macapagal administration.

        The events that may unfold in the next few days are crucial to the Arroyo government. By testifying in the Senate investigation and telling all that he knows, Lozada Jr. has already crossed the Rubicon. Whether or not the Macapagal administration will survive this crises, is anybody’s guess. In the meantime, let’s go on with our own lives and as one Filipino poet has pointed out:

        “Not yet Rizal, not yet;
        Sleep not in peace;
        There are a thousand water to be spanned;
        There are a thousand bridges to be crossed;
        There are a thousand crosses to be borne.”

        So let’s keep on and let our reach go beyond our grasp otherwise what’s heaven for?

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:
        “THE LIFE OF EVERYMAN IS A DIARY
        IN WHICH HE MEANS TO WRITE ONE
        STORY, AND WRITES ANOTHER.”

- JAMES MATHEW BARRIE

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:
        “ALL RIVERS GO TO THE SEA
        YET NEVER DOES THE SEA BECOME FULL.
        TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY GO,
        THE RIVERS KEEP ON GOING.”

- ECC. 1:7