Polarizing answers are often encountered when people are asked about receiving flowers. For others, to be given flowers makes them feel loved. Meanwhile, on the practical side of the spectrum is the amount of money that needs to be spent for it despite its ephemerality.
But when it comes to flower ephemerality, there have been types of flowers that do not wilt. These kinds of flowers have been around the internet, especially since Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.
MADE FROM SWEAT AND CALLOUSES
In the hustle and bustle, sweat, and vendors calling for your name to buy, there lies a section you’d mistake for a flower garden. But unlike flower gardens basked in the warmth of the sun or showered with love by the rain, the ones found in the Carbon Market are picked and chosen by calloused hands—proof of hard work, from the vendors with love to buyers who love.
EXTRAORDINARY FLOWERS
Stumbling upon stall after stall of flowers in the middle of the Carbon Market is the sole flower vendor who sells eternal flowers—the kind of flowers that never die like how love never does. Bouquets in rainbow, minimalist, monochrome, and maximalist styles for as low as P150 filled Jenny Bonghanoy’s stall inside Carbon Market in Cebu City.
What makes her stall stand out among others is the flower display, which is made of soap, satin, recycled leaves, cotton, and paper. The materials her flowers are made of make them bloom forever.
In a personal interview with Sugbo.ph, Bonghanoy answered that despite the flowers being artificial, there are still people who buy, and some even repurchase.
“Nang-order man sila karon nga year. maka-ingon sila nga, “ay wa jud siya nadaot. nakita ra gyud namo. Nadecorate pa gyud namo. nareuse pa gyud namo. Mao na” mao nay nakanindot sa ani,” Bonhanoy reminisced her favorite memory selling artificial flowers.
ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS ARE MERE FAKE FLOWERS
Artificial flowers are often perceived as fake or, worse, ingenuine. However, for flower sellers like Bonghanoy, artificial flowers mean long-lasting, which is one reason she has pursued selling artificial flowers since she started selling them on Valentine’s Day last year.
“Naa man guy uban nga “Ay, kani artificial” dili ni siya artificial. Pariha aning soap, soap rose, pero’g imo siyang i-kuan, molong last man gud siya. Naa man guy uban nga pang lifetime gali siya nga kuan, magamit pud nimo siya.”
Before selling these kinds of flowers, Bonghanoy has been selling fresh flowers. And even up to now, she’s still selling fresh flowers together with the artificial flowers.
As she prioritizes artificial flowers, she is also preparing her stocks in preparation for the influx of demand for this fast–approaching Valentine’s based on the positive turnout last Valentine’s.
“Satisfaction sa customer. nga masatisfy sila either kani lang, ingon lang atong mga buwak, mga dried lang dili jud siya fresh ba. Ang mindset tao ba, “Ay, artificial” so naay uban nga masatisfy ra jud sila magbalik-balik,”
Bonghanoy answered when asked about her favorite thing as a florist.
This just shows that love is not only glimpsed between lovers; it is also innate in mundane activities and interactions between normal people- between the florist and her customers, between co-vendors, and between florists and their crafts.
Although flower preference is each to his own, receiving flower bouquets formed of artificial flowers is heartwarming knowing it is made by people like Bonghanoy who gave every ounce of energy and every drop of sweat to embody love in a bouquet.
With Valentine’s Day nearly approaching, artificial flowers are one of the best ways of declaring your lifetime love to your other half because it does not die. For more information about Jenny Bonghanoy’s Bouquets, you may visit her stall in Carbon Market or contact her on her Facebook page, Sky Blooms Creations.
Every February 14, it has become customary to celebrate the day of hearts, Valentine’s Day. But who exactly is Valentine’s?
Photo from Vista Residences
The Legends of St. Valentine
The Catholic Church recognizes three Saints named Valentine or Valentinus. All three were martyred. Moreover, there are different versions of the legends of St. Valentine.
Photo from www.history.com
The first legend talks about how Valentine was a Roman priest during the third century. During those times, marriage was outlawed by Emperor Claudius II because he believed single men were better at being soldiers. Valentine thought the law was absurd and continued to wed young couples. However, when he was caught, he was sentenced to death.
The other version talks about Saint Valentine of Terni, who was also beheaded by Emperor Claudius II.
Photo from Hotel Fonte Cesia
Another legend says that when Valentine was in prison, he wrote a letter and signed it with, “From your Valentine.”
Photo from Poetry collection
Why is it Valentine’s Day on February 14?
Some people believe that it is the date of Valentine’s death. Quite creepy to celebrate love on the day of someone’s tragic demise. However, there are other people who think that the Christian church decided to align St. Valentine’s celebration in an attempt to “Christianize” the pagan festival called Lupercalia.
Photo from Wikipedia
Lupercalia is a pagan festival of fertility that is dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus.
Guess the history of Valentine’s Day has its mysteries. But nonetheless, being able to celebrate the beauty of love is something we all should still look forward to. We all need a little love in this world because, through love, we can be better people.
Just in case you needed more reasons to travel to Japan, here’s exciting news for Pokémon enthusiasts!
The Pokémon Company has just unveiled their plans to give you the theme park of your dreams. ‘PokéPark KANTO’ will be brought to life within Tokyo’s Yomiuriland, giving you an immersive experience with the mesmerizing Tama Hills serving as the perfect backdrop.
The symbolic value of this choice of location for the theme park is that it traces back to the roots of the Pokémon franchise. This is an homage to the first release of the 1996 Pokémon Red and Green in the Kanto region. This truly establishes a tangible connection between fans and the origin of the franchise.
Photo from Dot Esports
With all that said, it is also worth noting that this isn’t Nintendo’s first attempt in making a Pokémon theme park. Japan initially had its own PokéPark back in 2005, while Taiwan followed suit in 2006. The latter, however, eventually closed due to lack of popularity. Nonetheless, it was mentioned how these previous ventures set a precedent in what not to do for future projects. ‘PokéPark KANTO’ remains a very promising prospect that will bring a magical experience for Pokémon fans worldwide.
Aside from that, Yomiuriland already features the Pokémon Wonder attraction, which is an outdoor adventure amusement park which invites guests to discover 50 different Pokémon characters crafted from acorns and leaves. Sitting on a 4,500 square meter forest, fans have never been in a more suitable place to “Catch ‘Em All!”
Photo from IGN
According to the Pokémon company, PokéPark KANTO is aimed towards creating a space where Pokémon fans worldwide can enjoy something they love that transcends barriers of nationality, region, and language — Pokémon is the only common ground they need in this case. This commitment is aligned with the company’s history of fostering Pokémon communities all around the world.
While no specific date has been announced for the construction of the theme park, fans can still count on the meticulous planning and execution required for projects like this despite the time it may take. Enthusiasts will, at the end of the day, be rewarded as this dream is in its works in turning into reality.
In a joint Instagram post, Bea Alonzo & Dominic Roque finally broke their silence and confirmed the rumor of calling off their engagement and ending their 3-year relationship.
Photo from GMA Network
The joint statement disclosed that the breakup was a mutual decision.
“After much thought, consideration, and care, we have mutually decided to amicably end our engagement.”
Instagram post from @beaalonzo and @dominicroqueInstagram post from @beaalonzo and @dominicroqueInstagram post from @beaalonzo and @dominicroque
In the same post, they felt like they needed to address the issue because of false rumors and people who confirmed their breakup without their consent.
“Unfortunately, some even confirmed our break-up without our consent, and some created ridiculous stories that had no basis and were utterly false,”
It can be remembered that Boy Abunda confirmed the breakup of Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque on February 6, Tuesday, in his “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda.”
“As we talk today, yes, hiwalay po si Dominic at tsaka si Bea,” Tito boy said.
Photo from Dailymotion
Before their breakup confirmation, rumors have been circulating about the cause of the break-up. These speculations are rooted in the reposts of Alonzo’s make-up artist, implying manipulation and emotional abuse, which included terms such as “manipulative sadboi.” This could mean that Alonzo went through manipulation and emotional distress while being in a relationship with Roque. However, this was not confirmed by Alonzo’s make-up artist or by her entire party.
Rumors of the breakup further heightened because of Roque’s cryptic posts about suffering and resilience before their official announcement, and even before Abunda’s confirmation of the break-up. The rumor was only confirmed after the ex-couple’s joint statement.
Photo from Inquirer Entertainment
In their ending statement, the ex-couple wished that the public would give them the privacy they needed.
“We kindly request to give us the privacy we need as we navigate our future with respect, kindness, compassion, and dignity.”
As a close—not just to their statement, but also to the rumors and their chapter together as couples, they thanked the people for their support.
The Witches is finally back! Not to fight but to tell the backstory before Dorothy Gale arrived in the Land of Oz.
And guess what? Superbowl Fans got to have the first look at the Wicked Trailer showing Ariana Grande in pink and Cynthia Erivo in green in one of the commercial breaks!
“Don’t be afraid,” Grande as Glinda reassured Erivo as Elphaba.
“I’m not afraid,” Erivo responded
“It’s the Wizard who should be afraid of me.”
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the Land of Oz in this musical movie is different from The Land of Oz that Dorothy Gale encountered. This is because this movie musical is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel which is where the same musical in 2003 was inspired and the original storyline of Wicked precedes Dorothy’s arrival in the magical world. Instead, Wicked tells the story behind two witches Elphaba (later known as the Wicked Witch of the West), and Galinda (later known as The Glinda the Good)
Photo from Us Weekly
The cast also includes Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar; Ethan Slater as Boq; Bowen Yang as Pfannee; and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz.
This movie’s musical version of The Wicked is separated into two wicked movies because according to Chu, it is hard to create only one film out of a musical while still sticking to its original narrativity.
“As we prepared the production over the last year, it became impossible to wrestle the story of ‘Wicked’ into a single film without doing some real damage to it,” Chu said in a post on X (previously known as Twitter) in 2022.
“As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years,” he added.
Photo from @jonmchu on X
“Wicked” was not the only movie that used SuperBowl to promote a film by showing it to the massive audience provided by SuperBowl. “Deadpool 3” also promoted its trailer together with Wicked.
The first movie will be available in theatres on Nov. 27, 2024. Meanwhile, the second movie is expected to be released on Nov. 26, 2025.
The CIT University Learning Resource and Activity Center (LRAC) has been awarded the 2023 Outstanding Academic/Research Library Award by the Philippine Association of Academic/Research Librarians, Inc. (PAARL), standing out among six other nominees across the Philippines. This prestigious award recognizes academic or research libraries for their significant contributions to librarianship and library development within the nation.
PAARL Trophy and Certificate
The LRAC’s recognition underlines its commitment to enhancing education through exceptional resources and services, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly focusing on quality education, sustainable economic growth, and environmental rejuvenation.
Activity CenterElliptical ReadingMultimedia Nook
The PAARL Awards, established in 1973, annually honors libraries that substantially contribute to the academic or research community since the award’s inception in 2000. The CIT University Library, through its innovative services and commitment to academic excellence, has significantly impacted students’ educational experiences, offering access to a vast repository of knowledge and fostering a dynamic academic community.
Activity LoftPitch RoomReading Hub
With its eyes set on the future, the CIT University library continues to evolve, integrating cutting-edge technologies and resources to maintain its leadership in academic and research library services, aiming to empower students and the community towards global sustainability and citizenship. The university and its library celebrate this achievement as a milestone towards continued success, innovation, and a commitment to global sustainability goals.
Chocolates and flowers come and go, but quality time stays in the heart.
Do something different this Valentine’s Day and hop on an adventure-filled date with your lover, friends, and family at SM Seaside City Cebu, where ten unique activities await the SM squad.
SM Skating Rink and Ice Bumper Cars
Who said skating dates can only be experienced in romcoms? Head to SM Seaside and skate your hearts out at the SMSkating Rink. And you know what they say: Love can be a bumpy ride, but so are bumper cars! SM Seaside offers a new activity, especially for couples— the Ice bumpers.
Ice Bumpers: Monday to Thursday from 10AM to 9PM
SM Bowling
Let’s roll back to the 70s! Couples can be quite competitive, but of course, it’s all fun and games. And what better way to have a friendly competition than bowling? Knock down those pins, give your partner a high-five, and erupt in laughter. You can even make a bet: the person with the lowest score buys dinner.
SM Cinema
You can never go wrong with an excellent ol’ movie date! It’s quite a staple date idea even before. Lucky for you, SM Cinema has a great lineup of movies you can watch with your significant other. Of course, popcorn, hotdogs, and drinks are also available to complete your cinema date night. Get a free upsize of popcorn and soda for every purchase of Snack Time Combo Meals 1 and 2 from February 10 to 18, 2024!
Lazer Quest
Here’s another competitive game that couples and friends can play! Introducing the newest and coolest laser tag arena in Cebu— Lazer Quest! It brings such adrenaline and excitement.
Virtual World
Step into the world of futuristic VR with your Valentine’s date! It is filled with games and amusement to make your date extra fun and adventure-filled.
Max Rider
3rd rides? Count us in! Max Rider provides interested riders with an immersive and imaginative experience. It’s like riding a rollercoaster but better and safer. Put on those 3D glasses, get ready to scream, and feel as if you are on the real ride of your life.
Life four Cuts
Nowadays, it is a staple for couples to have couple photos on the back of their phones or in their wallets. Life Four Cuts offers adorable photobooth photos. You can even wear quirky accessories to add more cuteness to your photos.
Dear Self
Have fun with a self-shoot experience at Dear Self Studios. Take adorable self-portraits and capture love in every frame as they introduce their enchanting Valentine’s Day-themed layouts.
Wildbow Archery
Cupid’s not the only one with a bow and arrow. Strike through the targets like you struck through your lover’s heart at Wildbow Archery. It is the perfect date idea for those who are sporty or if you just want something new to do on Valentine’s Day.
The Bear Cave
Feeling artsy with your partner? Then Bear Cave is the right place for you. The Bear Cave is your newest creative playground. Pour your feelings out as you pour different colored paint on a bear canvas. Isn’t that adorable? It’s a great date idea for couples who love art.
Additionally, The Skypark at SM Seaside has transformed into an ideal destination for couples, families, and friends to relax, showing a perfect setting for the golden hour, perfectly suited to listening to some love songs.
Experience an enchanting LOVE PLAYLIST by the Fine Rendition Band on February 14, starting at 5:30 PM at The Skypark.
Indulge in a sumptuous Luck in Love Feast from participating restaurants at SM Seaside.
Spending quality time together might be the best Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other. Bonding not only gives you time for each other, but it can strengthen your relationship. Flowers and sweets are cute, but memories are priceless.
What are you waiting for? Make loving memories at SM Seaside today until February 14!
For more details, follow SM Seaside City Cebu’s Facebook and Instagram Page.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Exact Location: SM Seaside City Cebu in South Road Properties (SRP), Cebu City.
BY MYBUS: You can take a FREE MyBus ride from/to BDO Fuente Osmena from 8:20am to 10:00pm. You can also ride any MyBus from SM City Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue City, Parkmall, and any Cibus to get to and from SM Seaside City Cebu Drop-off point is at the City Wing Entrance.
BY CAR/GRAB/TAXI: Navigate with Waze or Google Maps and set your destination to “SM Seaside City Cebu.” Parking space is free.
Are you dreaming of becoming a content creator but don’t quite know where to start? Well, here’s some good news.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has introduced its new content creation course. The course introduces skills that are required for Filipinos to get ahead in the world of content creation.
Photo from Palawan News
Interested students will learn about the concepts of social media content creation and follow the “latest social media trends and related facts.”
Here are other things you can learn from the course:
Editing images, audio, and video.
Mastering digital equipment and platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Photo from Descript
According to Suharto Mangudadatu, the content creation course can help Filipinos make meaningful content.
Photo from Manila Bulletin
“Many of our kababayans are very talented and resourceful. I am confident that if given the right skills, they will be better positioned to create content that resonate better with their audience, foster meaningful connections, and ultimately contribute significantly to society,”
Mangudadatu said.
If you wish to enroll, you can go ahead and inquire at the nearest TESDA Training Center in your area.
A new song collaboration of Sza and Paramore is in its works! This was revealed by the Grammy-winning “Snooze” singer, Sza during her interview with Apple Music.
Photo from People
“Yeah. Soon, soon.”
“It’s in the works,” the R&B singer added.
She also revealed that one of her SOS songs, “F2F” somehow has a “Paramore” connection to the track and confessed that she consulted Paramore’s lead vocalist, Hayley Williams as she branched out to other genres for her SOS album.
Photo from People
“[The album was] literally me checking off goals. Just me wanting to be like, ‘Oh, I can do this. I don’t suck. Is it possible to achieve this specific goal?'”
“And for each of those genres I would text people like Hayley Williams and be like, ‘Does it sound like I’m trying to do something that I shouldn’t be doing, or does it sound organic? Because it felt really natural to me, but you’re the queen of this, how does it sound to you?'” continued SZA. “And be like, ‘This is perfect.'”
Sza is also often in contact with Hayley more than the publics know which she admitted as a reply to her fans on X.
“Hayley Williams x SZA collab when???” a fan posted on X (formerly known as Twitter)
Photo from @sza on X
Given this, do not be shocked if the alternative-pop-punk ban Paramore is listed as a feature for on SZA’s upcoming Lana project. This project is rumored to double the efforts of the Grammy-winning album, SOS.
From the moment Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick at Stonewall, it has been quite a long way since many of those who preceded the LGBTQ+ community have tried to give language to identities that have always existed, regardless of the lack of recognition or acceptance by many. But even when homophobia and transphobia are supposedly things of a bygone age, the struggle persists.
Every movement is made possible by collectives who place themselves at the forefront of a cause, continuing the foundations built by the previous generations, having gone through hell and back for the community to become what it is today. The world remains an imperfect and cruel one, but every single one of these people is fighting for it to be a livable and safe space for everyone on the spectrum.
The Cebu United Rainbow LGBT Sector (CURLS) is one of the leading organizations in the city that engages locally and nationally regarding this issue, striving for better policy-making to protect the LGBTQ+ and working in the grassroots to give educational discussions to guide people in their journey of self-discovery, and to simply make the distinctions of the LGBTQ+ known as our country has only ever viewed sexuality as binary.
Last December 1, 2023, Lady Extraordinaire, a pageant competed by multiple transwomen, was made possible by CURLS with Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) PROTECTS as one of the sponsors, giving emphasis on fighting HIV and AIDS and the stigma it is so well acquainted with.
Sugbo.ph had the privilege of interviewing three of the women who won in the pageant. We were testimonies of how extraordinary they really are.
Naya Marie (Lady Extraordinaire 2023), Jane Caballes (Lady Extraordinaire Youth Ambassadress), and Vojhn Ilaguison (Lady Extraordinaire Trans Health Ambassadress) are women who have very different paths in life but are all working towards the same goal which is gender equality and trans visibility.
Lady Extraordinaire 2023
Naya, Jane, and Vojhn initially never thought of themselves as being in any pageant. However, when they were informed that Lady Extraordinaire is an event that heavily focuses on advocacies, they knew they had to get their voices heard. 2023 was the third year the pageant was held, having the most contestants in the pageant’s history, with 21 women competing for the crown.
When asked about how the pageant went, they expressed how fulfilling the journey was as they were given the chance to be on an advocacy-focused platform, highlighting the evolution of pageants. Moreover, they were tasked to encourage 50 people to get tested for HIV and AIDS. Jane impressively exceeded the minimum and was able to convince over 100+ people to get tested.
The Advocacies of Jane, Vojhn, and Naya
Jane – Partnership with Private Sectors for HIV Testing
Jane’s platform centered on partnerships with private sector to help with HIV testing, which is exactly why she was able to convince many people to get tested. Working in the BPO industry, her goal is to destigmatize the industry while destigmatizing HIV and AIDS within it. As a result of her campaign, even non-members of the LGBTQ+ in her company participated in the testing.
HIV and AIDS, since their widespread in the 80s, have always been misconceptualized as a “gay disease,” but it is high time society sees STDs for what they are – obtained by anyone regardless of sexuality and should nonetheless underscore the importance of sexual health.
As Jane said, “HIV is similar to other diseases that we should tag with a matter of urgency.”
Vojhn – SOGIE-SC Education
“No one mentored me, like Naya, during my transition,” Vojhn mentioned as she explained why she works so hard in the grassroots to educate people about SOGIE-SC even before and outside the pageant. Her goal is to educate young transwomen grappling with their identity not only for them to know the steps to take after self-actualizing but to deconstruct the transphobia society has deeply ingrained in their minds that is most likely starting to sound like their own voices. Vojhn wants to let them know that what they are going through is normal, and if they already feel like they are women, then they are women.
Vojhn’s work transcends beyond her first pageant. She is part of the National Children and Young People Planning Forum and gives educational discussions regarding SOGIE-SC both in events and casual encounters to reach more people on the ground.
Naya – Quality Education and Gender Equality
As a student herself, Naya recognizes the importance of everyone getting to exercise their rights, especially in a place deemed as where you “get to prepare for the real world”. Quality education is only achieved when gender equality is also in the equation; students are a school’s constituents, and an institution becomes optimally conducive for learning when all identities are protected.
Naya is an SSC Council in her school, working towards institutional policies that reflect her values and the needs of her community. Although not having had anyone to guide her in navigating her identity in her teens, now, at 21, she has realized that giving what she didn’t receive back then is her purpose.
Women and Hair
Vojhn said that the first sense of pride that transwomen feel in the first stages of their transition is their hair. Even way before they take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a transwoman feeling her hair grow is a milestone in her identity. In a world filled with all-too-misplaced gender expectations and haircut policies, this is a point of struggle that every transwoman has faced, with some still continuing to.
She recalled how the very first time she organized something was when she led a group of transwomen to ask their institution to let them keep their hair which has grown over the years during the pandemic. The pandemic was a tragic time, but paradoxically, one that has given transpeople freedom in how they choose to present themselves. Vojhn went to lengths to talk to the school administration, asking them to at least just allow them to tie their hair to resemble a haircut, and as a result of the initial failure to convince them, she was able to tap into CURLS for help, which then connected her to a paralegal for better guidance.
What Vojhn underwent for the simple goal of getting to keep her hair was excruciating. Nonetheless, she was able to succeed in living her truth while still being in school despite everyone telling her she can get her freedom once she graduates. Vojhn said, “Yes, we can tie our hair because we can suppress our identities at school, but outside of that, this is our life. It’s part of our identity.”
Naya had a similar issue in her own institution despite it being a state university. As someone in the SSC, she was one of the people who made the first LGBTQ+ organization in her school after the pandemic named “Balangaw,” which is the local term for rainbow. In spite of a lot of people being scared to hold the kind of conviction Naya has in fear of losing their scholarship, she persisted in getting her platform recognized by the school. With the help of the city ordinance employing anti-discrimination laws, it was approved.
In Jane’s school, she and her peers also organized to ask the principal to allow transwomen to keep their hair. They were outright rejected and were told to just look for other schools, which led them to take it upon themselves to speak to the vice president of the university. In a landscape-defining moment, not only did the vice president approve the haircut policy amendment, but also offered to allow transwomen to wear the female uniform of the school.
“Only we can identify what our SOGIE-SC is and no other person … It takes courage for us to be able to present ourselves to the world, but having someone to talk to us is so helpful, as well as finding the right community … Listening and being open to SOGIE-SC helps the community so much. Listening to peers who are not like you is so important in having a different worldview that makes you a better person.”
–Vojhn Ilaguison
“Despite the happenings in our society, I’ve always believed in one word: padayon. Layo pa ‘ta pero layo na.”
–Jane Caballes
“Take the risk or lose the chance. Do something that you really want and go for the things that make you feel alive and happy because life is too short to be taken away by other people in life.”
–Naya Marie
The triumphs of the community are incremental and slow, but steadfast are the actions of those in the LGBTQ+ community who have gone past the struggle of self-identity and are now fighting for the world to see them as they are. Reversing the conclusions made by a hateful past is hard, but if enough of us are shouting, then there will be no other choice but for our trans sisters and brothers to be heard. The SOGIE Bill protects us all. Destigmatizing HIV and AIDS protects us all.
The world is only as good as how it is able to be systematically fair to everyone. May we all embrace the spectrum and celebrate diversity. Live. Work. And pose.
