MANILA — Valentine's Day is not only a time to express love for those who are living but also a time to reflect and celebrate the lives of those who have departed to somehow heal from the trauma for some of our fellow Filipinos.

In an event organized by the Divine Word Seminary's Project Paghihilom, dubbed as "Pagdiriwang ng mga Pusong Naghihilom"  on February 12, 2025 in Makati City, relatives of some of the victims of Tokhang gather and reminsce the lives of the ones killed in former Rodrigo Duterte's bloody drug war.

"Kat," not her real name, turns emotional as she remembers her husband who is one of the fatalities of Tokhang.

"Naiiyak ako siyempre naaalala ko yung asawa ko kasi kapag Valentine's Day nandyan yung aming anak. Sasabihin niya sa kin na aalis tayo mamaya Ma, Pa, kakain tayo sa labas. Pero sa ngayon nandon pa rin yung sa sakit na nawala ang asawa ko. Kada Valentine's, siya yung unang bumabati sa akin. Kada Valentine naaalala ko ang asawa ko," she recalled.

(I cry everytime I remember my husband because on Valentine's Day, our son is there. He would say we would go out and eat together. Now though, the pain of losing my husband is still there. Every Valentine's, he is the first to greet me. Every Valentine's I remember my husband.)

Kat added, "Kahit wala siya, pakiramdam ko naman na kasama ko pa rin siya. Maniwala kayo't hindi, kahit nandyan ang mga anak at apo ko, mas masaya kung nandito siya kasi andami na naming apo. Yung iba hindi niya na nakita, mas dumami pa. Papa, mahal na mahal kita. Mahal ka namin ng mga anak mo, nga mga apo mo kahit di mo na sila inabutan."

(Even though he is not there, I feel that he is still with me. Believe it or not, even though my children and grandchildren are here, it is happier if he is here because we already have many grandchildren. The others he never saw, there were more. Pa, I love you so much. We love you and your children, even your grandchildren even though you never met them.)

"Nami-miss ko na yung pag magkasama kami na masayang masaya, magkatabi kami lagi lalo pag gabi, masaya yun siyempre. Pero ngayon masaya na masakit. Hindi pa nawawala. Kung may paghilom man, pero masakit pa din." continued Kat.

(I miss the time when we were happy together, we were always next to each other especially at night, that was fun of course. But now it's painfully happy. The pain is still there. If there is healing, but it still hurts.)

A FATHER'S LOVE

Meanwhile, Renato Evangelista, 66, and a tricycle driver from Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City also lost his son because of the drug war.

Tatay Renato, who has been healing for years now still wishes for him to be with all of his six children this Valentines Day, despite the loss of one his son.

"Gusto ko sana na magkakasama kami ng aking mga anak kasi lahat ng mga anak ko kumpleto, siya na lang yung nawawala kaya gusto ko sa Valentines maging masaya din siya sana," said Evangelista.

(I would like my children and I to be together because all my children are complete, he is the only one missing so I want him to be happy on Valentines.)

"Kung naririnig man ako ng anak ko sa ngayon, sana masaya siya don sa pinuntahan niya. Sa Valentine na to, maging masaya ka diyan sa kinatatayuan mo. Sana maging masaya siya,sana maging maligaya siya ngayong Valentine," he ended.

(If my son can hear me right now, I hope he is happy where he went. This Valentine, be happy where you are. I hope he is happy, I hope he is happy this Valentine.)