I Wanna Know What Love Is (I Want You To Show Me)

By: Lou Maningas Cabalona

 

“What is Love” is one of the most asked questions in the world according to SciShow YouTube channel. For Valentines, it also was the theme of my niece Savy’s first video commercial for a high-end Buffet Restaurant in the Philippines.

The ad showcases real life characters – an interracial couple, a mother and daughter, played by my sister-in-law, Joanna Maningas and Savy, a group of long time female friends and an LGBT couple – reflecting on the question.

Joanna asked, “Honey, what is love?” to which my niece answers, “Love is when mommy gives me a bath, hugs me, and kisses me…when mommy cooks me my meal!” I watched it over and over, I practically memorized everyone’s lines describing when they feel most loved.

Expectedly and heartwarmingly, their answers are as varied as, perhaps, the endless selections of food choices in their Valentine’s Day Date go-to buffet restaurant! Yet, they are altogether, real and true. I asked twelve friends the same question. How about you? ——-

Love is when I feel happy and (I) make my husband, kids, friends and family happy. Love is selfless. Love is good. Love is limitless. I feel loved most when I laugh and when I feel connected with those that surround me…It creates a huge amount of great energy which takes me up to the clouds and I never want to go back to the earth. Ewa Stankiewicz, Chief Marketing Officer, Healthy and Happy Living, Co.,Schaumburg, IL ——-

Love is finding the balance between all aspects of reality and life by being as selfless as possible for the greater good, yet learning to love oneself by respecting all of the creations of this universe. Love is the main prescription of life which sometimes can’t get defined through words but rather via action and expression.

Out of all the chaos I’ve battled, I can say one of my best experiences of love is now; it’s every day, through every individual I interact with in their own special way. Neha Pradhan, Daughter of Nepal and All4DaLoveOfIt YouTube channel creator, Chicago, IL ——-

My definition of love has changed over the years. It used to be the Hollywood romantic fairy tale stuff, but as I’ve gotten older, It’s not necessarily romantic anymore, but it’s about being good, serving one another, sacrifice for the greater good and pleasing God. (I feel) most loved every day when I come home and my dog Pulgoso greets me and my birds Clark and Leah sing when I enter, and before when my bunny Bunbun would hop on me and let me carry him. After God, pets show the most unconditional love, they stay by you no matter what. Steve Angeles, Journalist, ABS-CBN International, Los Angeles, CA ——-

I feel most loved when I am around my family. (Love) is a commitment to be there for someone no matter what, no matter how. Love calls for us to celebrate each other’s strengths and embrace weaknesses. Love is when we learn to forgive each other. It is that invisible force, one that assures us that no matter what, someone will always be beside you. Karina Briguera, Marketing and Design, George Town, Cayman Islands ——-

l feel most loved when people (or someone) sends me a handwritten note, letter or greetings. In this modern era, a personalized greeting card or any simple personalized gift (hand-crafted) still works best for me and I really felt how they exerted an effort to let me feel that I am loved. It is well appreciated! I remembered a classmate in college. It was my birthday and she just gave me a sticky note saying Happy Birthday! With the smiley. I really appreciated it and I kept it in my wallet for years until I lost that wallet. Hjalmar O. Desquitado, Seminarian, Quezon City, Philippines ——-

I feel most loved when I’m at my worst and my husband responds by being even more caring and compassionate (or just by making me laugh!). We all have bad days and it’s good to know someone has our back no matter what happens. Maris Aylward, TV Host and Yoga Teacher, Kansas City, MO —–—

I think (not so sure) that I felt most loved at my high school graduation. It was just a super celebratory moment, with my friends, my mother, my teachers. That was also the year I came out and learned to love myself. I had felt accomplished because I was on my way to Northwestern. Rohan Zhou-Lee, Dancer and Marketing / PR Manager at ShawChicago Theater Company Evanston, IL ——-

Sugar: My identical twin sister, Giovanna Krozel (aka Spice) is my inspiration, my happy place and my soft place to land – that’s love for me. Spice: Love is seeing the best in one another. And being with each other makes us our best selves. I feel this for and with my twin sister, Sugar and my husband, Ken. Almira “Sugar” Yllana, Global Quality Specialist at Accenture Giovanna “Spice” Krozel, Director, Global Procurement Gurnee, IL ——-

I felt most loved every time I see my son smile. My monster is 3 years old. He’s Kurt Enrique. Despite of all my hardwork and accomplishments, he is my greatest achievement. Everything I do is for him. Despite being a single dad, I make sure I never make him less loved and less important. He is the sweetest and a very happy boy!! I make sure he feels love and never stop teaching the values of looking back to our roots. I bring him to feeding programs and gatherings to socialize with kids who are less fortunate Reffix Cuaresma, Goalkeeper, Stallions Football Team Makati City, Philippines ——-

Whenever we laugh out loud – I feel most loved by my boyfriend when we do silly things to crack each other up. And, of course, whenever I’m fed, when laundry is done, or when silly funny-face photos are sent out of the blue. – Kit Zulueta, likes Sense of Humor, Maui, Hawaii ——-

Juice I don’t know when doves cry, i just know when I do. not the rainfall that wipes your face under the storm nor the dance of each droplet creating the map of your body. it’s those that have wings that can fly away and not get too far or wide because it flies inside your skin, like melancholy juice. like sweat in Astoria during the 4th of July. i used to save all my tears in a jar that an old lover left behind. or was it a Paso Robles wine glass, or a lipstick stained mug? Giovanni Ortega, Artist Los Angeles, CA

Happy Valentines, Everyone! To my husband, Baron, whose love I feel every day in his thoughtful gestures and caring words. YOU are Love, my mahal.

Valentines Weekend Show Recommendation: Come out to see a new world premiere musical at the Goodman’s Albert Theatre. Academy Award Nominee Jose Rivera’s “AnotherWord For Beauty” reveals the life and struggles of female Colombian inmates as they vie to win the title at the annual beauty contest held at El Buen Pastor Prison. An enjoyable musical that is unexpectedly good mix of Filipino telenovela and virbrant latin dance music, Pinoys will definitely be able to relate and be entertained. Runs through Feb 21, tickets at GoodmanTheatre.org/Beauty

(1) The Maningas Family: Joanna, Savy and comic dad, J-Rick; (2) My niece, Savy Maningas’ “What is Love” commercial for Vikings, a popular highend buffet restaurant chain in the Philippines.

(1) (Clockwise from top left) Ewa Stankiewicz, Brother Hjalmar Desquitado, Dave and Maris Aylward, Giovanni Ortega; (2) (Clockwise from top left) Neha Pradhan, Deron Furukawa and Kit Zulueta in Dragon Ball Z outfits, Karina Briguera, Reffix Cuaresma and son, Kurt Enrique; (3) (From L to R) Giovanna “Spice” and Ken Krozel, Almira “Sugar” Yllana, Steve Angeles, Rohan Zhou-Lee.