Today, lovestruck Pinoys celebrate Valentine’s Day, the Roman Catholic Church’s rather successful attempt to supplant a pagan feast (Lupercalia) with a Catholic one (although no longer an offical Catholic holiday). It is this day that lovers celebrate, er – love, by exchanging gifts (but most of the time it is the male who gives the gift, usually flowers), going on romantic dinner dates, watching a movie, and/or going somewhere else, all on the same night.

In Japan and Korea, it is usually the women who give gifts to mean. And the men are expected to reciprocate a month later (White Day). Note that both countries do not have Valentines traditionally; both were products of a very successful marketing campaign.

Singles are sidelined in this occassion. Koreans thought of this as an injustice, and so thought of Black Day, and in some other parts of the world, there’s Singles Awareness Day.

In the spirit of fairness, I then propose that we Pinoys adopt a Black Day/Singles Awareness Day, preferably coinciding with the Korean Black Day. Single Pinoys can gather in a park, wear black, drink black gulaman (preferably sponsored by Chowking), and toast their single-blessedness and wish each other better luck. Counselors should be present, in case of emergency.