Next week, a big event’s coming up, and by the looks of it, I’m gonna miss the 4th Lovapalooza. Again. Due to circumstances outside my control. Again. Darnit. *sigh* It really had to come at a time wherein there’s a big campaign for the Philippines to regain the Guinness Record for the most couples kissing simultaneously. The record was first set in 2004, with more than 5,300 couples, but it’s currently held by Hungary, after their own version featured more than 5,700 couples. There’s also the perfect venue for this year, the newly opened SM Mall of Asia. Everything would’ve been perfect, if not for the fact that I need to be at work that day. What rotten luck.
When TV stations started airing the Close Up commercials for the original Lovapalooza way back in 2004, I was intrigued. It never occurred to me at first that there could be a world record for the event, after all, it seemed weird that no one had thought of it before. But I soon had to smile when I remembered that even the most absurd things, such as the person with the longest nails, had a spot in the book. So off I went, excited about the prospect of being included in a world record attempt, and tried to convince Ellie to go with me. I don’t really remember if she said yes or not, but at that time, I couldn’t get the time off from work, my leave wasn’t approved and I had to find some other thing to think about when the time for the event arrived.
Oh well, I just hope the attempt to get the record back would fail, so that I’ve got more motivation to try to make the event (if ever there is one) next year.
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Valentines is just around the corner, and pretty soon flowers would be given en masse. Did you ever wonder what different flower and flower colors mean?
Flower colors:
- Yellow - Happiness, Enthusiasm, Friendship, Jealousy, Treachery, Pride, Success and Luxury
- Orange - Satisfaction of attaining success and strengthened love
- Violet - Hope, Generosity, Faithfulness, Modesty, Passion, Humility
- Red - Passion, Love, Admiration, Courage, Desire, Constancy, Youth, Respect
- Green - Feeling of joy and optimism
- White - Pious, Purity, Heavenly, Sincere feeling, Innocence, Silence
- Lavender - Feminism, Grace, elegance
- Pink - Delicate, Grace, Gentle, Confidence, Admiration
Lots of flowers have different meanings. I picked some of the most common ones and what they mean:
- Bouquet of withered flowers – Rejected love
- Buttercup – Cheerfulness
- Carnation (in general) – Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; woman love
- Carnation (pink) – I’ll never forget you
- Carnation (red) – My heart aches for you; admiration
- Carnation (yellow) – Rejection; disdain
- Chrysanthemum (in general) – Cheerfulness; You’re a wonderful friend
- Forget-Me-Not – True love
- Gardenia – You’re lovely; secret love
- Hyacinth (yellow) – Jealousy
- Jasmine – Amiability; attracts wealth
- Lily (white) – Virginity; purity; majesty; it’s heavenly to be with you
- Mistletoe – Kiss me; affection; to surmount difficulties
- Orchid – Love; beauty; refinement; beautiful lady; Chinese symbol for many children
- Peony – Aphrodisiac
- Rose (general)(Red) – Love ; I love you
- Rose bud – Beauty and youth ; a heart innocent of love
- Roses(Bouquet of full bloom) – Gratitude
- Tulip(general) – Fame, charity; perfect lover
- Tulip(red) – Believe me; declaration of love
Having read that a bouquet of roses means gratitude, I’m starting to wonder whether I should still buy Ellie one. I’ll think about it, or and maybe how overboard I’m gonna go this year.
Have a great weekend, blogosphere! 
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Flower colors taken from this, and the language of flowers taken from this.
22 responses so far ↓
Abaniko // February 3, 2007 at 9:07 am
I was thinking, what about making this event more exciting? Like turning all the lights off while couples are kissing. Someone will announce that total darkness is gonna last for 3 minutes Then suddenly turn on the lights after 2 minutes. Let’s see what the world will witness.
verns // February 3, 2007 at 2:28 pm
oh another entry about Valentines Day…I better get outta here lol
dimaks // February 3, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Hope for the best Prab
verns, bilisan mo baka abutan ka ng isa pang post tungkol sa balentayms! lol
Gypsy // February 3, 2007 at 5:30 pm
How about composing your girl an ODE instead? You’re a good writer.
Of course flowers to go with it would be a nice touch.
annamanila // February 3, 2007 at 8:51 pm
If you miss that kissing marathon (lovapalooza ba?) again this year, you may wish to go to mass at UP Diliman chapel the Sunday nearest V-day. Father Jiboy usually has special treats and blessings for couples. Last year, he asked couples to come forward and tell each other “i love you because …..” and “i wish you would …..” Then he asked all couples to kiss to the count of 60 seconds and blessed them. I noticed some of the men retreat when they knew what was up. Got cold feet.
pining // February 4, 2007 at 12:32 am
Oh, I heard about that, what a shame you couldn’t come, it might make a difference , might break the record
rhodora // February 4, 2007 at 1:14 am
If you are going to give flowers to a Chinese lady, don’t pick white!
When I was still teaching (I taught in a Chinese school), I was assigned to prepare the flowers to be given to teachers on our Teachers’ Day. I picked white daisies kasi I thought they were divine and neat. Naku! Nagalit sila sa akin, because for them daw, white flowers are meant for the dead! From then on, pag naa-assign uli ako nito, I made sure, red roses na lang para safe.
tobeme // February 4, 2007 at 4:19 am
Too bad that you can’t make the event.
Interesting list of what different flowers mean.
I suggest that the flower means whatever your intent is!
AaronBurr // February 4, 2007 at 5:21 am
Nothing says “love” and “romance” like doing what everybody else is doing. Just think how romantic it would be if all 5,700 couples gave each other matching pink carnations. I think that would make a girl feel really special.
Wil // February 4, 2007 at 6:44 am
I thought that kissing in public was frowned upon for a conservative country like the Philippines. So I guess I’m surprised that they’re trying to go for this record. Well, I guess it’s good that the Philippines is focusing on important issues like the most number of simultaneous kissers. hahaha.
Prab // February 4, 2007 at 2:55 pm
@Niko
lol! I wonder… *imagination starts going wild*
But Manila Mayor Lito Atienza usually attends the event, so if ever that does happen, does it mean he sort of sanctioned it?
@Verns
It’s not about love and romance, naman eh.
@Dimaks
No worries, dude. I’m the epitome of optimism.
Prab // February 4, 2007 at 2:59 pm
@Gypsy
That’s a very good idea, thanks. I’ll try, but when it comes to stuff like that, Ellie does it better. But then again, it’s the thought that counts, right?
@Annamanila
Really? I didn’t know that. We’ll soon find out. I already talked Ellie into going next Sunday evening to find out. I wonder why the others got cold feet though, after all, they love (supposedly) the person they’re gonna say it too right?
@Pining
I know. It really sucks. And it came at a time wherein there are no leaves allowed at work. That’s why I hope they fail, so that I can join the event again next year. Mwahahaha!
Prab // February 4, 2007 at 3:03 pm
@Rhodora
It’s a good thing Ellie’s doesn’t have Chinese descent. ‘Coz if she did, I’m dead, as I heard that Chinese are only supposed to mary within their race or something.
About the flowers thing, what if that’s her favorite? I mean white colored ones? That’s an exception, right?
@Mark
I wonder what would happen if you gave out different- colored flowers, that might actually form a sentence. That would really be interesting.
@AaronBurr
What a good idea! Maybe the exchanging of flowers thing during the event would be another mark for a Guinness Record, something like the most flowers exchanged simultaneously. Thanks for dropping by.
@Wil
I think special events such as this one are an exception. I just noticed it now, but in the picture I have there, there seems to be two guys making out. lol
Toe // February 4, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Wow, so were you going to be one of the couples if you weren’t going to work?
I love white roses. In my wedding, I only had white roses everywhere.
annamanila // February 4, 2007 at 5:32 pm
No, no .. Father Jboy — very groovy priest, chaplain of students sa ateneo, asst chaplain sa UP — officiates in the 11 am mass. Cool ka lang dyan. I will find out if that’s still his sked and will get back to you.
Prab // February 4, 2007 at 7:02 pm
@Toe
I was hoping so. But no, eh.
@Annamanila
Copy, 10-4.
Elaine // February 9, 2007 at 8:02 pm
And I read from a Yahoo! valentines article that you shouldn’t give yellow roses also to a girl you like romantically as this means ‘just friendship’…
Not that it matters even to me coz I don’t like roses. I love sunflowers.
Good luck. 
Prab // February 10, 2007 at 4:44 am
Elaine! Long time no see.
I heard the same thing too. lol Why sunflowers, btw? Don’t you want to feel “in season?”
Elaine // February 10, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Long time no see indeed.
Sunflowers – because they follow the sun!
Roses are all for just beauty and romance, and I’m also a hopeless romantic, but roses (especially red roses) are just too ’serious’ and ‘typical’ for me.
Prab // February 10, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Good point. But aren’t sunflowers a bit too big for them to be given as a Valentine gift? I can only guess how you can arrange them in a bouquet too.
Elaine // February 11, 2007 at 3:42 pm
But I’m a simple person and I don’t usually go for bouquets, so one big sunflower can make my day!
Anyway, now you have the good point.
I shouldn’t have argued with a UPian. Hahah.
Know what, I graduated high school from Ateneo (in our place, not Manila) but that’s not to say much, noh? Anyhow, good point about the sunflowers. Aren’t they huge sometimes, though.
redhotchilli77 // February 13, 2007 at 9:23 am
Prab! Hehehe! It’s been so long since I dropped by your page! Heck, it’s been so long since I dropped by mine either.