The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Valentine’s like Christmas is an occasion deeply rooted in tradition, global or indigenous, cultural and otherwise.
It is a season when the celebration is also founded on religion.
It is because Valentine’s Day commemorates the martyrdom of St. Valentine on February 14 thousand of years ago.
St. Valentine
He was martyred because of his defense of epilepsy and other causes.
How in these contemporary times honor the value of St. Valentine on love and romance association?
The answer lies in the historical data that he was a patron of people who make wishes for love and a happy marriage.
Like Christmas, Valentine has been dragged along and known to be a source of commercial possibilities.
In a consumerist society such as ours, Valentine is not without the spending to celebrate it.
Valentine’s Day is also grounded on the mode of production in the capitalist framework of profits.
Sale of red roses
From the sale of red roses sent to a loved one to dinner dates of lovers being serenaded with love songs to the mounting of Valentine musical shows, Valentine’s Day is a business enterprise as well.
To be more sexist if not scintillating about it, motels and hotels are fully booked this time of the year for lovers of any gender preferences but the hetero pairing is more on the taking.
This Valentine, not a few concerts are mounted in many parts of the globe.
In the Philippines, long preparations of such shows are in order especially of big ones but other gigs of the same spirit are up for consumption by the market of diverse demographics.
Martin Nievera and “Champions of the Heart”
It is an event awaited by musicians and listeners alike to impart and receive their art, respectively, then share the beauty of life and the meaningfulness of the red-letter day.
We can think of productions to be presented before, during and post-Valentine like “Champions of the Heart” featuring Martin Nievera, Jed Madela, Jona, Klarisse de Guzman and Sofronio Vasquez at the Marriot Grand Ballroom on February 14; “Ryan Cayabyab’s Love Letters” starring National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, also known as Mr. C, and some of his proteges and colleagues like Celeste Legaspi, Basil Valdez, Ogie Alcasid etc. at The Proscenium on February 13 to 15; “Sweet Notes” being presented by Sweet Notes couple Jeffrey Bactong, Jr., or simply BJ and Charlotte May Bactong at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao on February 13; “Yugyugan sa Valentine” headlining OPM (Original Pilipino Music) legends Nonoy Tan, Leah Navarro, Sampaguita, among others at the Teatrino in Greenhills, San Juan on February 14 etc.
Zsa Zsa Padilla in Cebu
Provincial shows are also in array like “Valentine’s Spotlight Sessions Grand Concert” starring Zsa Zsa Padilla, Erik Santos, Angeline Quinto and AON at the NUSTAR Grand Ballroom in Cebu City on February 14; an untitled special Valentine show presenting Amazing Diva Armida Zuniega, jazz couple, singer Jeannie Tiongco and pianist Henry Katindig at the Ballroom of the Gateway Hotel and Suites in Iloilo on February 14 and many, many more.
Overseas are also teeming with Valentine shows of Filipino talents however belated like “Love Generation Concert” showcasing the musical talents of Michael Pangilinan, Julie Ann San Jose and Marko Rudio at Dubai World Trade Center Halls, 7 & 8 last February 7.
These are just a few of the varied Filipino Valentine musical offerings.
They are not simply artistic, they are also commercial.
Why not?
Valentine shows and profits
These gigs ought to be patronized precisely because they are business ventures where logistics, human and financial capitals are at stake.
Bringing joy and happiness isn’t only a pursuit of advocacy it also comes with profits to subsist and assist financially in next productions.
Talents are also workers to be compensated.
Well, even free admission initiatives are entrepreneurial.
What is prostitution of a Valentine show is a- lousy, intrepid, lackluster, exploitative and poor- quality productions designed for money alone.
A Valentine show, or any show for that matter, big or small, if well-thought and well-executed, is commendable however ticket prices are high or free to the public.