IN THIS season of love and affection, nothing defines love more affectingly than a unified family. Here are my siblings and their families offering answers to one of the most immensurable questions in life: "What is love?"
The video highlights our family activities since 2018, the last time we all got together in Manila. When the pandemic began, we used technology to bring us together, and we've remained connected on virtual space since then. My oldest brother Lex came up with the idea of a "reunion video" using the song "Nandito Pa Rin Tayo" by The Company. We agreed to show it after our weekly devotional gathering on 13 February, which was themed on love. I thought that the words and music were tailor-made for the project. I used videos and images in alternation—for example, the first stanza carried pictures, and the next stanza, videos. This was done, not only to create excitement, but to "humanize" the flow of images since this video is about love.
I've been creating videos as a hobby for many years now. But this one's different: it involves universal participation. A few hours before our devotional program, I was still chasing some of my siblings for last-minute videos since the flow of the story just wasn't going right. (They all willingly obliged.) This particular project wouldn't have happened without the avid contributions of the family. The satisfaction is a mixture of poignancy, humor, and affirmation. I think it shows on the final product.
Julie Ancheta's definition of love sums it all up. She quoted from 'Abdu'l-Bahá''s 14 January 1913 address to the Bahá'ís of London.
What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living powers.
Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold. Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful.
In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love. When the heart of man is aglow with the flame of love, he is ready to sacrifice 180 all—even his life. In the Gospel it is said God is love.
That is love.
SONG: "Nandito Pa Rin Tayo" (We're Still Here)
ARTIST: The Company
WORDS & MUSIC: Moy Ortiz
ORCHESTRA: FILharmoniKA
CONDUCTOR: Gerard Salonga
