Cupid with a Pen
10:26 PM
TODAY the City of Love is Cupid’s playground as we celebrate Valentine ’s Day.Often he’s depicted as a diaper-clad cherub wielding arrows with heart-shaped tips. But here in Iloilo she’s a young woman wearing bohemian blouses, brandishing her pen and ink with whole lot of love to share.
“I love playing cupid more than being the one shot with an
arrow,” shares the 20-year-old Denise Marie Silva, a calligrapher passionate
about the beauty of handwritten letters.
Denise
Denise’s elaborate handiwork already adorns the walls of
several shops and restaurants all over the city, from Bistro Carcosa’s
chalkboard menu to framed quotes at Fuel.ph.
But for Valentine’s Day,
she’s decided to share her lettering talents to romantics and suitors alike,
with her lettering hub Tigbato accepting commissions to translate love letters
and thoughtful phrases into calligraphy for gifts.
“Valentine’s day is usually the biggest holiday when it comes
to showing romantic affection. What’s more touching than receiving a classic
heartfelt love letter written in calligraphy along with flowers and some
chocolates?” shares Denise who admits this year she’s celebrating V-day single.
Back in college, she was asked by someone to rewrite a love
letter for him to give his crush, and Denise took the idea and ran with it.
“There’s just something nostalgic yet romantic in reading a handwritten letter. It shows effort and affection,” she added.
Anticipating today’s event,
Denise translated 20 letters into beautiful typography, each taking one to
three hours to finish.
Reading sweet messages from
a motley crew of loving people, Denise admits that some of the Valentine’s day
spirit rubbed off on her – “Some were romantics, expressing love for their
partner. Some were poets. Some were both, I felt kilig all the same,” mused
Denise.
“Others were trying to redeem themselves from the mistake they’ve made. It was an awesome experience. What I loved the most was the fact that their show of affection was not limited to their lovers but also their loved ones,” she added.
Asked if she encountered any
corny lines and weird sentiments, “No corny lines so far,” she shared with a
laugh.
Denise treasures the
experience of being a part of other people’s Valentine’s day celebration. She
hopes from the bottom of her heart that everyone who receives the letters she
helped create would be wooed, making their V-day celebrations just a little
more special and memorable.
Asked what she’d want to
write for her own letters this hearts day, “I want to tell my bestfriend how
much I’m very proud of him. I want to wish all my exes the best and I hope
they’re having a wonderful life. I would also say sorry to the people I caused
pain to. “
Though single herself, the
thought that she’s played cupid
for people and helped them mend and strengthen
their relationships could.
on Instagram to see their items and crafts.
Photos from the Official Tigbato page
0 comments