President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. marked Valentine’s Day with personal reflections on love and marriage, telling couples that lasting relationships are anchored on friendship, mutual understanding, and the willingness to “give and take.”

In his BBM Vlog episode 277, released on Saturday, Marcos encouraged couples to value each other’s company and recognize the rarity of finding someone who genuinely cares for them.

“Enjoy each other’s company. It is rare to find someone that you care for and cares for you, who you have a very nice time together,” the President said. 

He went on. “That brings us back to the concept of friendship. That’s what you should try to find. And once you have found it and it’s Valentine’s Day, enjoy it to the fullest. It is a lovely feeling.”

Remembering his more than three decades of marriage to First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, Marcos said the key to a strong partnership is “bigayan,” or mutual understanding.

“Palagay ko alam na ito ng matagal nang mag-asawa. Ang sikreto lang diyan—hindi naman talaga sikreto—ay dapat bigayan,” he said. 

“Hindi naman pare-pareho ang lahat ng tao. Dapat nagbibigayan lang at nagkakaunawaan ang mag-asawa. Hindi puwedeng ‘my way or no way,’ dahil kapag ganoon, may isang laging malungkot.”

When asked about how the first couple and their kids balance work and family, Marcos said small, thoughtful acts and making time for one another despite busy schedules help sustain long-term relationships.

He acknowledged that balancing public duties and family life remains a challenge for the First Family, noting that nearly everyone in their household has demanding commitments.

“Isa na ito sa pinakamahirap na gawin dahil halos lahat ng pamilya ko, we are all very busy,” Marcos said. “Kung minsan mahirap makabuo ng kahit isang araw lang o mag-dinner man lang. Basta’t meron kaming opportunity na magsama, we take it.”

Family gatherings, he shared, are often spontaneous—sometimes a quick long-weekend trip to Ilocos or another destination—whenever their schedules align. “Hindi namin maplano talaga kung minsan. Biglaan na lang. Uy, libre tayong lahat. O sige, magkita tayo. We’ll do something together,” he said.

Marcos also took note of the festive Valentine’s atmosphere nationwide, citing crowded malls and restaurants filled with couples, busy flower vendors, and heavy traffic—expressing hope that love and goodwill would prevail despite the rush.

Asked further about a song that represents their relationship, the President said while no single track perfectly captures their story, “Moonlight in Vermont,” sung by Sarah Vaughan, holds special meaning as it played during one of their first dates in New York.

He also weighed in on a social media trend in which young people share stories of risking friendships by confessing romantic feelings, referencing the song “Ruin the Friendship” by Taylor Swift.

Marcos said he does not believe romance necessarily ruins a friendship, arguing instead that friendship forms the foundation of a healthy relationship.

“I don’t think that ruins the friendship,” he said. “For me, the basis of any good relationship is true friendship. The best relationships I’ve seen have all started by being friends.”

He added that couples who genuinely enjoy and support each other are more likely to build lasting unions. “Kung hindi kayo magkaibigan, you don’t have fun with each other. You don’t enjoy each other’s company. If that doesn’t happen, mahirap talagang magkaroon ng pagsasama,” the President said.

As couples across the country celebrated Valentine’s Day, Marcos’ message centered on a simple but enduring idea: love grows strongest when rooted in friendship and sustained by understanding.