Showing posts with label Valentine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Dedicated to the one I love ... on Valentine Day
Thinking of you always ... especially on Valentine
LU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtw_ENQI0NA
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Happy Valentine Soch and KI-media!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Bq8SVk2kq0w#t=181s
Courtesy of Sunday Production
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Monday, February 14, 2011
A Love Story
A LOVE STORY
14 February, St. Valentine’s Day 2011
By Theary C. Seng, Phnom Penh
Theary Seng (Photo: Roland Neveu, Dec. 2009
. . . . .
In celebration of St. Valentine’s Day, I’m going to tell you of a true love story.
This is a story of romantic love, of filial love, and of agape love. Or, in the words of C. S. Lewis, it is a true story involving all the Four Loves: (i) Affection, (ii) Friendship, (iii) Eros/Romance, and (iv) Agape, the unconditional love of God.
It is the true romantic love story of Margaret (nee Betten) and Wallace Boelkins – loved and called by everyone—young or old; family, friends or staff—as “Marge” and “Wally”. It is also a story of their love for me and my family. Over the past 20+ years, they were/are my best friends whom I introduced to the outside world, in order to give more respect and coherence, as my “godparents”. Of my forty years on earth, they have been the most constant presence to me, in complementing and supplementing the nurturing role of “parents” to a very needy, broken person.
The violent deaths of my father when I was only four years old and my mother when I was only seven left a deep, tumultuous void in my heart and soul, which my maternal grandmother, Lauk Yeay, Yi Hao filled extraordinarily and beautifully as much as a human angel could until she passed away in 1998.
Around this time three years ago, a few days after the Mia Farrow high-intensity visit in Cambodia of 2008, Marge passed away peacefully surrounded by her six children and their spouses, and 20+ grandchildren.
(There have been three deaths which carry deep, searing spiritual significance for me: the death of my mom when I first experienced the separation of the body and the soul, the death of mom’s mom (Lauk Yeay Yi Hao) when again I felt gutted immediately upon hearing the news, and the death of Marge, when I could not feel more alone, as I felt I just lost a best friend, a spiritual guide and a parent all in one—all three pivotal moments which continue to bring tears to my eyes of both sadness and joy upon quiet reflections of them.)
Marge (nee Betten) and Wally Boelkins, photo undated.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
In celebration of Valentine
Dear KI-Media readers,
For the past few weeks, Southern California where I live has been blessed by an incredibly nice and warm weather during daytime while other parts of the country are buried in snow and cold. Here, in the middle of the afternoon, the temperature could climb all the way up to 80 or 90F (~27-32 degree Celsius). After visiting colder parts of the continent recently, I couldn’t resist our tempting warm weather so I fixed up my beat up bicycle and off on the road I went. The warm sensation was incredible in comparison to the biting cold I had to endure earlier: gone are the thick coat, the gloves … hello T-shirt and short again!
 |
| The Angel Stadium in Anaheim seen from a bike trail next to the dried up Santa Ana River |
Time sure flies, it was just New Year the other day and now Valentine is already around the corner. On this occasion, I would like to dedicate the following two songs by Sin Sisamouth to a special someone out there who is lovely as a rose, but tough as a nail.
Sin Sisamouth – Reatrey Chan Muoy Chomnet (Crescent moon night)
Sin Sisamouth – Aun La’or Doch Phka (Lovely as a Flower)
Try as I might, I simply couldn’t remember if I ever heard the song “Reatrey Chan Muoy Chomnet” in the past or not, however, when I first listened to it recently, I knew that I heard this melody before but I just couldn’t remember where. Then, one day, out of the blue, it hit me that this song closely resemble to the Indian song “Aaiye Merherbaan” (Welcome, My Lord) from the classic 1958 Indian movie “Howrah Bridge” which I had the opportunity to watch once long ago. As it turns out, this Indian song is in fact a famous Indian oldies and if you were to remove some part of it, then you quickly realize where Mr. Sin Sisamouth borrowed this melody from.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Cambodia: Valentine's Day Sparks Controversy
Sunday, February 14th, 2010By Sopheap Chak
Global Voice Online
Valentine's Day was first celebrated in Cambodia in 2000. It is now a popular event in the country, especially among the youth. The government, with the help of some bloggers, use this occasion to promote sexual health and reproductive health rights among the younger generation
Celebrating Valentine's Day is relatively a recent phenomenon in Cambodia. It was only in the past decade when Valentine's Day was celebrated in the country. Though Valentine's Day has gained much popularity among the younger generation, its definition and practice remain controversial. They spark an alarming attention especially on the wrong practice associated with this global occasion.
Many writers regret that the meaning of Valentine's Day has been misinterpreted. Chhay Sophal, in his article on ” ប្រយ័ត្នទិវា វ៉ាឡិនថាញដេ ក្លាយជាទិវាស្នេហ៍កម្មជាទិវានៃក្តីស្រឡាញ់” [Be Warned of Valentine's Day to Become a Regrettable Eve], emphasized that the youth have confusingly transformed the meaning of Valentine's day:
These observations have been shared by Vutha Morn who questioned the link of culture identity and cultural preservation while Sidaroth Kong wrote in her Facebook status that “Valentine's Day and Controversy Khmer Culture: Is sleeping with your partner the only way to show that you love him?”
According the a cross-sectional research on “Love and Sexual Relationship: Experiences and Plans of Middle Class Young People Regarding the Upcoming Valentine's Day In Phnom Penh in 2009″ done by Soprach Tong, who surveyed 458 youths aging from 15 to 24, majority of them do not understand the background of Valentine’s Day. Asked if the middle class young people in Phnom Penh plan to be sexually active on the upcoming Valentine’s Day, Soprach found that:
From this result, the author urged for attention on sexual consent, sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programs which target young people in the urban areas of Cambodia.
Given these alarming facts and concerns, the Cambodian Ministry of Women's Affairs, initiated five-minute spots educating the teenagers about the “meaning of the Valentine's day” in order that the young will be encouraged to expresses their love to family first, followed by teachers and then friends. This educational spot which aims to warn Cambodian teenagers against engaging in promiscuous sex has been welcomed by majority of students, teachers, and bloggers.
Celebrating Valentine's Day is relatively a recent phenomenon in Cambodia. It was only in the past decade when Valentine's Day was celebrated in the country. Though Valentine's Day has gained much popularity among the younger generation, its definition and practice remain controversial. They spark an alarming attention especially on the wrong practice associated with this global occasion.
Many writers regret that the meaning of Valentine's Day has been misinterpreted. Chhay Sophal, in his article on ” ប្រយ័ត្នទិវា វ៉ាឡិនថាញដេ ក្លាយជាទិវាស្នេហ៍កម្មជាទិវានៃក្តីស្រឡាញ់” [Be Warned of Valentine's Day to Become a Regrettable Eve], emphasized that the youth have confusingly transformed the meaning of Valentine's day:
ដោយឡែកនៅកម្ពុជា វប្បធម៌នេះក៏មានប្រជាប្រិយផងដែរចាប់តាំងពីឆ្នាំ ២០០០ មកពិសេសក្នុងចំណោមយុវវ័យ។ អ្វីដែលគួរឲ្យកត់សំគាល់ គឺពួកយុវវ័យ មួយចំនួនបានយកអត្ថន័យនៃទិវានេះទៅជាទិវាមួយសម្រាប់គូស្នេហ៍ទៅវិញ ដោយបកប្រែពាក្យ វ៉ាឡិនថាញ ដេ (valentine day) ថាជាទិវាសង្សារទៅវិញ ដែលធ្វើឲ្យពួកយុវវ័យខ្មែរយល់ខុសវក់នឹងសង្សារ មិនបានគិតពីមិត្តភក្កិដទៃ ពិសេសឪពុកម្តាយបងប្អូនរបស់ខ្លួន។Sophal also highlighted the negative impact resulting from the misinterpretation of Valentine's Day. This includes sexual misconduct among young lovers, which is a violation of Cambodian culture, especially for unmarried couples. Another impact is the possible harm on the reproductive health of young women.
Valentine's Day has become popular among young generations in Cambodia since 2000. Strikingly, some young people have wrongly defined this Valentine's Day as the “Eve for Lovers” instead of “Eve for Love” with the latter referring to love for parents, relatives and friends in general.
ជាការពិត យើងមិនទោមនស្សនឹងក្តីស្រឡាញ់របស់យុវវ័យនោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែលយើងព្រួយបារម្ភនោះគឺស្រ្តីវ័យក្មេងអាចបាត់បង់កិត្តិយស អាសោចកេរ្តិ៍ដោយតែបាត់បង់ភាពបរិសុទ្ធ។ ជាងនេះទៅទៀត ពួកគេអាចប្រឈមនឹងការមានផ្ទៃពោះដោយចៃដន្យ ប្រសិនបើការរួមភេទជាមួយបុរសជាសង្សារនោះមិនបានប្រើប្រាស់ស្រោមអនាម័យឲ្យបានត្រឹមត្រូវ ហើយការមានផ្ទៃពោះនេះគឺឈានទៅធ្វើការរំលូតកូន ដែលប្រការនេះពិតជាធ្វើឲ្យស្រ្តីវ័យក្មេងប្រឈមនឹងបញ្ហាសុខភាពបន្តពូជទៅពេលអនាគត។Sophal further emphasized that young women are more prone to HIV/AIDS if their sexual partners do not use condoms. They can also be victimized by pornography scandals that may jeopardize their future and the reputation of their family. Thus Sophal warns young women to be careful not to fall into the love trap during this Valentine's Day. He advised that the youth will be in a better position to celebrate this occasion with their beloved parents, relatives or friends in a proper manner.
Though we do not mind about the youth's love affairs, we are much concerned about young women whose dignity will be damaged given the fact of their lost virginity. Even worse is that they may be pregnant and it may lead to abortion. This will be harmful to women reproductive health.
These observations have been shared by Vutha Morn who questioned the link of culture identity and cultural preservation while Sidaroth Kong wrote in her Facebook status that “Valentine's Day and Controversy Khmer Culture: Is sleeping with your partner the only way to show that you love him?”
According the a cross-sectional research on “Love and Sexual Relationship: Experiences and Plans of Middle Class Young People Regarding the Upcoming Valentine's Day In Phnom Penh in 2009″ done by Soprach Tong, who surveyed 458 youths aging from 15 to 24, majority of them do not understand the background of Valentine’s Day. Asked if the middle class young people in Phnom Penh plan to be sexually active on the upcoming Valentine’s Day, Soprach found that:
“In the results, 12.4 percent of all respondents answered that they expect to be able to have sex on the upcoming Valentine's Day, and more than 14.3 percent of young people in a couple answered that they expect to be able to have sex with their sweethearts on that day too, and a few couples plan not to use a condom. Meanwhile, more than a third (39.5%) of the young people in a couple surveyed (n=38) stated that it will be the first time for them to have sexual intercourse. And the other two thirds (66.6%) of young males in couple (n=25) will pressure or force their girlfriend on having sex using many devices, if they do not agree. And at least seven percent of young males who answered that they expect to be able to have sex are open to being involved in Bauk [Gang rape, a slang term occurs after one (or two) youth(s) negotiate a price with a sex worker, or solicit a woman’s affection and arrange a proposed destination for sexual intercourse. Then the woman is taken to a hotel or guest-house, where numerous other young men are waiting, or will soon arrive] on the upcoming Valentine’s Day”
From this result, the author urged for attention on sexual consent, sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programs which target young people in the urban areas of Cambodia.
Given these alarming facts and concerns, the Cambodian Ministry of Women's Affairs, initiated five-minute spots educating the teenagers about the “meaning of the Valentine's day” in order that the young will be encouraged to expresses their love to family first, followed by teachers and then friends. This educational spot which aims to warn Cambodian teenagers against engaging in promiscuous sex has been welcomed by majority of students, teachers, and bloggers.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Cupid is the target - Western influence on Cambodia youths: Please share your opinion on this issue
Respected KI-Media Readers,
The following comment left by one of our readers leads us to reflect deeply into the influence of Western culture on Cambodian youths. Our respected reader's concern is not alone, we have also posted below an article from the Los Angeles Times depicting anger in India against the celebration of Valentine Day. Even though we are posting this article about India, we are not implying that our reader below belongs to any extremist group, far from it, we believe that his/her comment is legitimate and quite justifiable. We have to admit also that, even among our team members, some of us are quite taken aback by the adoption of Western culture by our youths.
We invite our readers to share your opinion on this issue. Please remain civilized in your choice of words as our comments are unmoderated.
Thank You very much!
KI-Media Team
Members of a non-governmental organization burn Valentine's Day cards in Ahmadabad. "Westerners are trying to break up the Indian family system," said Pramod Muthalik, head of the extremist group Shri Ram Sena. (Ajit Solanki / Associated Press)
A couple walks past a protester from the Students Islamic Organization of India holding a banner against Valentine's Day in Mumbai.
Indian extremist group targets Valentine's Day
Police are on alert after Hindu radicals who earlier attacked women at a pub vow to round up any young couples celebrating the holiday, which they say is offensive to Indian culture.
February 14, 2009
By Mark Magnier and Pavitra Ramaswamy
Los Angeles Times (California, USA)
Reporting from New Delhi -- A card, chocolate and roses, an affectionate evening with your sweetheart -- what's not to like about Valentine's Day?
Plenty, if you're one of the extremist groups in India that see in Cupid's pointed arrow a lance aimed at the heart of Indian culture.
Fringe groups, most notably the Hindu extremist Shri Ram Sena, or Lord Ram's Army, have threatened to make their displeasure known by attacking couples who show affection in public and disrupting businesses that sell Valentine's Day gifts and cards.
Their condemnation of heart-shaped balloons, purple prose and fluffy teddy bears as Western pollution has been supported in years past by other hard-line Hindu and Muslim groups.
Shri Ram Sena vowed this year to march any couples found canoodling straight to the temple, forcing them to marry on the spot. When the legality of their heavy-handed idea was questioned, the group shifted, threatening to remand those who offended them to parents or sympathetic police.
It has also vowed to set up a help line on Valentine's Day for girls harassed by boys and warned women against wearing "noodle straps" or tight jeans.
"Westerners are trying to break up the Indian family system," said Pramod Muthalik, the group's head, who was arrested briefly after his group attacked women at a Mangalore pub last month. "Giving flowers on the streets, showing affection in public, showering kisses in full public view is wrong. What is the difference between us and animals?"
Valentine's Day was virtually unknown in India until the 1990s but has become increasingly popular among young, middle-class celebrants with growing income.
Though the campaign against it seems rather absurd and amusing, religious, ethnic and sectarian divisions run deep. And Shri Ram Sena has a following among some members of the Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. Not willing to take any chances, authorities said Friday that Muthalik was put under "preventative custody" through today's holiday to avoid trouble.
Delhi Police Chief Y.S. Dadwal, federal Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury and other officials have warned extremists not to break laws.
"Muthalik is not married; that's why he doesn't respect women," Chowdhury said.
Delhi police have been advised to position plainclothes officers in shopping centers to prevent Valentine's violence, and members of the Jammu and Kashmir state National Panthers Party said they would throw red chiles at any troublemakers who play at being morality police.
"If my parents don't disapprove of V-Day, why do political parties have a problem?" said Salman Noor, 22, a student drinking coffee at the Mrs. Kaur's Crepes & More eatery in Delhi, near freshly baked heart-shaped cookies. "What culture are they talking about? We lost our Indian culture way back. . . . In ancient times our culture was the Kama Sutra -- why didn't anyone stop it back then?"
Outraged by the right-wing tactics, feature writer Nisha Susan recently launched a campaign on the Facebook social networking site, dubbing it the "Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women." Its plan: to shame the extremists by, in part, getting women to send Muthalik pink underwear. Women can also drop off underwear and the group will express mail it to Sri Ram Sena on Valentine's Day.
Faced with an onslaught of pink panties, Muthalik said his group would send a pink sari to everyone who sends underwear.
This year's threats by extremists are the latest in a series. Groups attacked college students and threatened pubs and hotels last year, and black-veiled women rummaged shops and burned Valentine's Day cards in 2006 in Srinagar, the summer capital of troubled Jammu and Kashmir.
Madhu Kishwar, founder of Manushi Sangathan, a women's rights and pro-democracy group, said some criticism of the holiday is valid. "It's not very pleasant when you go to a beach and see people climbing all over each other," she said. "But affection in public is better than violence in public."
That point of view wasn't universal.
Asiya Andrabi, head of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, or Daughters of the Nation, an extreme Muslim group in Jammu and Kashmir, said she supports Shri Ram Sena's campaign.
"This will act as a deterrent and people will be scared," she said. "Sometimes there is no option but to use the stick out of sheer love."
mark.magnier@latimes.com
The following comment left by one of our readers leads us to reflect deeply into the influence of Western culture on Cambodian youths. Our respected reader's concern is not alone, we have also posted below an article from the Los Angeles Times depicting anger in India against the celebration of Valentine Day. Even though we are posting this article about India, we are not implying that our reader below belongs to any extremist group, far from it, we believe that his/her comment is legitimate and quite justifiable. We have to admit also that, even among our team members, some of us are quite taken aback by the adoption of Western culture by our youths.
We invite our readers to share your opinion on this issue. Please remain civilized in your choice of words as our comments are unmoderated.
Thank You very much!
KI-Media Team
Dear KI-Media
- I am not an ultra-nationalist, but I am not promoting Valentine Day as part of the Khmer Culture.
- Ki-media must educate Young Cambodian generation about their own culture instead of encouraging them to adopt foreign culture.
- Ki-media must know that many young Cambodians now celebrate more just than Valentine Day: they rented cheap hotels or met in the orchards to enjoy SEX.
- I know a midwife who earns a lot of money by doing abortions for the young girls who had enjoy the Valentine Day.
Members of a non-governmental organization burn Valentine's Day cards in Ahmadabad. "Westerners are trying to break up the Indian family system," said Pramod Muthalik, head of the extremist group Shri Ram Sena. (Ajit Solanki / Associated Press)
A couple walks past a protester from the Students Islamic Organization of India holding a banner against Valentine's Day in Mumbai.Indian extremist group targets Valentine's Day
Police are on alert after Hindu radicals who earlier attacked women at a pub vow to round up any young couples celebrating the holiday, which they say is offensive to Indian culture.
February 14, 2009
By Mark Magnier and Pavitra Ramaswamy
Los Angeles Times (California, USA)
Reporting from New Delhi -- A card, chocolate and roses, an affectionate evening with your sweetheart -- what's not to like about Valentine's Day?
Plenty, if you're one of the extremist groups in India that see in Cupid's pointed arrow a lance aimed at the heart of Indian culture.
Fringe groups, most notably the Hindu extremist Shri Ram Sena, or Lord Ram's Army, have threatened to make their displeasure known by attacking couples who show affection in public and disrupting businesses that sell Valentine's Day gifts and cards.
Their condemnation of heart-shaped balloons, purple prose and fluffy teddy bears as Western pollution has been supported in years past by other hard-line Hindu and Muslim groups.
Shri Ram Sena vowed this year to march any couples found canoodling straight to the temple, forcing them to marry on the spot. When the legality of their heavy-handed idea was questioned, the group shifted, threatening to remand those who offended them to parents or sympathetic police.
It has also vowed to set up a help line on Valentine's Day for girls harassed by boys and warned women against wearing "noodle straps" or tight jeans.
"Westerners are trying to break up the Indian family system," said Pramod Muthalik, the group's head, who was arrested briefly after his group attacked women at a Mangalore pub last month. "Giving flowers on the streets, showing affection in public, showering kisses in full public view is wrong. What is the difference between us and animals?"
Valentine's Day was virtually unknown in India until the 1990s but has become increasingly popular among young, middle-class celebrants with growing income.
Though the campaign against it seems rather absurd and amusing, religious, ethnic and sectarian divisions run deep. And Shri Ram Sena has a following among some members of the Hindu nationalist opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. Not willing to take any chances, authorities said Friday that Muthalik was put under "preventative custody" through today's holiday to avoid trouble.
Delhi Police Chief Y.S. Dadwal, federal Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury and other officials have warned extremists not to break laws.
"Muthalik is not married; that's why he doesn't respect women," Chowdhury said.
Delhi police have been advised to position plainclothes officers in shopping centers to prevent Valentine's violence, and members of the Jammu and Kashmir state National Panthers Party said they would throw red chiles at any troublemakers who play at being morality police.
"If my parents don't disapprove of V-Day, why do political parties have a problem?" said Salman Noor, 22, a student drinking coffee at the Mrs. Kaur's Crepes & More eatery in Delhi, near freshly baked heart-shaped cookies. "What culture are they talking about? We lost our Indian culture way back. . . . In ancient times our culture was the Kama Sutra -- why didn't anyone stop it back then?"
Outraged by the right-wing tactics, feature writer Nisha Susan recently launched a campaign on the Facebook social networking site, dubbing it the "Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women." Its plan: to shame the extremists by, in part, getting women to send Muthalik pink underwear. Women can also drop off underwear and the group will express mail it to Sri Ram Sena on Valentine's Day.
Faced with an onslaught of pink panties, Muthalik said his group would send a pink sari to everyone who sends underwear.
This year's threats by extremists are the latest in a series. Groups attacked college students and threatened pubs and hotels last year, and black-veiled women rummaged shops and burned Valentine's Day cards in 2006 in Srinagar, the summer capital of troubled Jammu and Kashmir.
Madhu Kishwar, founder of Manushi Sangathan, a women's rights and pro-democracy group, said some criticism of the holiday is valid. "It's not very pleasant when you go to a beach and see people climbing all over each other," she said. "But affection in public is better than violence in public."
That point of view wasn't universal.
Asiya Andrabi, head of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, or Daughters of the Nation, an extreme Muslim group in Jammu and Kashmir, said she supports Shri Ram Sena's campaign.
"This will act as a deterrent and people will be scared," she said. "Sometimes there is no option but to use the stick out of sheer love."
mark.magnier@latimes.com
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Klen Snaeh Ti Muoy - "First Love": A Poem in Khmer dedicated by Ung Thavary for Valentine day
Click on the poem in Khmer to zoom inPoem in Khmer by Ung Thavary
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine: a true celebration or just a mere hodge podge?
14 Feb 2008
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
At its origin, it was a western tradition, the celebration of the lovers implanted itself in Cambodia, to the great delight of the younger generations. Older generations are more hesitating, fearing to see in it the loss of Cambodian values.
Asked about the date for the celebration of Independence, or for any religious festival for that matter, then the youths could hesitate with their replies. On the other hand, for this 14 February, the youths will all tell you that it is Valentine, the celebration date for lovers. Most of the Cambodians take advantage of this western tradition to exchange gifts while declaring their love. Flowers stands are dotting the city streets almost everywhere.
Most of the night clubs and restaurants have a special celebration for this event also. For its part, the Apsara TV channel (owned by Hun Sen’s daughter) will dedicate a full week, between 11-17 February, of shows dedicated to love themes.
Obviously, Valentine is also a commercial celebration. Under normal circumstance, one rose stem costs between 1,500 to 2,000 riels ($0.38 to $0.50), but during this occasion, its price rises to at least one dollar per stem. “The young customers spend money without regret to buy flowers and to display their feelings. I am happy when 14 February is approaching,” said Bopha, a flower merchant near the central market. “If the boys buy flowers for sentimental reasons, the girls offer them for friendship,” she said.
For the last few years, the youths skip schools on this day to celebrate the event with their loved ones … to the chagrin of the teachers who remind them that this celebration is taking place smack in the middle of exam seasons!
The older generations see in these types of events a loss of Cambodian values. On the other hand, Srey Ta, a student of the Boeung Trabek high school in Phnom Penh, believes that this is positive because Cambodia can be seen as not being cut off from the rest of the world. Niroan, her friend, chimed his: “It would be strange if the youths wouldn’t celebrate this popular tradition. Valentine is a good thing, because it encourages us to openly declare our flame.”
Mak Sartah, the president of the Youth Council, warns the youths from distorting the meaning of the celebration of the lovers. “Some girls lose their virginity because they want to show their love to their boyfriends. Others are being cheated by their friends on this day. The number of those who catch the AIDS virus and the number of girls who become pregnant out-of-wedlock is increasing during this period.” The Children Support Foundation (CSF) takes advantage of this occasion to meet the youths at their hangouts. This is the fourth year that this organization leads a prevention campaign funded by the Church Service Cambodia NGO. Volunteers distribute information brochure on AIDS and red ribbons to fight against this illness, along supermarkets, public parks, schools and universities. “We choose this date because during this celebration, the youths sometimes make mistakes,” explained Serey Vuth, the CSF director.
Miech Ponn, the expert in Khmer culture at the Buddhist Institute, explained that the celebration of the lovers is not something new in Cambodia. “In the past, Cambodians loved to offer gifts to declare their love or to display their friendship between husband and wife, between parents and children, between teachers and students, or between neighbors. One can celebrate love any day of the week. In our country, there is no day for hatred.” The 75-year-old curator considers that Valentine is a “coup d’état within the Cambodian tradition.” He believes that the commercial aspect of this celebration has a negative impact, and he noted that men take advantage of this event to seduce young girls. “Do the foreigners celebrate in their country the Khmer New Year, the festival of the dead, the Meak Bochea, the Visak Bochea like we do in Cambodia? Therefore, Cambodians do not have to celebrate the events that have nothing to do with their country at all,” Miech Ponn concluded.
Asked about the date for the celebration of Independence, or for any religious festival for that matter, then the youths could hesitate with their replies. On the other hand, for this 14 February, the youths will all tell you that it is Valentine, the celebration date for lovers. Most of the Cambodians take advantage of this western tradition to exchange gifts while declaring their love. Flowers stands are dotting the city streets almost everywhere.
Most of the night clubs and restaurants have a special celebration for this event also. For its part, the Apsara TV channel (owned by Hun Sen’s daughter) will dedicate a full week, between 11-17 February, of shows dedicated to love themes.
Obviously, Valentine is also a commercial celebration. Under normal circumstance, one rose stem costs between 1,500 to 2,000 riels ($0.38 to $0.50), but during this occasion, its price rises to at least one dollar per stem. “The young customers spend money without regret to buy flowers and to display their feelings. I am happy when 14 February is approaching,” said Bopha, a flower merchant near the central market. “If the boys buy flowers for sentimental reasons, the girls offer them for friendship,” she said.
For the last few years, the youths skip schools on this day to celebrate the event with their loved ones … to the chagrin of the teachers who remind them that this celebration is taking place smack in the middle of exam seasons!
The older generations see in these types of events a loss of Cambodian values. On the other hand, Srey Ta, a student of the Boeung Trabek high school in Phnom Penh, believes that this is positive because Cambodia can be seen as not being cut off from the rest of the world. Niroan, her friend, chimed his: “It would be strange if the youths wouldn’t celebrate this popular tradition. Valentine is a good thing, because it encourages us to openly declare our flame.”
Mak Sartah, the president of the Youth Council, warns the youths from distorting the meaning of the celebration of the lovers. “Some girls lose their virginity because they want to show their love to their boyfriends. Others are being cheated by their friends on this day. The number of those who catch the AIDS virus and the number of girls who become pregnant out-of-wedlock is increasing during this period.” The Children Support Foundation (CSF) takes advantage of this occasion to meet the youths at their hangouts. This is the fourth year that this organization leads a prevention campaign funded by the Church Service Cambodia NGO. Volunteers distribute information brochure on AIDS and red ribbons to fight against this illness, along supermarkets, public parks, schools and universities. “We choose this date because during this celebration, the youths sometimes make mistakes,” explained Serey Vuth, the CSF director.
Miech Ponn, the expert in Khmer culture at the Buddhist Institute, explained that the celebration of the lovers is not something new in Cambodia. “In the past, Cambodians loved to offer gifts to declare their love or to display their friendship between husband and wife, between parents and children, between teachers and students, or between neighbors. One can celebrate love any day of the week. In our country, there is no day for hatred.” The 75-year-old curator considers that Valentine is a “coup d’état within the Cambodian tradition.” He believes that the commercial aspect of this celebration has a negative impact, and he noted that men take advantage of this event to seduce young girls. “Do the foreigners celebrate in their country the Khmer New Year, the festival of the dead, the Meak Bochea, the Visak Bochea like we do in Cambodia? Therefore, Cambodians do not have to celebrate the events that have nothing to do with their country at all,” Miech Ponn concluded.
Valentine in Phnom Penh
A couple on motorcycle buy roses from a vendor on Valentine's Day in Phnom Penh February 14, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea 
A vendor prepares roses for sale on Valentine's Day in Phnom Penh on February 14, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentine in Phnom Penh
Young men and women in Phnom Penh are buying roses for their girlfriends/boyfriends, or friends on this "Love Day" (Valentine) 14 Feb. The rose vendor claimed that she sold almost 10,000 rose stems on Tuesday. (Photo: everyday.com.kh, a website owned by Kith Meng, Hun Sen's crony)
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