President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday offered heartfelt advice on love and relationships on Valentine’s Day, emphasizing the value of “bigayan,” or mutual give-and-take, as the foundation of a lasting partnership.

In BBM Vlog 277, posted on social media on February 14, Marcos, who has been married for over 30 years to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, shared that the key to a long and healthy marriage lies in compromise and understanding.

“Palagay ko alam na ito ng matagal nang mag-asawa. Ang sikreto lang diyan, hindi naman talaga sikreto, dapat bigayan. Hindi naman pare-pareho lahat ng tao, dapat nagbibigayan lang at nagkakaunawaan ang mag-asawa,” Marcos said.

He stressed that no two individuals are exactly alike, making mutual understanding essential. “Hindi puwede yung ‘my way or no way.’ Pagka ganun, merong isang laging malungkot doon. Kaya’t bigayan lang,” he added.

As for his own Valentine’s Day plans, Marcos said he and the First Lady prefer simple celebrations.

“Kami siguro mababaw lang ang kaligayahan namin. Makalibre lang kami ng isang evening na kung anong gagawin, it doesn’t really matter. Basta’t may konting free time na hindi namin iniisip yung trabaho, just to be with one another,” he shared.

Despite their demanding schedules, the President acknowledged that balancing work and family life remains a challenge.

“Isa na ito sa pinakamahirap na gawin dahil halos lahat ng pamilya ko, we are all very, very busy,” he said, noting that even their children have packed schedules. Whenever possible, the family takes advantage of long weekends to travel together, often visiting Ilocos or other destinations.

“Basta’t magkasama kaming lima… It doesn’t matter. Basta we find time to be with each other. It’s not so easy, but we do our best,” he said.

Marcos said he does not see it as ruining a friendship, but rather evolving from the “friend zone” into a romantic relationship. For him, genuine friendship is the bedrock of any strong partnership.

“The best relationships I’ve seen have all been started by being friends,” he said. “Kung hindi kayo magkaibigan, you don’t have fun with each other, you don’t enjoy each other’s company… mahirap talaga magkaroon ng pagsasama.”

He encouraged young people to build relationships on real and true friendship, adding that enjoying each other’s company is essential.

Asked whether he still believes in the traditional Filipino concept of “ligaw” or courtship, Marcos said yes.

However, he acknowledged that times have changed with the rise of dating apps and modern forms of introduction. While the methods may differ today, Marcos believes the essence of pursuing someone you genuinely like will never disappear.

For young people this Valentine’s Day, the President had a simple message: cherish the rare chance of finding someone who truly cares.

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

Meanwhile, in another post, Marcos didn’t let Valentine’s Day pass without a special message for his wife.

In a heartfelt social media post, Marcos called his spouse his “forever Valentine,” praising her as the love of his life.

“My forever Valentine, Liza, You are the love of my life, the heart of our home, and the calm in the middle of everything. You make it all make sense. You complete me. Happy Valentine’s Day,” he wrote, sharing an intimate glimpse into their enduring relationship.