The season of love came quickly, but not without its familiar surprises. In a span of 28 days, February reminded us that we are still humans who long for love amidst all heartbreaking affairs around us.

Here are the events that defined the shortest month of the year.

1. Coach Pido returns to UST Growling Tigers

(Photo by Jenzine Inah M. Alcantara/TomasinoWeb)

Probably, the appointment of Coach Alfredo "Pido" Jarencio, who was known for his "Puso, Pride, Palaban" mantra, was not exactly a shocker. In a possible partnership with San Miguel Corporation, the animated coach's return started as early as last year. Bonnie Tan, the chief tactician for Letran and Northport, along with Waiyip Chong and Eric Ang will serve as consultants and managers for Jarencio.

To the uninitiated, Jarencio, in his rookie season, steered the men's basketball team to their most recent championship last 2006. Since then, he has led the university to back-to-back Finals appearances in 2012 and 2013. But after eight productive seasons, he left the Tigers in 2014 to coach NorthPort Batang Pier (then Global Port) in the Philippine Basketball Association.

With Jarencio's return, Thomasians are expecting a huge comeback for the Tigers, who only had a single win last season. However, he acknowledged that offseason recruitment will be instrumental in the revamping of the program.

2. Willie Revillame urges bashers to support ALLTV after major programs went off-air

(Screenshot from Wowowin/YouTube)

During a live broadcast of Willie Revillame's popular game program "Wowowin," the TV host addressed the critics of the Villar-owned television network, ALLTV, urging them to set aside politics and pray for the success of its programs.

"Sana ipagdasal niyo kami na maging successful ito para maraming mga istasyon na maraming magawa. Marami kayong marinig na kabutihan. Set aside ninyo 'yung pulitika. Marami pa kayong dapat malaman na katotohanan tungkol sa frequency kung alam niyo lang ang totoo, ayaw ko na lang magsalita na pangungunahan ko sila.", he said.

Afterward, however, Revillame faced backlash from netizens, especially from supporters of the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. It can be remembered that Advanced Media Broadcasting System, the parent company of ALLTV, acquired the frequencies of the Lopez-owned network.

In response to reports of shows going off-air, neophyte senator Mark Villar put a stop to rumors that the struggling network is closing down.

3. Chinese ship uses military-grade laser against Philippine Coast Guard

(Photo from Philippine Coast Guard)

On Feb. 6, the Philippine Coast Guard alleged that a Chinese vessel aimed a military-grade laser at a Philippine BRP Malapascua near Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands chain. This temporarily blinded some of its crews.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry argued that the Philippine vessel trespassed into China's waters without permission. However, in the defense of PCG, they were on a rotation and resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre --- a Filipino-manned vessel grounded in the West Philippine Sea to enforce the country's claim to the contested area.

Soon after, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to convey his profound concern over recent happenings in the WPS.

Following China's harassment of the country's vessel, the United States assured its "ironclad commitment" to its alliance with the Filipinos. An armed attack on Philippine armed forces anywhere, including the WPS, would trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries. Signed in 1951, the MDT states that both nations would defend each other should an external party attack the Philippines or the United States.

4. Twin earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria

(Photo from AFP)

Considered as the worst earthquake in both countries this century, a twin earthquake of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.5 struck the Turkey-Syria region in the early morning of Feb. 6, killing more than 47,000. A Filipina and her three children were among the casualties.

Turkey's quake zone extends more than 200 miles, from the Mediterranean in the south across mountains to the east-central highlands and into northwestern Syria.

In response to the disaster, Turkey imposed a three-month state of emergency in 10 provinces. The Philippine government also donated $100,000 in financial assistance and sent an 85-man team to Turkey to aid in disaster response.

Meanwhile, getting help to war-torn Syria was complicated by the nation's civil war and the bitter relations between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and many Western countries. As international aid struggled to reach the country, calls for lifting diplomatic sanctions were mounting to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance.

5. EJ Obiena and the sad stories of Filipino athletes

(Photo by Pawel Skraba)

The Philippines has great athletes, but it gets more evident that the government has its favorites. While Men's Basketball and Women's Volleyball have always been given the spotlight, other less popular sports suffer from a lack of support.

Due to insufficient funds and logistical woes, decorated pole vaulter EJ Obiena revealed through a Facebook post that he would skip the Asian Indoor Championships. Nevertheless, Obiena stated that he would not take donations to his team.

"As all of you are taxpayers, I must respect that you have already paid for my training. It is just not the right thing to do to ask you to pay once via paying taxes, and then pay again privately. This is 'double dipping' and it's not ethical," wrote Obiena.

Before his fiasco with Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, the Olympian was offered citizenship by multiple countries. Harking back, many standouts, such as chess grandmaster Wesley So and professional golfer Yuka Saso changed their nationalities. Even high-caliber middle blocker Jaja Santiago is in the process of switching her nationality to Japanese.

Obiena concluded his indoor season with a last-place finish in the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais, placing 10th.

6. Dream Maker named top 7 to debut in South Korea

(Photo from ABS-CBN News)

With the rise of non-Korean artists in the K-pop scene, it is high time to bring Filipino talent to Seoul and the global stage.

Dream Chasers Jeromy Batac, Marcus Cabais, Kyler Chua, Vinci Malizon, Reyster Yton, Kim Ng, and Winston Pineda received the highest public votes and hailed the winners of the nation's first-ever idol survival competition, "Dream Maker."

In collaboration with ABS-CBN, MLD Entertainment, and Kamp Korea, Dream Maker featured 62 young contestants called "Dream Chasers" trained by Korean and Filipino mentors. Hosted by multimedia idol Kim Chiu, the lineup of the show's mentors included the renowned choreographer Bae Yoon Jung, MBLAQ's Cheondung, and some Filipino artists such as Angeline Quinto, Darren Espanto and Bailey May.

Launched as HORI7ON, the seven-piece global pop group will debut sometime in June 2023.

7. Love is back and evergreen in UST

(Photo by Maxine Relucio/TomasinoWeb)

For the first time since online classes were introduced in 2020, love is indeed back in the University.

Valentine's Day, along with Mother's Day, is known to be the holiday where almost everyone holds a bouquet. Applying the law of supply and demand, however, prices of red roses and other flowers would get hefty, especially in Dangwa. But that didn't stop the Thomasians from giving love on February 14.

Heartwarming moments of couples holding bouquets and barkadas surprising each other resonated across the campus. Meanwhile, local student councils such as the Artlets Student Council also celebrated the romantic day by setting up freedom walls. Before the day ended, Thomasian artists gathered together for a busking session in P. Noval.

To fully celebrate the month of love, TomasinoWeb asked different Thomasian couples relationship-related questions for the organization's Valentine's Special.

8. Allies help Duterte on how to get away with drug war vs. ICC

(Photo by Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images)

After the International Criminal Court greenlighted the resumption of the probe against former president Rodrigo Duterte vis-à-vis his bloody drug war, several allies are keen to support him.

Not wanting Duterte to suffer the same fate as her, House senior deputy speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 19 other lawmakers filed a resolution supporting Duterte. Not soon after, senator Robin Padilla, along with other Duterte allies, made a similar move at the Senate to oppose the tribunal's probe.

President Marcos Jr. called the ongoing case a threat to sovereignty, citing that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

The country has already asked for the ICC probe's deferment, arguing that the justice system is working. However, the ICC is yet to decide on the outcome of the appeal. Nonetheless, human rights organizations claim that more than 20,000 Filipinos, mostly coming from poverty, have been killed in the drug war.

9. Still a long road for environmental protection

(Photo by Miguel Angelo Sumalinog/TomasinoWeb)

Named ALAY-LAKAD laban sa Kaliwa Dam, about 300 Dumagat-Remontado indigenous people marched from Quezon to Malacañang to air their grievances against the Kaliwa Dam project. They cited that there were not enough talks among the affected communities to start the dam's construction. The group also passed along España boulevard in front of the University. But instead of the president or government officials in the Palace, a police barricade greeted them at Mendiola Gate.

In other news, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) plans to relocate its headquarters and the New Bilibid Prison in the conservation area. However, BuCor's plans will only continue if experts can assure that the site will remain protected.

Deemed the Galapagos of Asia, the residents of Sibuyan Island in Romblon protested the mining operations of Altai Philippines Mining Corporation by putting up barricades as a form of their opposition to mining. While ore mining operations halted, APMC stated that they had the necessary permit to extract resources on the island.

Similarly, residents of Brooke's Point in Palawan positioned an anti-mining barricade, asserting that the Ipilan Nickel Corporation is operating without a Mayor's permit.

10. Late announcement of February 24 holiday causes public dismay

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On the night of Feb. 23, Malacañang suddenly released Proclamation №167 to move the celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary to Feb. 24, as the holiday fell on a Saturday. Furthermore, the Palace mentioned that February 25 would be a regular working day.

Under the principle of holiday economics, Marcos Jr. transferred some of the holidays this year to the nearest working day to provide the public with a more extended weekend.

However, the public welcomed the announcement with mixed reactions. Partido Manggagawa (PM) also criticized the holiday economics strategy.

Historian Xiao Chua understood the practicality of the government changing the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary celebration. However, he said that such an act removed the event's significance. Despite the calendar changes, progressive groups staged a mobilization at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on Feb. 25.

This year is the first EDSA anniversary commemorated under the Marcos Jr. presidency.

However brief, February celebrated different kinds of love. And what makes this month special is that we will never forget what love truly is --- whatever form it manifests itself.

This month may be a tale of love and grief. But quoting Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision, "What is grief, if not love persevering?"