ANCIENT Greeks say there are seven different types of love.
Eros refers to romantic, attraction, or passionate love. The second type is philia, which represents a love emanating from friendship and goodness. Storge describes the love shared between family members, particularly between parents and their children. Agape signifies a universal love that captures the idea of selfless love and care for others.
Simultaneously, ludus represents one of the most frequently mentioned types of attraction. Ludus embodies a playful nature and typically lacks interest in serious commitments. According to Greek philosophy, this form of love focuses solely on enjoyment, without any attachments.
Next is pragma, which signifies a practical kind of love. It is grounded in reasoning or obligations. This love seeks authenticity, although it isn’t genuinely present from the outset. Pragma relies on fulfilling responsibilities associated with a union that was arranged without the essence of love, resembling a business transaction.
Finally, philautia. The type of love that should be nurtured more. It pertains to the love we cultivate for ourselves, which entails understanding our self-worth.
In the past, love was expressed through romantic handwritten letters, preserved flowers, or serenading. But with the richness of humanity, we now have tons of different ways to explore to reflect how we feel inside.
Tattoos as a permanent mark of devotion
Tattoos. One word, seven letters. They come in different shapes and appearances, with various forms and locations where they are drawn. Like sailors on the sea and in the sky, they carry their own stories to tell. And each of them are different.
Many people say that tattoos are dirty. A vandalism of the temple we call body. Well, that is true. However, there are certain stains that we deliberately use to cover up the deeper dirt that scarred us.
Similar to the characters in a story, tattoos also possess different meanings and stories behind the inks. There resides symbolisms that do not only occupy our skin but a living proof to carry our commitment, promise, and love until the last air we breathe. Or maybe until the person behind the tattoo leaves us.
“Yung reason bakit ako nagpa-tattoo is to remember, and coping mechanism rin. ‘Yung first ever tattoo ko is ‘yung “Sol” (half sun or sunrise sya) and dedicated ‘yon sa ex-boyfriend ko,” 23-year-old Kai shared about her tattoos. Holding a deep secret, only her and her tattoo knows about. Indeed, tattoos are today’s modern-day love letters, permanent and personal, and deeply meaningful.
Her tattoos are the living proof of how she made it through her first breakup. It was a difficult and dark place for her, it was almost too much that she resorted to harming herself to somehow ease the pain, and escape even. For Kai, tattoos are more than a classic symbolism of love but an instrument she saw to stand up, recollect herself and keep herself together.
“Nakita ko ‘yung tattoo as a coping mechanism para tumigil na ako. Plus points nalang ‘yung angas na dala ng tattoo.” Tattoos are permanent marks of devotion. But for her, it saved her. Her tattoos became one of her reasons to pursue life and love once more.
“Doon naman sa second tattoo is to remember and to honor rin kay Tatay. Kasi kahit masakit ‘yung pagkawala nya is gusto ko may part sya sa pagkatao ko. So parang half-half ‘yong reason bakit through tattoos ‘yong pag-cherish ko ng love sa kanila, parang art rin and gusto ko ipakita na mahal ko at minahal ko sila.” Kai added.
JC Bunyag (27), who had a tattoo dedicated for his ex-girlfriend, shared that tattoos are more than an art itself, but it could be a way to always remember our loved ones. To feel that they are always with us, no matter how far the distance that separates us from them. Furthermore, he sees his tattoos as a symbol of permanent personal connection.
Tattoos as a way to carry love beyond death
Nowadays, many people choose tattoos as a permanent declaration of love. Matching tattoos, initials inked on the skin, numbers with special meaning for birthdays, monthsaries, or anniversaries. Symbols that hold deep meaning to the relationship have become modern expressions of devotion. But unlike a letter that can be tucked away easily, a tattoo is forever—an act of commitment to love that defies time.
“Break na kami nung nagpa-tattoo ako. Parang tinatakan ko ‘yung sarili ko ng memory niya.” Kai said. For her, his ex-boyfriend was once part of her, despite the negative parts and the traumas she acquired from loving him, instead, she will always treasure him. Their memories will stay somewhere. Residing in a place where they rest and heal.
“Hindi rin naman ako bothered sa tuwing nakikita ko ‘yung tattoos ko about him,” she further explained. “Yung placement rin kasi nung tattoo na ‘yon ay hindi ko naman nakikita araw-araw, so parang nakakalimutan ko rin na may tatts ako sa about him.”
However, tattoos may defy time but there is one fact that breaks this. Tattoos can be erased, just like rings on our fingers can be removed. As long as we are committed to permanently get rid of those reasons that drove us to ink them forever inside us.
Is it worth it though?
“If worth it siya? For me, sa experience ko, oo. Kasi kung hindi ako nagpa-tattoo that time, hindi ako titigil kaka-self harm.” Kai admits that she is even grateful that she met her ex. Even though what they had shared brought her traumas and ended their relationship on bad terms. As she learned a lot of things, experienced the magic of love, to love and to be loved back. Her ex was her light back then, and had helped her as she navigated her life.
JC echoes the same sentiment as Kai. For him, it is worth the shot. For loving someone means doing everything for them, as long as it makes your heart happy as well, even if they didn’t end up together forever.
Then suddenly, you called it quits, what will happen to the tattoos now?
Tattoos can be taken off permanently. It’s just that they can’t be erased with only one session. A Filipina celebrity and a former child actress, former wife of Kamikazee frontman Jay Contreras had her tattoo “Jay” removed last year. The said actress underwent a Revlite treatment, a laser treatment to get rid of her tattoo.
Erasing tattoos is a sign of letting go. Not only a sign of acceptance, but a brave act to self-love—a philautia.
According to Plato, love aims for good and pleasant things. For him love drives happiness. Seeking love means finding the real essence of happiness. Love is not only in the air, love is everywhere. From poems to music, from films and movies, from graffitied walls to inks marked in our bodies.
