While Valentine’s Day connotes a special date for lovers, it is also infamously known as the “Single Awareness Day” to those who are not (yet) in a relationship.

But while others abhor the idea of being single by chance, either for lack of suitor/partner or sheer reluctance to be romantically involved with someone from the opposite sex, other men and women—lo and behold—are actually single by choice.

These men and women are neither priests nor nuns, who are bound by their vows of celibacy. They are lay people who have also foregone the option to be married and raise a family of their own and made the choice to lead a celibate life to offer their lives to God just the same. Leading a single life is, after all, another form of vocation similar to those being led by priests, nuns and married men and women.

Contrary to public conception, leading a single life “is not boring at all.” Take it from Milarie Babia, a procurement officer at the Saint Pedro Poveda College who decided to lead a single life eight years ago to work full-time in the Lord’s vineyard without wearing the religious habit.

Babia made the commitment to be a celibate woman when she was just 25 years old and joined the Teresian Association. She belongs to the Primary Association composed of women who decided to stay single to totally commit themselves to God through the different mission realities.

Babia, who is now 33, said she did not see herself leading a married life since she was young and she decided to stay single since she knew that by being celibate she can contribute more for the Church. Like other Teresiana’s, Babia serves the Church through the practice of their profession.
“Since I was young, I knew that I can be of better service to the Lord not within the confines of a married life. By staying single, I can make the commitment of total self-giving to God, something that married people cannot make since family is their priority in their chosen type of vocation,” she said.

Babia admitted that admiring or getting attracted to somebody from the opposite sex is “normal” but she would neither entertain suitors nor the idea of nurturing a relationship beyond friendship, keeping in mind the commitment she made when she joined the community of the TA.
“I know my boundaries, which is why I do not entertain (suitors) or engage in a (intimate) relationship,” she said.

When asked how she copes up with restrictions of the celibate lifestyle, Babia credits her community for the support that it extends to each of the members.
“Being single is not boring at all because we live in a community that supports us. If we want to watch the latest movie or go out to unwind, we can do so together with our fellow Teresiana. We try to live normally with each other’s help,” she said.
And since it is Valentine’s Day today, Babia said there is no reason not to celebrate the season even if she is single. She said she has been celebrating the season with her community, family or friends for the past years.

Who says celibate life is only for women? Babia said the Teresian Association has been conducting year-round seminars and counseling to individual women and men who are seriously discerning what kind of life they will be leading in the future.

She invites interested lay people to get in touch with the Teresian Association for the seminar and counseling through 631-8756 local 155. Callers can ask for MarifiGeolina for inquiries about the service.

The Teresian Association, or Institucion Teresiana, is an international Catholic lay association of men and women conceived by St. Pedro Poveda in Covadonga, Spain in 1911 and is today present in 30 countries.

The members of the association are called together to make Jesus present in today's world through living out the gospel values in everyday life. They fulfill their mission mainly through the practice of their professions, especially in the fields of education and research, social work, family ministry, pastoral work, social programmes, and civil service.

Aside from Teresian Association, the Opus Dei is another lay association that has for its members celibate men and women who, like Babia, practice their profession as a form of service to the Church. (Kris Bayos)