A sweeter way to say 'I love you, Mom'

MANILA, Philippines - How do you tell your mom, “I love you” on Mother’s Day?

Chocolate company Toblerone recently conducted an informal forum and found that men and women have different approaches to expressing love.

“People usually show love through gifts and spending time with loved ones,” said Pia Acevedo of the Love Institute, the “love expert” who moderated the event.

Acevedo, a certified life coach who specializes in family relationships and personal life transitions (and author of the upcoming book Born to be a Hero, Raising Heroes) cited renowned author Gary Chapman’s Five Languages of Love, which include words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.

To prove her point, hosts RJ Ledesma and Tessa Prieto-Valdes interviewed three young professionals on what love languages they used in communicating with their moms.

Jessica Tan Gan, whose mother is fashion designer Lulu Tan Gan, said, “On Mother’s Day, I’m always with my mom. Usually we have dinner or do something special.” The vice president of Tan Gan continued, “I work with her so we’re very comfortable. I don’t want to be nice just on Mother’s Day, so I make it a point of showing it every day.”

RJ Jacinto admitted that showing affection was more difficult between a son and a mom. “I show it nonverbally but verbally it’s a problem,” he said.

Gift of love: Giving Mom chocolates like Toblerone bars is one way to express your affection for her. Photos by JUN MENDOZA

Georgia Schulze-Del Rosario proved that it’s the opposite case with moms and daughters. “A girl will always go back to her mom. That’s more physically how we are. I’m a writer so it’s easy to say it in words. When I give a card, the emotion is brought out and I want to share it.”

On Mother’s Day the five love languages get a workout, most especially giving and receiving gifts. The timely discussion fitted right in with Toblerone’s “Say it Sweeter with Toblerone” campaign, which encourages everyone to give their moms the perfect gift: not a bar of chocolate, but an “I love you” said sweeter with Toblerone.

This Mother’s Day, Toblerone also invites young adults express the sentiment with their online promo. Join the promo and you get a chance to win an overnight stay for four in the Hotel H20 Aquarium Room with spa, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Major weekly winners stand to win an overnight stay for two in Shangri-La Edsa and 50 weekly winners can win a 100g Toblerone bar.

For more information contact the Toblerone customer hotline at 820-2866.