iACADEMY

Every Valentine’s Day, love is often framed in grand gestures, flowers, chocolates, and fleeting romance. But beyond the roses lies a quieter, deeper kind of love: the kind that lasts decades.

A psychology undergraduate study by Ms. Madeleine Batac, MS, RPm, iACADEMY Chairperson for Psychology, and with her two co-authors, Maria Daniela Senados, RPm and Maryann Arrogante, RPm recognized as Best Thesis in 2018 explored the lived experiences of couples married for 25, 30, and even 55 years. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, the research uncovered powerful insights into what truly sustains a marriage over time.

The findings revealed that long-lasting love is intentional. It thrives on daily efforts to make one’s partner feel loved, grounded in patience, respect, and mutual understanding. Couples emphasized the importance of seeing marriage as a shared journey, one anchored in faith, strengthened by sacrifice, and sustained by two-way support. They spoke of maturity, readiness, and the courage to resolve conflicts instead of avoiding them.

Parents emerged as early influencers of how love is understood, while children gave marriage deeper purpose. Most strikingly, love was not described as effortless, but as a conscious choice, made again and again.

This Valentine’s Day, these stories remind us that love is not just about falling in love, but about staying, choosing commitment, growth, and sacrifice. A timeless lesson echoed by the Psychology community of iACADEMY: love, when nurtured with intention, can truly endure Beyond Better, beyond time.