Let’s face it: somewhere along the way, we've started putting price tags on things that should be priceless—like love, friendship, and loyalty. It's almost as if relationships have become some sort of currency, where showing up at a wedding or contributing to a ruracio has become the litmus test for true friendship. And if you don’t, well, prepare to be ghosted faster than you can say "I do."

We all know that one person who treats their wedding guest list like a VIP club. Miss the big day, and suddenly, you’re persona non grata. Didn’t contribute anything? Forget about that relationship. It’s as if the depth of your friendship is being measured by how much you can fork over for a wedding gift or how present you are at every life event. But, let’s be real—should our relationships really be reduced to a series of financial transactions?

Let’s talk about the notorious ruracio, the traditional dowry. What used to be a beautiful, cultural expression of unity and respect has, in some circles, turned into a distabilization factor for thriving relationships. It’s like we’ve forgotten the purpose behind it. Instead of celebrating the joining of two families, it’s now about who can outdo whom in terms of WhatsApp group contributions. And if a friend can’t meet the “requirements”? Well, friendship takes a backseat to financial capability.

But the problem isn’t just with ruracios. Weddings, baby showers, birthdays—every celebration has somehow become a test of loyalty, where your presence and presents are scrutinized as proof of how much you care. It’s
almost as if we’ve forgotten that the true essence of these events is to share joy and build memories, not to tally up who gave what. So, why have we let things get so out of hand? Maybe it's because we've confused material offerings with genuine affection. Or maybe it's because social pressure has convinced us that bigger, flashier, and more expensive is always better. Whatever the reason, it's time we take a step back and reassess what truly matters.

The reality is, loyalty isn’t about attending every event or giving the mostexpensive gift. It’s about being there when it counts—through thick and thin, in moments of joy and sorrow. It’s about knowing that, even if you couldn’t make it to a friend’s wedding, you’ll be there to listen when they need to talk about how stressful the planning was. It’s about understanding that life happens, and sometimes people simply can’t contribute to every ruracio or
attend every milestone event, and that’s okay.

We need to stop placing a price on relationships and start valuing whatreally counts: trust, kindness, and genuine connection. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not the size of the gift or the number of events you attend that
makes a relationship strong—it’s the love and loyalty that stand the test of time, even when there’s no crowd to impress or gifts to unwrap.

So, next time you feel slighted because someone missed your wedding or didn’t contribute to your ruracio, ask yourself—does this really define our relationship? Or is there something deeper, something that can’t be measured by money or attendance? After all, the most precious things in life are those that money can’t buy. And when it comes to love and loyalty, those should always be priceless.