A Dozen Rosy Love Stories

Yesterday, my husband and I were interviewed by Lucy Torres in her show “The Sweet Life”. It was for their segment called “Ordinary People Extraordinary Love” On our way home after the taping, Joseph and I mused that we do have an extraordinary love story. In fact there are too many facets to it that we just cannot tell it in a linear manner. Well I guess reality is indeed stranger than fiction. While it is true that our love story is one for the books, I believe that when it comes to LOVE no story is not worth telling about. So last night, I thought about these young married couples who are close to my heart and their love stories. As I was going through each couple’s story (at least garnering from all that I know about it), I came up with titles to describe the heart of their fairy tales. Read on...

(Sequenced according to year of wedding)

1. Richard & Lucy Gomez (1998) – "A Real Fairy Tale"
The barrio heiress meets the most eligible bachelor of the Philippines in one memorable TV commercial! Now this is a classic fairy tale of two very beautiful people (inside and out). I’ve known Lucy ever since we started working on Shall We Dance together in 2005 and I have nothing but “sweet” words for this woman. We immediately clicked ‘coz we’re both BisDak (Bisayang Dako). I watched their 1998 grand wedding in Ormoc on TV. At that time, I was still nursing my broken heart (Joseph) while in UP Diliman. Who knew I’d actually get to meet the couple. Most people would probably say that they’re too beautiful and their story’s such a fairy tale that it’s too good be true. But you know what Lucy is living proof that one can actually have a rosy sweet life. A real life princess marries her prince… and they live happily ever after. I recently encountered Richard’s Blog on PEP and I am always blessed by reading his stories about Lucy and Juliana.

2. Jomar & Muree Arcega (2003) – "The Blind Date"
It all started with a blind date back in college. More than 10 years later that blind date has already seen enough tests to prove that it was more than just love at first sight – it was God’s will. Today, Mr. and Mrs. Arcega are the most enterprising husband & wife team that I know in my circle. If there’s anything that they’re good at together – money & marriage. When most couples struggle with financial issues, this couple has been blessed with a good abundant life, and the best part is they're taking it all in stride with a lot of faith & love.

3. Jun & Tonette Collado (2004) – "The Love Boat"
They met in 1999 when we were all delegates to the SouthEast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP). Like us, dancing had something to do with their love story. They were paired to do an interpretative dance as part of our Philippine Cultural Performance on board the luxury ship that carried the 300+ young leaders from all over Asia) and since then Nippon Maru has been their love boat. After 5 years of marriage, they’re now in Japan (a special place for most SSEAYP people and most of all them) Jun & Tonette are now pregnant! They just e-mailed me the other day and I am so thrilled!

4. Junn & Anne Esteban (2004) – "Bohemian Romance"
You know what they say that when two lovers look alike – they must be soul mates? Well, Junn & Anne are so MFEO (made for each other); they look alike so much that they could actually pass off as siblings. Haha. Okay but seriously, I’m really fond of this couple because they’re your typical bohemian people – they’re into the arts, ethnic & folk music. It’s not a surprise when they named their firstborn daughter Himig.

5. Paul & Grace Atienza (2004) – "Opposites Attract"
Actually, I wanted to use "Aso’t Pusa" as their title. Hehe. Just kidding. Paul & Gracey are both so highly-opinionated that we have all grown accustomed to their harmless & sometimes silly “debates”. Well, that’s what you get when you put two very different leaders, coming from the opposite poles, together. But if there’s one thing that connects this couple is their dedication to their two oh-so-cute-chikitings… and most of all to God and His work. Paul happens to be Joseph’s best friend since they were 6 while Gracey is my Shepherd. Their children are our godchildren. Their life has been part of our concerns & prayers. And now that they’re gearing for a life of doing missionary work, their sacrifices have been inspiring and insightful for Joseph and me.

6. Julius & Connie Santos (2005) – "Still Waters Run Deep"
If Paul & Gracey are both verbally expressive people, Julius and Connie are just about the opposite of that. But beneath that quiet and probably for some people mundane surface lies a strength that endures a lot of family heart aches. Julius and Connie are probably the only ones in this list who have yet to get married in church. They were wed only in civil rights inside the prison cell of Connie’s father. They could have done a typical church wedding with all the works but for them it would be pointless if the person who’s supposed to give the Bride away can’t be there. She didn’t wear the gown but I believe that their love is as strong as the steel rods of the jail bar where they made their vows.

7. Vince & Frances Sales (2007) – "Lit, Wit & Love"
Vince & Frances met during college while on their way up to Baguio for a Literary Writers’ Workshop. The bus that took them sort of had a tiny mishap on the road. The vehicle jolted to a stop and threw Frances into the arms of Vince. Whoops, hold it right there. Steady. Hold the gaze as the camera zooms in slowly to capture the brewing romance. Yes, it’s definitely a perfect scene cut for a movie. Fran has been a classmate/friend of mine since our UP Dil days. Then she became my neighbor in Pioneer Highlands. I could not forget that night when Frances in tears fled from their condo unit in Tower 1 and went knocking on my Tower 2 door, with her luggage at hand. I asked what happened. There was sort of an issue with a certain girl. Anyway, Vince called her and asked her to come back. They sorted things out. And finally after 10 years of being together, they finally got married, and now living a very glamorous life as Editors-in-Chief of 2 popular & glossy magazines – T3 and OK!

8. Jon & Peejay Atienza (2007) – "Lovin’ & Leavin’ on a JetPlane"
Speaking of glamorous couples with equally glamorous lifestyles, this next couple’s favorite activity is TRAVELING. And yes folks, I think as of late, Alaska is the last remaining American state that has not been ticked off yet from their itinerary. I love looking at this couple’s travel photos, and living vicariously through them. And as they hop from one destination to the other, I know that the only real HOME that they have is in each other’s arms.

9. Mervin & Bebbet Manlapid (2008) – "The Prayer Partners"
If there’s any relationship I know that has been deeply rooted in prayer – it would be Mervin & Bebbet’s love story. Their wedding was flawless. Their vows perfect. They didn’t have those you-and-me-against-the-world plight and they weren’t your typical star-crossed lovers. But more than anything their foundation is paramount among all – God’s Word.

10. Jec & Apol Casupanan (2008) – "Falling in Love"
Sometimes, most of us would easily pass judgment on people, especially when the person in question is someone who has a big role to play. If Merv & Bet lived their relationship righteously, this couple started with a FALL. I had my first whiff of Jec and Apol’s story when Apol was being formally ushered back into the church community after one year of disciplinary action. At that time I didn’t know what was going on. And then I learned the story. Love can indeed be dangerous and lead us astray at times but Jec and Apol are proof that God’s love flows more upon the fallen. Now their union is under God’s care – Jec has been recently baptized, and Apol is shining brightly as one of our Worship Song Leaders. Apol by the way was my Wedding Singer.

11. Kenneth & Donna Flavier (2008) – "Nourish with Love"
This was the title of the wonderfully made recipe book that they personally put together as their wedding giveaways. Why a recipe book of their favorite food? Well, it all started one day when Donna had breakfast in one of her favorite new restaurants in Makati. Suddenly out of nowhere, the waiter comes out with a free dish. He said it was compliments of the Chef. Ooh seems like the young new Chef has a crush on this Softball belle. A few more breakfasts followed which extended to lunch… then to dinner dates finally… and of course we all know by now that Donna is now enjoying gourmet food everyday in their new home.

12. Dave & Myma Arizala (2008) – "True Love Waits"
To quote Myma when asked how she knew that Dave was THE ONE, “… Nilunod nya ako sa pagmamahal” Indeed Myma was drowned and revived by Dave’s love for 12 years! They were each other’s FIRST. Sigh… in a world that’s stained and wrecked, it’s refreshing to know that two people can still be both pure even for a long period of time when they finally walk the aisle. Their obedience to God is not only worth emulating, it’s a beautiful testimony.

And for our LOVE STORY click HERE...