Our Love  Story

Our love story is a testament of growth, resilience, and the enduring power of a friendship forged in the halls of academe. Year 1996, when we met during our freshman year of college at the Mapua Institute of Technology-Intramuros, Manila, in the same classrooms where we were just blockmates, navigating the exciting, yet daunting, world of higher education.

Our paths truly intertwined when we both joined Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a co-educational service fraternity and sorority that taught us the values of leadership, friendship, and service. Within this brotherhood and sisterhood, a deeper connection started to form. On September 1999, what began as gathering or drinking sessions and shared volunteer work blossomed into feelings that neither of us could ignore.

Life accelerated rapidly. It was year 2000 when our relationship became serious, and a surprising turn of events meant we were pregnant before graduation. This challenge led to an early marriage on February 23, 2001 and an immediate plunge into adult responsibilities, far sooner than our peers. Our story was tested almost as soon as it began. Becoming pregnant before graduation meant navigating a "dual life" that few our age understood. We faced the staggering pressure of final exams while simultaneously worrying about prenatal checkups and the financial weight of an early marriage. There were days of "self-neglect" where we survived on student allowances to save for diapers, yet we refused to let our circumstances dictate our future. We faced significant problems and pressure during that time, but we tackled them as a unified front, drawing strength from each other. We continued our studies, graduated, and began building our careers while raising our growing family. 

25 Years have passed, and our lives reflect the journey we have shared. On our 25th Wedding Anniversary, our bodies are chubbier, our hair is greying, and our careers have progressed from rank-and-file employees to manager and head. As our family grew to three children, so did our ambitions. Our motivation wasn't just personal prestige; it was the "imminent need" to provide a stable home for our children. Through all the physical and professional changes, the core of our relationship has remained constant. We are still best friends, traveling, camping, and dining together, creating new memories. While the world saw our bodies change—from the thin frames of youth to a more comfortable chubbiness, and hair turning from black to gray—our spirits remained anchored. Our Friday visits to the Black Nazarene at Quiapo Church became the heartbeat of our marriage.

To our three children: Kuya Vince, Kuya Khrezner & Bunso Archel, you are the reason our hair turned gray and our hearts grew full. We want you to know that the comfort you see now was born from the "problems we overcame" together. Just as we find strength at the Black Nazarene every Friday, find a place of prayer or reflection that grounds you when life feels heavy. Our story began in a classroom, was tested by an early marriage, and is now celebrated in the lives you lead. We are proud of the managers we’ve become, but we are most proud of being your parents. 

To Our Dearest Parents: Daddy Larry, Mama Letty, Tatay Mando and Mommy Dolor, When we look back on the journey that began in our college years, we see your hands and hearts guiding us every step of the way You saw us through our "lean years"—balancing studies, work, and a new baby—and celebrated with us throughout our success. Our shared life is a testament to your love and support. Thank you for walking this incredible journey with us, and for being the silent heroes in our love story.

We are now looking forward to our retirement years in our mini farm at San Pablo, Laguna and live to our ultimate goal, “To grow old with each other”.