Alan and Bea's first conversation was as Filipino as it gets. It was around ube and Manny Pacquiao. That turned into longer, more substantial conversations and eventually a date in DC, neutral ground for both Arlingtonians. They decided on just drinks and appetizers, both planning for a quick getaway if needed. Fortunately all went well and afterward, they both admitted to eating a real meal back at home. That turned into weekly dates on Wednesdays (Alan's off day from working out - priorities were set straight very early on) and then progressing to weekends too. And the rest is history!

Alan and Bea celebrated their third year anniversary eating pizza in a restaurant along the Amalfi Coast. They had asked to sit outside while the rest of their families ate indoors. It was over a week into the cruise and the shared itineraries, transportation and ship meant they had spent nearly every waking hour with their families. This already made the isolated table a treat. The rest of the day went on as normal, stops at multiple points along the coast, some souvenir shopping, and countless photo ops. The last stop for the day was Ravello, a cliff top town with gorgeous views of the sea. Dragging everyone along, Alan insisted that we head straight to Villa Rufolo not wasting anytime given the tight schedule. At this point everyone was already tired from walking and the extreme heat was not helping. What started as a large group at the entrance had dwindled to a smaller group of 6, losing parents and grandparents along the way. Continuing on his quest to find the ultimate Insta shot, Alan scrambled to find the beautiful garden he'd seen in pictures online. Unfortunately, his early years of scouting did not help him make sense of the park map and he was unable to locate it. Eventually finding a secluded spot with a good view, Alan and Bea started posing for photos. This is when he finally popped the question and Bea responded "Thank you."