It all began at a birthday party in May 2017. I remember seeing him from across the room. He had this quiet charm about him, and before I knew it, he was asking my friends for my name. They’d known him for a while, so when he asked for help getting to know me, they happily played Cupid. Back then, he was already working while I was still in college. He offered to help me with my thesis, and somehow, from that point on, he was just always around. Whether it was tagging along with my friends or dropping in during study breaks, Gat found his way into my life. When he added me on Facebook, I discovered something: Gat had messaged me way back in 2012 with a simple "Hi." I couldn’t help but smile. Fate, it seems, had a funny way of making us wait until the right moment. Over time, Gat became close to my friends and my family. He made it a point to show up, not just for me, but for everyone I loved. But the most special connection of all was the one he formed with my son, Kade. They clicked instantly. Kade would always ask for him, choosing to play with Gat over anyone else. Watching them together, I knew this was something rare. Gat didn’t just love me, he embraced every part of my life, including the one that mattered most.

I had been planning the proposal for a while. I wanted it to be unforgettable, something that felt like us. I had been planning to propose during our trip to Bohol, right at the iconic Chocolate Hills. But when we got there, my nerves got the better of me. And honestly, it just didn’t feel right. I’ve never liked being the center of attention, especially with something this big. I thought, "This should be for just the two of us." Later that evening, at our hotel in Villa Kasadya, I found the perfect moment. It was quiet. It was just us. Unbeknownst to her, I had already asked her sister, Tricia, for permission. Then I asked her parents and eventually the rest of her family. Everyone was in on it. Funnily enough, they were already sending their congratulations in the family group chat even before I asked! It was chaos in the background, but for me, it was the most surreal moment of my life. My heart was racing, but I’d never felt more sure about anything. She said yes. And in that moment, everything just… settled. I felt calm, like everything I had hoped for was finally within reach. Everything was going to be alright.

Wedding planning wasn’t something we rushed into. Life kept us busy with work, setting aside savings, raising Kade, and dreaming of the future. We wanted time to breathe and to picture what this day would look like. We knew we wanted it to be special, so we waited until it felt right. It wasn’t until a spontaneous trip to Tagaytay that things started falling into place. We visited a venue just for fun, and suddenly it didn’t feel so far away anymore. The next day, we dropped by a church in Antipolo that we had been eyeing for a while. It had just been newly built, sitting on a hill with a view overlooking the city. That’s when we booked it. No hesitation. November 25 marked a date already etched in our hearts as the anniversary of when we first became a couple. This day holds every version of our love: from flirty Facebook messages to thesis deadlines, road trips, shared dreams, and all the quiet moments in between. It only made sense that eight years later, it would also be the day we say “I do.” Now, it’s all coming together, hand in hand, with hearts full of hope. The dress, the suit, the flowers, the little details. But beyond the aesthetics, what excites us the most is the life we're about to build. A life filled with love, laughter, and the quiet comfort of knowing, from this moment forward, we’ll never go through anything alone ever again. We are ready to spend the rest of our lives together. With each other to lean on. With Kade by our side. And with all of you, our dear family and friends, witnessing the beginning of this new chapter. We can’t wait to celebrate with you...