We met at Kapiolani Community College, a Filipino school club. At that time, Lara is one of the officers and John was getting recruited to be part of the members. We first met at a school event where John volunteered to watch the Filipino table and Lara came by to check on them. John's first impression of Lara as well educated woman by the look of how Lara is walking with her books in one arm and carrying a bag on the other, and a great leader as she checks her members in between her classes. Lara in the other hand thought of John as a very friendly person and a very outgoing one, and thought of him as a "chick boy", a filipino slang that describe a man as a playboy or flirtatious. HAHA! Lara observed that John's extrovertness attracted people and she thought of the way John talked to people especially ladies was overly friendly. HAHA! Later on, Lara eventually learned John's true nature as a natural people's person, who likes to entertain and socialize. She realized that John knows how to hold a conversation and just make the conversation smooth and not forced at all. Lara saw John's caring and romantic side who respects everyone, which made her fall in love with him. One afternoon, the Filipino club members that we now call friends were just hanging out in the cafeteria, and we decided to play a game called "truth or dare". Everyone had their turn and it went back to John and he chose "truth", one of our friend asked something like, "Who do you like in in this group?" John paused... and said, Lara! He then continued and confessed his feelings that he has been hiding. After that, we became really close and John finally able to express and show his feelings. But before being officially together, Lara told her beliefs of traditional Filipino courtship "Ligaw" to John. Lara expressed the importance of learning to know each other before making a commitment of being in a relationship. Not knowing where to start, John just showed his true self. We started getting to know each other, talk stories, hang out often, Lara helps John with school and study together. John expresses his feelings in ways that Lara could not imagine. He would bring her favorite coffee all the time and leave a note on it, waits for Lara to finish her classes and walk her to her next class, and he never ever until today forgets to tell her "Good morning and good night". Lara remembers how John would just show up with picked flowers from the road and give it to her- just because. Meanwhile, John remembers Lara as such a very caring person, if she cooks something, she will not forget to share it with the club members, checks on people, and how she managed to help him get a B on a test that he originally got a D on. John sees Lara as a very determined, ambitious and strong woman who is beautiful inside out. The "Ligaw" journey took atleast 5 months. John waited for Lara patiently. Until one day, in a very hot day at Dole Plantation. We were sitting on a bench and just talking, there was silence... and then Lara finally said, "YES!" John was confused, "what do you mean?" Lara replied, "Yes, you can now call me your girlfriend." John was shocked and asked if he heard her right. And she confirmed. John screamed, hugged her tight. That day was one of the memorable moments of our life, that was January 18, 2017.

Lara went for nursing school and John pursued his military career. After college, Lara moved to Washington and signed a two year contract to work as a Registered Nurse and John had to stay in Hawaii for a contract in Air National Guard. We were in this long distance relationship for almost 2 years. We had our ups and downs, but we remained strong and kept our promises. Many people asked if how we did it? We would say, it's the effort. We would video call everyday no matter what happens, we would never forget to update each other even the other person is busy, we tried seeing each other every other month as much as possible, and we would show that we love each other in all the ways we could. After the wedding John will be transitioning to Airforce Active Duty, and Lara would be following John in wherever state he goes and continue her career there, finally just be together and start a family.