Before we started dating, we had already accomplished one thing that most couples should do: meet somewhere in the middle. With both of us coming from opposite ends of California, the two of us found each other in the Central Valley at the University of California, Merced. In the Fall of 2010, Mariel was starting her freshman year whereas Christopher was beginning his second. But little did we know the two of us were bound to have Chemistry... class together. Their relationship grew further as they started attending meetings and events within the Pilipino American Alliance (PAA) and began hanging out with a small group of friends (shoutout Real World Merced). Our friendship grew into something more when we began to spend time together such as exploring the Central Valley, visiting family in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and even having our very first date at Disneyland. Before our school year ended, we made our relationship official on May 12, 2011. After graduating from UC Merced a few years later, we decided to pursue our professional careers while also withstanding a long distance relationship for the next 7 years; but of course, love knows no distance.

Christmas came early on December 16, 2018 as Christopher presented Mariel with something that would sure “ring” in the holidays. The Oka and Llamas families gathered together at the Candlelight Pavilion to enjoy an evening dinner and a show called “The Perfect Christmas.” Little did Mariel know that she and Christopher would steal the spotlight as Christopher proposed in front of their families (who, of course, were in on the surprise) and a packed theater house. After the show had concluded, both the Oka and Llamas families took a photo with Santa Claus. But unlike the others, Christopher and Mariel both knew that they didn’t need to ask Santa for anything because being engaged to one another was already the most perfect gift of all.