Angel's Wink Bares Winner for "My (Funny) Love Affair" 2007 Story Writing Contest 3rd Edition

Finally, Angel's Wink Production & Events Planner (or simply Angel's Wink or AWP) was able to pick the winner for this year's "My (Funny) Love Affair" Story Writing contest (for soon-to-weds)! The winner was supposed to be announced during the closing ceremony of "WEDDINGS... GET SET... GO!!!" Bridal Fair Year last October 14 @ Rockwell Tent.

With an overwhelming number of entries this year, it was difficult for the committee to choose the winner since each had their own favorites. After seeking help from more industry people and friends to help AWP in the judging, it became much clearer which entry was in the running for the top slot. Mr. Big Man himself, Paulo Clemente, AWP's Creative Head (and formerly head of the Creative Writing Administration of a pre-need company) finally declared the winner - Mr. Kristian Liwanag with his entry entitled "Funk Phenomenon".

Kristian's story won over the others for it's sweet, simple but effective story telling. His work also didn't need much editing, if at all. "Funk Phenomenon" is about a guy who will move heaven and earth in his own charming ways to win the "love of his life".

Kristian, who will marry Christian Grace "Ian" Cambia on February 9, 2008 at Christ The King Church in Greenmeadows, won the following as prizes:

P5,000.00 in cash from Angel's Wink, a prenuptial pictorial session with Wally Gonzales Photography, a Zoom Whitening Kit from Dr. Jessie Cancio Solis Dental Clinic worth P15,000.00, a three-day and two nights stay at Pearl of the Pacific in Boracay, an overnight stay for two at Hacienda Isabella, 100 cd giveaways (with personalized sticker) from wedding singer & event host Paulo Clemente, free misalette production from Angel's Wink, a special pearl wedding cord from Angela's Treasure Trove, and a gift package from Scents & Blends Fragrance Bar.

Above: Kristian & Ian with singer-host Paulo Clemente during the simple awarding rites cum celebratory dinner at Kitchen Restaurant in Greenbelt 3. Kristian & Ian are members of W@W community (www.weddingsatwork.com). From Angel's Wink Events & Planners, as early as now, our congratulations & best wishes!

Our special thanks to Wally Gonzales Photography for sponsoring the contest and "Weddings... Get Set Go!!! Bridal Fair Year 3. Poster below is Wally Gonzales' "Gone With The Wind" concept for Carol Banawa's wedding to Ryan Crisostomo (January 2006, where Paulo Clemente was also the singer & event host).

Get upclose and personal with master photographer Wally G. from an article we wrote for PR by right-clicking the poster below (to open a new window).

The winning entry as well as some selected entries may be read below. Previous winners from the first and second editions may also be read by right-clicking their respective boxes to open a new window. To read the post-event report of our recent fair, simple right-click the box too.

Our special thanks too to those who helped us in the decision-making such as John & Benz Rana of the W@W Community, Celia Cunanan of "The Social Connection Event Planners", Pepel Spandonis of Wedding Wonders & Party Surprises, Farah Orosco of OA Sweets, Agnes Azul of Besart Designs among so many others who took time out to read the selected entries.

Our warmest thanks as well those who joined this year's edition of "My (Funny) Love Affair" Story Writing Contest. Given the choice, we would have wanted all of you to win but we could only choose one. Still, thank you very much and God bless you all.

Finally, thanks to the following Sponsors for making "Weddings... Get Set... Go" Bridal Fair Year 5 and "My (Funny) Love Affair" Story Writing Contest 3rd Edition truly successful.

You may browse their websites by right-clicking their boxes to open a new window:

"K" Trivia: Did you know that the name of the first edition winner begins with the letter "K" (Kay Baking Dadivas) and the winner in the 2nd edition also begins with the letter "K" (Kuh Sambo Valentin). Now the name of this year's winner also begins with the letter "K" too! ( Kristian Liwanag). One thing for sure: Kay, Kuh and Kristian, kayong tatlo ay talagang may "K"!

Winning Entry- "My (Funny) Love Affair Story Writing Contest 2007 by Angel's Wink Events & Planners

May 19, 1999, akala ko ay isang karaniwang gabi lamang, di ko alam na yun pala ang simula ng aking habambuhay. Sinubukan kong tawagan sa telepono si Ian, ang taong matagal nang gustong ipakilala ng aking high school classmate. OK naman ang una naming pagkukwentuhan at nasundan pa iyon ng ilan pang mga tawag. Konting bolahan---binola ko sya, at nagpabola naman sya; binola nya ako at nagpabola naman ako. Madalas sa aming mga kwentuhan marami kaming nadi-discover na pagkakapareho, tulad na lang ng aming pangalan---Kristian at Khristian Grace. “Tamo nga naman, it must be fate”, yun ang lagi kong hirit sa kanya na alam ko namang kinikilig sya. Naging madalas ang pag-uusap namin sa telepono, kwentuhan, bolahan, etc.

Sa madalas kong pagtawag sa kanya, laging sinasabi ni Ian na maganda sya. Pasukan na sa school nila at hindi pa pasukan sa amin, naisip ko na makipagkita sa kanya upang malaman nga kung nagsasabi sya ng totoo o isa lang syang panget na nagmamaganda. June 11, usapan naming magkita sa fastfood chain malapit sa school nila. Naka T-shirt lang ako, maong at tsinelas nung pumunta ako, sayang kasi porma kung panget pala. Oras ng pagkikita namin, wala pa sya kaya nagpage ako sa kanya. Pager pa uso noon, hindi cellphone. Naisip kong umuwi na noon pero may tinig na nagsabi sa puso ko na maghintay pa nang ilang saglit. Maya-maya, dumating ang high school classmate ko at sinundo ako. Isinama nya ako sa kinaroroonan ni Ian at ng ilan pa nilang mga kaklase. Totoo pala ang kanyang mga sinasabi sa telepono, maganda nga sya, ubod ng ganda! Kinagabihan, tinawagan ko uli si Ian sa telepono, alam nyang nacute-an ako sa kanya. Mabuti na lang at hindi ako umalis kaagad, sulit ang aking paghihintay!

Napadalas na ang pagtawag ko kay Ian, naging gabi-gabi. Isang linggo mula una naming pagkikita, sinundo ko sya sa school at nag-date kami. Isang linggo pa matapos yun, inihatid ko na sya sa bahay nila at ipinakilala nya ako sa kanyang pamilya. Kinalingguhan magkasama kami nagsimba. Naging ganun ang routine namin. Sundo pag Friday, simba pag Sunday.

July 11, 1999, saktong isang buwan mula nang unang beses kong masilayan ang kagandahan ni Ian, naisip kong sabihin na sa kanya ang aking damdamin. Pagkatapos ng misa sa Sto. Domingo, tumigil ako at tinanong sya, “May naririnig ka ba?” Tumingin sya sa paligid at sinabi nyang wala. Lumapit akong bahagya at ibinulong sa kanyang tenga, “I love you...”. Isang matamis na ngiti ang isinukli nya sa akin, alam kong kinilig sya noon.

Napadalas ang aming tawagan at pagkikita. Lalo ding dumalas ang bolahan syempre! October 8, 1999, habang naglalakad kami sa loob ng SM North Edsa, bigla nyang sinabi, “I love you”. Tuloy lang ako sa paglakad nun, medyo sanay na rin kasi ako noon na sinasabi nya sa akin “Miss you”, akala ko yun ang sinabi nya. Then napatigil ako. “Hindi ‘miss you’ yun ah!,” naisip ko. Hindi nga, “I love you” pala talaga ang sinabi nya! Di man ako nagtatalon, masayang masaya ako nang mga sandaling yun at nang nahimasmasan na nga ako, sinigurado ko. “Ang ibig sabihin ba nun tayo na?”, tanong ko sa kanya. Malay ko ba kung I love you as a friend yun o kung mahal na rin nya ako pero hindi pa rin pala kami. Kinonfirm nya na kami na nga, e di formally magsyota na nga kami at wala nang bawian!

November 8, eksaktong isang buwan mula October 8, nagcelebrate kami ng 1st monthsary. Matapos ang isang buwan, December 8, 2nd monthsary naman. Eksaktong isang buwan mula noon, 3rd monthsary ang aming ipinagdiwang... Every month nagcecelebrate kami ng "monthsary". At every year naman, anniversary ang celebration, syempre. Laging masaya ang mga monthsaries and anniversaries namin. Iba’t iba din ang mga gimiks na ginagawa namin ni Ian upang lalong mapasaya ang isa’t isa: naglatag ako ng mga dyaryo sa UP Sunken Garden na ang sabi “IAN, MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA”; kinantahan ko sya ng “Ngayon at Kailanman” sa harap ng maraming tao; hinarana ko si Ian ng “Minsan lang Kitang Iibigin”; pinadalhan nya ako ng basket of roses sa bahay namin; nagdate sa Wow Philippines sa Intramuros; kumain sa Aresi; nagpaint ng figurine; nanood ng sine; nag-videoke; nag-dinner sa hotel; nagsuot ako ng costume ng prinsipe at nag-alay ng tula para kay Ian; at kung anu-ano pang mga gimiks na kadalasan ay sa pelikula lang nangyayari.

Ang pinakabongga sa lahat ay ang aming 7th anniversary. Nagsimula ang aming araw sa aking pagsundo sa kay Ian. Ibinigay nya ang regalo nya sa akin at nagbohalan kami ng konti. Pagkatapos ay pumunta kami sa Christ the King upang magsimba. Pagkatapos ng misa, nagdasal si Ian at habang nagdadasal sya, ibinigay ko ang videocam na dala namin sa isang officemate ko na pinakiusapan ko na magsimba kasabay namin upang maging taga-video. Pagkatapos nyang magdasal, pinatayo ko sya sa may gitna ng simbahan habang ako ay nakatayo din. “Khristian Grace Cambia, mahal na mahal kita.. ilang buwan mula ngayon nais kitang pakasalan sa simbahang ito.. gusto mo bang maging Khristian Grace Cambia-Liwanag?” At ako ay lumuhod upang ialay sa kanya ang engagement ring. Nakatingin lang sya sa akin at nakangiti, malamang ay hindi alam ang gagawin sa sobrang kilig. Hindi ako tumayo hanggang hindi nya ako sinasagot. At pagkatapos ng 49 years, este mga isang minuto lang, tumango sya. Tumayo na rin ako, at nagyakap kami! Kapwa kami nanginginig nang mga oras na iyon dahil pareho kaming excited sa aming nalalapit na kasal!

Pagkagaling sa Christ the King, nagpunta kami sa Greenbelt upang manood ng stage play. At pagkatapos nun ay nagtungo naman kami sa Megamall upang mag-dinner. Hindi alam ni Ian na sa Dad’s ay naghihintay na ang aming mga pamilya, nakahanda na ang pagsalubong nila sa aming engagement. Naging masaya at masagana ang aming piging at bago kami umalis ay ibinigay ko sa kanya ang isang malaking bouquet of roses. Iyon ang aming engagement party.

Sa February 9, 2008, isang araw mula sa aming 100th monthsary, manunumpa kami ni Ian sa harap ng Diyos at sa harap ng tao na mamahalin ang isa’t isa hangang sa dulo ng walang hanggan. Lubhang mahal na mahal namin ang isa’t isa.

Siya nga pala, baka nagtataka kayo sa title ng love story namin. "Funk Phenomena" kasi ang very first theme song namin ni Ian, heheheehhe.

I am Kristian Liwanag and my fiancée is Khristian Grace Cambia. Yes, I am Kris and she is Ian. We will be getting married on February 9, 2008 at Christ the King Parish.

Selecte Entry # 6

NOTHING SAYS “I LOVE YOU” LIKE A STRANGLEHOLD
by Paolo Chikiamco

I honestly think that there is no greater indicia of love, than that scintillating, trembling desire to take your partner in your arms – and wring her neck.

OK, so, maybe that’s not very normal of me. Then again, my relationship with my bride-to-be is not very normal either, which suits both of us just fine. I’m one of those uncommon male forms who would much rather sit in a corner with a book than go out drinking with even the most beauteous of women. As for Shaps’, her idea of a perfect day would start with a trip to the zoo, detour to a Lewis Black comedy cuss-show, then end with a jump into the mosh pit at an Aerosmith concert. Those descriptions might seem to place us squarely within the “opposites attract” couples sub-genre, but as usual looks can be deceiving – there is a happy overlap to most of our interests that accounts for the fact that I will enjoy her perfect day almost as much as she herself would, and vice-versa.

That is not to say that we never disagree, but the very fact that we can actually engage in pointed, passionate and quite heated arguments is a cornerstone of our relationship. As lawyers, neither Shaps nor I are the timid, reticent type, and it is refreshing indeed to be able to argue to the best of one’s ability, pulling no punches, because you know your partner is not likely to be swayed merely by your fancy vocabulary, nor the force of your personality. I know I’m quite often wrong in my positions, but it is a rare thing to find someone who can weather my oft-bombastic tirades and also fire back with succinct arguments as to just how and why I am wrong. Shaps, bless her heart, makes it a personal mission to prove me wrong. Frequently… and with evident glee.

To this day she never makes me forget that, technically speaking, she’s never officially agreed to be my girlfriend. She has etched in her memory those painstakingly crafted words that my younger, quite nervous self asked her those six years ago: “Shaps… will you consider becoming my girlfriend.” Which means, she points out, that I have basically been undergoing nothing but a lengthy probation.

Apparently though, I have acquitted myself well enough to convince her to give me her “official” assent when we get married this December (or not… it wouldn’t be completely out of character for her to say ‘I don’t’ if I manage to screw up before then, for instance by once again failing to put the “_” in my “^_^” smiley face). As long as no one forces her to wear a veil (“Do you not want to look at my face?”) or march down the aisle to anything other than Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”, I’m sure we’ll be fine, and well on our way to years of marital bliss, detouring inevitably into the occasional mental neck-wringing.

Lawyers Paolo Chikiamco and Shaps Lim will tie the knot on December 16, 2007 at De La Strada Church, Katipunan Avenue, Q.C.

Selected Entry # 5

Valuable
By Mark Isaiah David


Ours is a story of unexpected beginnings. Looking back on the eight years that we’ve known each other, I can’t help but think that the universe had its fun orchestrating our love story.

There definitely was no magic or spark or anything that would suggest romance on our first meeting. If anything, our first meeting could have led to a fierce debate. We met when Leah was on her fourth year in college and I was on my second. She was a member of a Christian organization at the time, and they put up a book sale featuring Christian books at the UP Mass Comm building. Being a bigtime book lover, I stopped by one afternoon to look at their stacks. I did not notice her sitting a bit farther away. I picked up one book, and speaking to no one in particular, instantly challenged its title:

“Seven steps to heaven?” I thought it was plain stupidity and naivete to think that there is a formula to get to heaven.

From behind me, Leah suddenly spoke, “One step lang nga e.”

Being the unspiritual person that I was, Leah’s sure declaration caused me to gear up in my debate-mode. I turned to face her, prepared to grill her about her faith. I was about to pounce, but I saw that she was pretty so I just bit my tongue. Typical guy behavior, I know.

A few months after our first encounter, I joined their organization and eventually accepted the Christian faith. Leah and I developed a strange and wonderful friendship, but all signs showed that we were destined to stay in the friend zone forever. We both lived in Bulacan, so we went home together, spending countless hours talking during the daily commute. She loved berating me for being a jerk to all my previous girlfriends, while I chided her for being such a ‘manang’. I also acted as a bridge for a good friend of ours who was then in-love with her, and in the process I learned about Leah’s ideal guy - someone older, more mature in the Christian faith, a righteous man of God, a gentleman through and through. It was clear to both of us that I do not fit the bill.

She turned down our friend, and we continued down the friendship road. Only, I knew I had already fallen for her. I had no plans of telling her about my feelings, though – I believed there was just no hope of her ever loving me back. Didn’t I just say I was so not her ideal guy? Still, I could not stop myself from dropping hints and clues at times. After all, I have always been a champion of lost causes.

One viciously hot summer afternoon, after I accompanied her in her errands, we went to get ourselves our favorite summer treat – McDonald’s strawberry sundae and a huge Coke. The airconditioning inside the store was fine, but the sweltering heat outside drained most of my energies."Punas ka ng pawis! Basang-basa na yang t-shirt mo. Yuck."

“Eh ang init sa labas eh!”, I answered. “At least ako nilalabas ko yung dumi sa katawan ko, unlike you na hindi pinapawisan! Sa palinisan ng loob ng katawan, talo kita!”

“Utot!” she squealed, and put out her tongue in reply to what I said. She was an incoming law student at UP, graduated college with honors, but she calls me names and puts her tongue out whenever she had no logical rebuttal for my teasings. We've been traveling the whole day under the sweltering heat but she still had the energy to laugh at me to my face. Gads, I thought. Be still, my heart.

"Bakit ba di ka pa mag-boyfriend? Para lagi kang may alalay", I told her. She said, "Bakit pa? andyan ka naman. sinasamahan mo ko, inaaliw. nagdadala ng gamit. Ano pa ang use ng boyfriend?" "Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap, hahahaha!", I laughed, covering my thoughts. "So alila ang tingin mo sakin?" She laughed again, and put out her tongue.(Gads. akonalangakonalangakonalangakonalang!)

My eyes wandered around the McDonald's store, desperate to find something - anything - that could distract me enough to not blurt out what i wanted to say to her. My eyes settled on a store sign that made me smile. A safe joke - with just the right amount of ambiguity."Hey", I said. I extended my hands and held her arms. "What?", she asked. I held on."Hello? Huy! Bakit?"Finally, I let go and with a smile on my face, pointed to the McDo in-store sign. She turned from her seat and read:

"PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES UNATTENDED"

"Hahaha! Baliw!" she said. But she looked at me with a hint of question in her eyes.

That started our romantic journey. That she did not push me away after that pseudo-declaration gave me the courage to tell her about my feelings. I pursued her and won her. And now, seven years and countless McDonalds sundaes after, we’re getting married. A lot has happened during those seven years, but looking back, we now see that what to us was impossible was purposely orchestrated by God to make our happy-ever-after even more precious. After all, if we had known from the very start that we were for each other forever, there would certainly be no fun in that! The uncertainty, the journey, the pains we went through make our upcoming union all the more valuable.

Mark Isaiah P. David & Leah G. Samson value each other so much they vow to love each other for better or for worse on Ferbruary 23, 2008 at The Lakeshore Estate Lakeview and Lighthouse Promenade

Selected Entry # 4

Joke... Joke... Joke!

by Marie Hazel Bisenio

Nagkakilala sila sa T.A.P.E. Office ng July 2000. Though ELMER left a month after, they still remained friends. Then, as fate would have it, they both resigned from their jobs at the same time and decided to look for other jobs - together.

At pagkagaling sa Makati after giving out resumés, habang nasa C5, nag-emote si HAZEL...
“Elmer, 23 na ako, ang tanda tanda ko na... 'Di pa din ako nagkakaroon ng boyfriend...”

ELMER:
“Masyado ka kasing pihikan! Ano ba gusto mo sa lalake?!”

HAZEL:
“Gusto ko taga La Salle, me bahay sa Corinthian Gardens, me 5M sa bangko...”

ELMER:
“Malay mo, di mo lang alam nasa tabi mo na pala 'yung magiging boyfriend mo...
Ako simple lang, taga UP lang ako, wala akong bahay sa Corinthian Gardens, wala din akong 5M sa bangko...”

HAZEL:
“YUCK! Ikaw?! Hello?!?!!?!”

BOTH:
“Hahahaha.....”

Fast forward... two years after that conversation... At saan daw sila nagtrabaho? You guessed it, they ended up working together in the same company! As always, together na naman silang kumakain, pumapasok at umuuwi…

After manuod ng X-Men sa Greenbelt 3... habang bumabaybay sa fly over papuntang EDSA galing Ayala...

ELMER:
“Alam mo, iniisip nila lahat, tayo na... Gusto mo tayo na?!”
HAZEL:
“O sige... try naten ha!”
ELMER:
“Cgue, try naten..”
HAZEL:
“Pero try lang ha. ‘Pag ‘di nag work friends pa din tayo!”
ELMER:
“Cgue… tayo na!”
BOTH:
“Hahahaha.....”

Ayun, after four years... tina-try pa din nila! Hahaha!

The Proposal : June, 2006

Baky (friend na kinasal nung June 2006): "Ay naku ayusin n’yo na ‘yang kasal ninyo!"

Hazel: "Tsaka na masyado pa maaga!"

Baky: "Hindi ‘noh! Akala mo lang ‘yun! Kung ‘di pa kayo magpapaksal, Unahin n’yo na ang singsing at nag tataas ang ginto… itago n’yo nalang!"

Hazel: "Ah talaga, okay… "
Hazel: "Huy. Ayusin na daw naten kasal naten sabi ni Baky. Bumili na daw tayo singsing. Tago na lang muna naten kung ‘di pa tayo magpapakasal."

Elmer: "O sige, saan? "

Hazel: "Ang Matus me 10% discount daw ngayon."

Elmer: "O cgue."

Hazel: "‘Wag mo na ako bigyan ng engagement ring ha!"

Elmer: "Ha?!?!?!? Bakit?!"

Hazel: "Mawawala ko lang eh. Sayang naman."

Elmer: "Ay oo… Sa bagay. Tama ka… "

Hazel: "Tapos meron din daw food tasting sa Hizon’s sa Sunday, gusto mo? Me free dessert bar sila… "

Elmer: "Wow! Sarap ‘yun! Maganda ‘yun ah…"

Hazel: "Punta tayo? "

Elmer: "Cgue, cgue…"

(pause…)

Elmer: "So kelan tayo kakasal? December?"

Hazel: "Umm… Sige. Anong date? (nilabas ang Starbucks planner)Eto o, 08, 15 at 22 ang Sabado… "

Elmer: "08 or 15 nalang. Masyado na malapit mag- Christmas ang 22… "
Hazel: "15 nalang."
Elmer: "08 nalang! Christmas party naten sa 15, baka manalo tayo ng TV sayang!"
Hazel: "Ay tama. Tsaka Immaculate Conception pa ‘yun! Ganda yun!"
Elmer: "Oo nga… so kakasal na tayo ha?"
Hazel: "Ok go!"

Mary Hazel Bisenio will wed the love of her life Elmer Bautista on December 8, 2007 @ Sta. Maria della Strada in Katipunan Avenue. Reception will be in The Mango Farm.

Selected Entry # 3

First Hello…

By Stephanie Roque

Every couple would want to have a wonderful “how they met” story to tell their kids and grand children. The kind of story that would make their grandkids sigh and say, “I want my story to be just like Lolo and Lola”. In our case, I don’t think neither our kids nor grand children would want to have our kind of story. How we met is always a funny story to tell. There wasn’t any love at first sight…kilig moment kinda thing. Instead, there was a bit of a screaming and cursing; definitely not a typical first meeting.

I am Steph, the spoiled brat bride to be. And this is our story.

Regie was an officemate of my college friend Claudet, one day he saw my picture in Claudet's wallet and asked who I was. One kwento led to another - and he asked if he could get my number. She then gave my number (without my friend asking me first?). He first texted me, a casual “Hi, How are you?” message, since his number was not registered in my phonebook, I asked who he was. He told me casually “This is Regie”. I thought he was Regie my “girl” friend who texted. It was a casual hi hello “you’re my friend” kinda text conversation (maybe he thought that my friend already gave me a heads up that she gave my number to one of his friends, because he didn’t bother anymore to introduce himself further at this point).

When my sister came home I told her that Regie (girl friend who I thought he was) changed her number and texted me, to my surprise my sister said, “No, she didn’t change her number” and I was like, “if that's not Regie who is this Regie texting me?” Intrigued, I decided to give this “Regie” a call and I was so surprised to hear a male voice on the other line!

I still remember every detail of our first phone conversation, so here it goes…

Steph: Sino toh? (me totally surprised that it was a male voice on the other line)Regie: Si RegieSteph: Sinong Regie?Regie: Si Regie Acuyado (he sounded surpised why I am asking)Steph: Wala akong kilalang Regie Acuyado! Sino toh?!? (I’m a bit furious at this point and wondering who this guy I am talking to is)James? (a friend who I thought was pulling a prank on me)? James? Ikaw ba yan?

P*&*@**@I*&%^ ka! (You know the exact words... just have to censor this part)Regie (Shocked and petrified that I'm being hysterical): Hindi ako si James... Si Regie Acuyado ako...Steph: Pwes Wala akong kilalang Regie Acuyado! (me hanging up)
--- End of first conversation ---

After a few minutes my friend Claudet called and asked me what I did to his officemate. I told her that I didn't know, she didn’t tell me she was giving out my number to anyone, and I thought he was someone who was pulling a crazy prank on me. I was so apologetic to my friend that I screamed and cursed at his officemate, only to realize it was him again on the other line listening to me apologizing and embarrassed by what I did.
What a way to make a first impression to someone. Amazingly, after that momentous phone conversation, he still continued to text me. He then bravely asked for my home number and that is when we started to really get to know each other. He sounded like a really nice guy and I really enjoyed his company. I was working on graveyard back then so it was like so impossible for us to meet. After a month I resigned from my work, and started on a new job that was very near his work place. During the same time he finally he got the courage to ask me out and meet up with him.

Our first meeting… hmmmm another cool story to tell.

We decided to meet at the RCBC Plaza at around 5:30pm. He got caught up in an office meeting and said that he was going to be a bit late. The “a bit late” wasn’t exactly just a bit… I waited for two long hours! Since we have been texting and talking for quite a while already, I decided to wait and just get over the “first” meeting with this guy. Que sera sera. So we met, had dinner and good conversation. After that evening, he stayed in “visible” in my life. In short, “talagang inaraw-araw nya” to see me (except for Sundays).

There wasn’t any courtship, we just dated. We dated for three weeks straight, and after a Harry Potter movie, while parked in front of Starbucks West Ave. at 3am in the morning, he asked me. “Anu na ba tayo?”, I said, “Anu ba ang gusto mo?”, he then said in his most masculine way, “ If you ask me, gusto na kita maging girlfriend”, I then asked him, “Gagaguhin mo ba ako?”, his answer, “Never”. That was 16 November 2002, we officially became a couple.

Early this year, we decided to get married. There wasn't really a down on his knees kind of proposal. It was on our 2nd going on 3rd year of our relationship that we started talking seriously about our future together aka Getting Married. When the wedding topic is discussed, it would always end up with the phrase - "ipon pa tayo beh".
Then it just happened. One night of our usual "before bed time phone conversation", we started really talking about ' getting married' and how our savings will never be enough... it would forever be a never ending "ipon pa tyo" kind of thing. Before we ended the night - he said - "cge nga, lets see - meet Dhang "our wedding coordinator friend" kung how much budget we need to work on, then let's see". I was like “You serious?” he said...Yes. The next thing we know, we were in Halfmoon (our favorite Friday night chill out place) armed with bridal magazines, paper, pen and calculator making budgets, guest list, wedding dates, church choices and when to tell our parents about the plan.

It’s true what people say, you will find the right love at the right time, it can start as tragic as our first phone conversation, but it can end with a trip to the aisle and pledging your love hanggang pagtanda, just like ours.

Steph Roque marries Regie Acuyado on January 5, 2008 in San Agustin Church. Reception follows in Teatrillo Intramuros.

Selected Entry # 2

AMOR VINCIT OMNIA (Via Badminton Game!)
By Monalyn Panganiban

I was reminded of this Latin phrase when I received an email from a friend. Indeed, Love conquers all. Going back to the past, thinking about my previous life, I can attest to the truthfulness of this phrase. I have loved and lost but I never lost faith in that emotion, that feeling called love. When I felt that the whole world was against me, when no one would listen to what I have to say, I hold on to that faith. That someday, someone will come along and everything will be alright again.

Somebody did come along! Edwin did not sweep me off my feet. There was no 'magic' moment the first time we met. It was the opposite and actually funny how it all started. I was so 'naiinis' with this guy when I got to play with him during a badminton game. I vividly remember that I was able to hit Edwin hard at the chest with the shuttlecock because I was getting too worked up that I wanted to smash him with my badminton racket.

I was not expecting him to accompany me home afterwards (Edwin reasoned that it was really late and that it was too dangerous for me to go home by myself). I was not the weakling type of girl but up to now I could not remember what made me consent to that for after all, he did get into my nerves! Maybe as a retribution, I made him walk with me from the jeepney stop to our house even though we can ride the sidecar plying the way.

After that fateful day, we started to communicate through email. The 'hi" and 'hello' kind of email and forwarded messages which often ended up with me being irritated with him. On one rare occasion, Edwin handed me a chocolate in the office which I happily accepted since chocolates always uplifts my mood but I purposely showed it off to my officemates too , making him a little uneasy. Serves him right! I just knew later that he thought he had offended me on one of his e-mails and gave me the chocolate as a peace offering!

When one of my closest friends in the office got sick of varisella infection, Edwin insisted to go with me to the hospital. That night was the start of our lengthy phone conversations until the time that we realized we are both feeling something much greater than friendship. When Edwin confessed to me about what he was feeling, I was sad and happy at the same time. Sad, because I do not yet want to go
into another relationship (I wanted to clear everything from my previous relationship) and happy because God knows what I needed that time. A friend that understands me and a confidante that I can fully trust. He did give me a lot more. A lot more than I was praying for. At the least unexpected time and unforeseen circumstances, He had made me meet that 'somebody'. Someone I will be willing to spend the rest of my life with. I was thankful of that day. Thankful to the people who, unconsciously, helped both of us to find each other. We never really know what life will throw our way. Like in my case, I never thought that the one I was waiting for to come was already near me, in the same office area where I worked. It only needed a 'badminton game' to get us to know each other.

Now, I am a happily engaged woman. There is no fear in me for the future that is to come. For I know that together, Edwin and I will be able to overcome anything that life will throw at us. Together, we will begin our journey to a life of togetherness, full of the unknown.

Oh, by the way, that 'badminton game' never got a repeat. Until this day, “honey” and I never got to play badminton together again. I do not know if it is because of our busy schedule but I know for a fact that God used that event to put us together. A year and a half from the time we became a couple, we will be tying the knot. Some say that it’s too early for us to decide (fact: he proposed to me 6 months into the relationship) but love beckons to us. And we are more than happy to follow ☺

Monalyn B. Panganiban will marry Edwin Hipolito on March 8, 2008 at St. Pancratius Chapel (Paco Park ). Reception follows at Ramon Magsaysay Center Hall