They say that a "soul mate" is something that when you first saw the person, there is something deep inside of you that you just couldn't explain. You may utter something or something in your head would pop out, just by simply looking at him...for the first time.

Sounds like a fairy tale but no!

It was January 16, 2004 when my bestfriend Cienna invited me at Side Bar Cafe in Ortigas for the Mt. Pinatubo Pre-Climb Session. Although Cienna and I already talked about this meeting few days ago, still I looked for ways to evade the meeting since I really couldn't come because I am doing a Novena to St. Therese and that being in the mountain would make it hard for me to pursue with my novena (where can I ever hear mass in the mountain in the first place?). Plus girls like me become irritated and lazy whenever there's a period and so I refused to come with her for the meeting. Just to convince me to show up, Cienna said she's already in our meeting place in Megamall and she's with someone who would treat us out for dinner! (Sounds more interesting huh! A free dinner for a food lover like me?!) With no thinking twice, I ran to meet her up!

Upon entering inside the Powerbooks where I am supposed to meet Cienna, I saw a guy beside her who when I called Cienna's attention looked back and I saw him with his killer smile and he has this looks which is not common to a pinoy, he's surprisingly mestizo! With that I unknowingly said to myself, "okay to ah!" even though I can't say I got attracted to him because it wasn't that sort of thing. But the least that I had ever expected, that very moment would be the start of everything.

That first meeting led us to a continuous communication - chat, email, exchanging texts... and revelations about our innermost feelings came the next... While I fervently pray to God and to St. Therese to teach me how to properly discern, there he also was telling himself that from the moment we met, he would not let go of me.

Who would ever thought that the guy I saw during that night for the first time (which I thought will also be the last time since it was his flight back in the States the following day) will be the guy I would walk hand and hand with while we take a quiet and solemn walk on the aisle on January 23, 2005 (almost a year after we met for the first time).

At first I never wanted to believe him, considering how bitter my past was and how men really talk mellifluously... for goodness sake, I would never want to be hurt again. Prayer was my only armor from any pain that might set in just in case he really wasn't the one God had prepared for me. But it's apparently true that if we remain faithful to God, He will also remain faithful to us. He knows what could make us happy and with this He didn't fail me...

Raymund came home last June 3, 2004 to propose marriage and he even arranged that romantic date in Boracay last June 6, 2005 while we savor dinner beside the seashore with only candles giving us light and stood witness to that very special moment... It took me a while before I answered him "yes" when he gave me the engagement ring and asked me if I will marry him not because I doubted his sincerity but because I just couldn't contain the happiness I am feeling at that time. I was asking, "is this a dream or a make believe?"

Jan. 23, 2005... our dreams just came to life! My dream wedding is now a reality, making me feel like a real princess and thanking God for what He did will never be enough. Truly enough, Love stories shouldn't have a happy ending...because a love like ours will remain happy and this shall never have an end.


Because it's truly meant....

Before Raymund flew back to the States, we both agreed that I would take care of everything here which will be part of the wedding preparations. While he will take care of the wedding ring which he first planned to buy in the States. After several weeks, Raymund asked me to take care of the wedding ring instead. He couldn't find a nice ring in the States which would cost a reasonable amount. Despite having little idea about wedding rings, I haven't had the courage to say no to Raymund since I know this is not just for him but for both of us. Plus the fact that Raymund has been more than willing to spend so much for our wedding, what else can I say but to support him in any way I can. I scrapped the idea of going to Ongpin or in Binondo since there are just two possible things that could possibly happen to me... that they might think I know nothing about wedding rings and with that I could be easily fooled. Or I could get a cheap wedding ring but of low quality.

I remember contacting my old jeweler who I have lost contact with since that was too long ago and thanks to my friend Agnes, we were scheduled to meet in our office. But perhaps it was how we call it, "if it's not bound to happen, it's not going to happen". After calling each other on the phone and arranging our schedules to meet up in our office, still something would always come along... we couldn't get the chance to meet. Until I asked her to just keep in touch and that meeting will be rescheduled though thoughts in my head creeps in, time is wasted. I need to find the ring.

Until the night that I had to pay my caterer in their office in Libis, this couple who first assumed me as a simple "debutant" was asked by my caterer to present me their wedding rings since they also have their displays in that showroom. I finally made a sigh of relief that even if you don't look hard for that something that you need; here they are just standing by the corner. They're what we need, the wedding ring supplier.

I grabbed the opportunity of having them there. At that very moment I took advantage of asking the couple to show me everything that they have and they asked me what kind of wedding ring am I on the look out for. I stated in full details what Raymund wants and Ms. Mye and Mr. Alain, both still alive and energetic amidst the creeping late night, gave and showed me what exactly my description of a wedding ring looks like then the amount we want.

With no further ado's, I went home bringing the proposal which I then relayed to Raymund the next day. It was a brief discussion of details and there we went, I immediately called up Ms. Mye to start doing the ring for us. Since then, Ms. Mye would always update me of how our ring was doing and when she finally asked me to check on the finished product, I felt that I wanted to get married at that very moment, seeing how good they made them, I am up to readying the lines that go..." wear this ring as a sign of my love and loyalty..." obviously, happiness overshadowed me.

With confidence and pride, when Raymund came home again for our wedding, he was so happy when we finally claimed the ring. He was sufficed with it and same as how I felt, he was just as happy!

Ms. Mye and Mr. Alain are people who would give not just their products to sell but their friendship that you can't buy anywhere. They're people I am so glad I have met who didn't just help us out but who stood as inspiration of a good couple who loves one another so deeply. See, if it's meant to be, it's truly meant to be! For all we know, it was all God's plan!