It is said that true love knows no locks – for love always finds a way. In a 2020 rife with unsure futures and torn by economic insecurity, four couples dare to lock-in their ‘I do’s’ – for better or for worse – reminding us that ‘happily ever afters’ exist not just in spite of tough times…but because of it.
Marvin Mendoza, 29 & Chari Trinidad-Mendoza, 28
Fourth time’s the charm…
Having to cancel your special day is traumatic enough. Marvin and Chari had to go through the ordeal not once, but thrice.
First, the young couple found their elegant, brushed-metal, engraved-gold invitations – promising an intimate gathering under a star-filled, moonlit sky in Antonio’s Tagaytay cancelled, as Taal Volcano erupted like an angry next-door neighbor. Their alternative ceremony – vow-saying at San Agustin with a reception at the Fort Shangri-la, was similarly coughed-out of existence by the ensuing Covid-19 lockdown.
“It was hard having to move all the plans,” admits Chari, “But despite all that has happened, we’re calm and grateful because at the end of the day, we are together. And that’s all that matters.”
Chari, an entrepreneur & creatives director, shares that Marvin being naturally fun-loving, and light-hearted, and (“constantly trying to be”) witty – helped her get through the ordeal. “It’s great being with someone you can completely be yourself with. To be loved for who someone is, entirely, is the best feeling in the world.”
For his part, Marvin, an engineer & contractor, says Chari is someone he can exchange ideas with, and makes him want to be better everyday. Acting as the emotional foundation of the pair, he reverts to an adage he relies on in the construction industry – “It’s easy to be ok when things are good. The real challenge comes when things aren’t good.”
Undaunted, and with their friends and family’s understanding, the couple still managed to tie the knot, albeit their third time, virtually, via blessing from a priest, was not legal. It was only in a civil ceremony last May 22, presided by Mayor Marcy Teodoro of Marikina, were they well and truly – husband and wife.
The newly-weds say the experience shows they can get through anything together.
“We went through what might have been a nightmare, and it turned out to just be a bad dream. As cheesy as it sounds,” Chari also confesses, eyes resting on Marvin, “Finding true love isn’t easy, but true love feels easy.”
John Mark Pio Q. Arenas, 32 & Fae Andrea M. Arenas, 31
We make our own wishes come true…
It was puppy love turned mature love – high school lovers John and Fae who have been each others’ ever since. Getting engaged last February 29 in Hong Kong Disneyland, the couple finally looked forward to the start of their happily ever after, later that June.
“It was to be at Sanctuario de San Jose, with a reception at The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan,” recalls Fae, “(we had) at least 500 guests. The theme was ‘fairytale’ and the night would be remembered for fun and whimsy, overflowing with amazing food, and drink, and dancing…”
Their hashtag was fitting – #aFAErytalewithJOHN – for it was to remain a fantasy…
“When Fae heard the news about the GCQ back in March, she already knew that the wedding would be affected.” Says Mark. “We were doing our grocery and she broke down then and there.”
The couple, all but done with preparations, had the grim task of undoing the tedious work of synchronizing schedules for planners and relatives – some flying from abroad.
“At first, Fae was in denial and couldn’t accept the fact that it’s all down the drain. It took time for her to finally accept the situation.”
But the two eventually came to grips with the situation, and were even more determined to make their dreams come true.
Securing a lovely private residence in Cavite, the pair marshaled the support of friends and family for an early June wedding. “Our mothers prepared the food and drinks!” Mark says, “Fae’s dad made sure that the venue was in top shape, with pictures perfect from any angle.”
Fae quips: “John’s dad procured the necessary PPEs for the guests – to ensure safety and so that everyone felt comfortably secure.”
Almost as a fairy godmother’s blessing, despite it being the rainy season, the weather was calm and clear that day. Nought a drop of rain in sight…though there were tears…
“We got really emotional when we had to recite the wedding vows,” Fae pauses, far-eyed before continuing, “then the guests suddenly got emotional too! Especially our parents. This was totally unexpected. We were expecting the ceremony to be short and sweet with no water‐ works but we both broke down when we were reciting our promises and giving thanks to our parents.”
It is said that ‘humans see farther through tears than through a looking glass,’ and for this set of longtime partners/just-newlyweds, what their mid-pandemic wedding has taught them is that what really matters is being together.
The pair is currently building their castle in Taguig.
Luigi Tan, 29 & Jon Ballesteros, 29
Men’t for each other…
Luigi always thought his partner, Jon, would be the one to propose. But then something unfortunate happened in October of 2019, as the couple were hiking up the idyllic slopes of Mt. Makiling.
“I had a bad gout attack,” recalls Luigi, “I couldn’t walk without squirming from pain. Jon carried me down the mountain. It was a revelation. This guy wouldn’t leave me behind no matter how hard the situation is.”
That’s when Luigi decided he had to be the one to propose. And he did, amidst close friends and family during Jon’s birthday. And while a downpour did confine the surprise indoors at Astoria Boracay, it did little to diminish the meal’s-end warmth of a romantic ballad playing as Luigi stood presenting Jon a bouquet of flowers and a ring…instead of the usual happy-birthday song with cake.
It is arguably one of Jon’s most memorable birthdays.
Luigi, who asked permission from Jon’s mom for the engagement, would look at her eyes and remember her saying: “This is just a formality. You’ve been family since day one.”
The couple, very much into travel and sports, had their original plans for an intimate beach wedding in Baler (their “home away from home”), cancelled.
“We still plan to go through with (Baler) next year,” shares Luigi, “but before that, we plan to get married in Chicago. We want to wear traditional Barong Tagalogs, then have a nice dinner somewhere after the ceremony.”
The two, who currently co-habit in Mandaluyong, are negotiating their current inability to travel by reaching out to friends, and spending more time working out – discovering a healthy form of competition in helping each other get fitter.
Forest Tan, 47 & Shermelle Cabrales, 34
Having each other when uncertainty is certain…
Forest and Shermelle have never let their age get in the way of loving each other.
“I’m most attracted to (Forest’s) honesty and transparency,” Shermelle says, “He is not afraid to give his personal opinions even when it is contradicting to the norm.” For Forest’s part, Shermelle’s sense of humor is her best asset. “She is the only person who laughs at all my jokes even the corniest ones!” He says.
Proposing last May, 2019 at the Fairmont Makati, the two were swiftly engaged in December of that year, with a wedding planned in June, at Mary the Queen Parish Greenhills (MTQ) and a reception at the Fort Shangri-la.
“We imagined our wedding like most weddings,” Shermelle shares, “entourage, parents and principal sponsors, bride walking down the aisle, a beautiful wedding gown, groom waiting at the altar with the priest. The whole ceremony.”
The two very much looked forward to dinner and a fun night with family and guests to celebrate their wedding…which was not to be (just yet).
“Given the pandemic and our original wedding date is under the MECQ period, we first postponed it to next year.” Says Shermelle stoically.
And while the two have decided on an intimate wedding with their immediate family this October, with a bigger celebration in July of next year, they confess that they “have to be flexible to the new normal in social gatherings for everyone’s safety. So nothing is set in stone yet.”
The two look forward for when the pandemic situation gets better, for them to “tie the knot without any worry of a possible lockdown.”
The couple’s tentative date for tying the knot is October 27. 2020.
With the days when Covid ends still unclear, at least four couples have found a cure for some of its symptoms – each other.
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