My parents aren’t usually the kind to share romantic, sentimental stories like how they met or how they knew it was love or what they felt on their wedding day, so I knew that it was going to be difficult getting the story of how they met out of them.
And so it was.
I’m amazed that my mom didn’t avoid the question by saying that she was supposed to marry Tirso Cruz III. But, in true fashion, she told me a quick story and sent me on my merry way.
My parents first met in December 1979. My mom had just graduated from Arellano University and began her rural service (after graduating from college, students had to “work” for the government). On her third day at the hospital, she met my dad but “didn’t pay attention to him.” It wasn’t until she had to ask him for a prescription medication that they felt a spark; it was at this seemingly small, random moment that made my mom think, “He’s probably the one.”
Seven months later, my mom left for the U.S. and they talked through letters; and my dad wrote some pretty good letters and got creative too: writing messages using x-rays, sending pressed roses, and (whether or not he wants to admit it), my dad’s quite the letter writer (I don’t have any samples of his love letters nor would I want to share them since they’re personal, but I’ve received letters from him).
Being miles and miles apart didn’t have an effect on them; if anything, distance really did make the hearts grow fonder. And they weren’t the only ones to notice. At my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary, in 2007, a family friend shared a story of how her daughter was devastated when she found out my parents were getting married. She apparently said, “Tita Gloria CAN’T marry Tito Gabby! I’M gonna marry Tito Gabby!”
My parents got married in 1982: their civil union was on May 28 – my mom’s birthday – and their church wedding was on July 4.
Even though they didn’t tell me the whole story and even though they don’t usually share stories like this with my sisters and I, we see their love through little, simple moments. Like the following that happened at IHOP a few years ago.
Mom: Ay, the soup I ordered doesn’t taste good.
Dad: Here, let’s switch. You can have mine.
Mom: Why?
Dad: Because I love you.
Watch: my mom will read this blog and get mad at me for not telling the whole story.
But you know what my dad would say to that?
"Hindi pa tapos ang aming kuwento. (Our story isn't finished yet.)"
Picture above is from their honeymoon in Baguio City.
