A WHIRLWIND LOVE STORY

By; Mylene Campos

Charles and Rose’s whirlwind love story began when they volunteered as nurses at the Ospital ng Maynila. And as luck would have it, it was also on Rose's natal day (the same birthday with the Virgin Mary) when they got assigned in the same group and work area. Looking back, her soft features enamored Charles, and he likened her looks to that of Mama Mary’s appearance. Soon after that, everything fell into place for them, like it was a match made in heaven.

 A LOVE’S BEGINNING | The bride recollected how Charles would exert a lot of effort during their first few days together on duty like going on the same jeepney ride with her even though his house was just near the hospital. She shared, “he wouldn’t let me suspect his motives so that I would stay comfortable throughout our conversations. Almost every day, he would meet me in a place near my location, early in the morning, so that we could go to the hospital together. He would also bring me home after every shift. Charles would also give me letters, which I found sweet. Since then, we became close." Rose felt his sincerity, care, and love. She even started missing him when she didn’t see him at work. That's when she realized that she was falling for him, too. It wasn't long until they officially became a couple.

 The couple was together for four years since meeting in 2008. They broke up in 2012 but rekindled their relationship in 2016. “We were officially on again and got engaged in 2017. However, our situation became complicated. We had to deal with some problems, including trust issues, so we lost communication again. But ultimately, everything fell into place. God, had once again, brought us back together in 2018. He showed us that it was his will to grant our heart’s desires and that it was his perfectly appointed time to pursue what we have always planned,” Rose shared.

 A HEAVENWARD RELATIONSHIP | Before getting engaged, the pair worked hard in bringing out the best in each other. Most of all, Rose admired her man for being a God-fearing person. She shared, “some of the things that I admire him for is that he obeys what the Lord commands, and is upright and firm about the main principles. I also love that he is strong because I always feel protected whenever I’m with him. Apart from that, he knows how to handle the people around him given his excellent communication skills, and his great sense of humor. You’ll also never see him tardy. He’s worked hard for everything that he has right now. I just like everything that he is.”

THE PROPOSAL | Charles proposed to Rose twice. The first time was on July 2017, and the last was in April 2018. The couple had experienced a few trials along the way. But their relationship was restored when Charles flew to the UAE to meet her. The bride recollected, “I gave us a last chance by opening the communication lines again. Prior to everything, I blocked him from all means possible, including Facebook. I wouldn’t have considered it if it weren’t for a dear friend’s advice. Back then, I thought that it would be best for the two of us to finally have a proper ending. But he still wanted to explain everything and to prove things, so I let him. That’s when he decided to fly to the UAE (where I reside for work) from the Philippines. The situation at-hand was to reach some closure or to work things out between the two of us, which would be good either way. So when he came to Abu Dhabi, he immediately explained things. And as soon as he had the chance, he proposed again.”

WEDDING PREPARATIONS | When it was finally time to plan the wedding, the couple decided to fuse the color periwinkle in their motif. Since this was Charles’ favorite hue, it was also the perfect shade of blue, as it was neither too light nor too dark.

They also chose their wedding entourage based on those who they trusted the most, and these were their closest friends and relatives. As they embark on their new journey as husband and wife, these were the people who they felt could impart wisdom and sound advice to them.

While preparing for their wedding wasn’t a walk in the park, they made sure to put in the work to make their special celebration a day worth remembering. The bride shared, “we canvassed for all the potential suppliers and communicated with them one-by-one, what we wanted exactly. Comparing resources, organizing things, and going from one place to another was quite challenging for us. But everything was worth it."

A WALK DOWN THE AISLE | The bride felt mixed feelings on the day of her wedding. Rose remembered, “it was a mix of emotions. I felt nervous, overwhelmed, worried, but extremely happy because finally, I will be marrying the man that I love. I felt grateful because my loving family, and our dearest friends and relatives were all there to witness our union. But the most memorable part was the moment I walked down the aisle with my beloved mother and brother by my side. I was all teary-eyed and so eager to meet my groom on the altar. It was what I had dreamt of for the longest time, and I couldn’t believe that it was finally happening. I couldn’t thank God enough for everything right at that moment.”

WORDS OF WISDOM | The couple recommends going into counseling before getting married. “It is a must that soon-to-wed couples go through marriage counseling. This will help them to reflect on things that matter most, and to help them understand what’s more important, as they build a new life together,” Rose shared. The pair had a few sessions with their pastor before tying the knot. “What we’ve learned through counseling has helped us a lot, especially now that we get to apply everything in real life. And we always aim for our best when it comes to making our home a little heaven on earth. A place where affections are cultivated and beautified by love, sympathy, and care – all done to glorify God,” she added