JOB AND KRISTINE’S DREAM DAY

By:Mylene Campos

Job and Kristine’s love story began in 2016 after meeting at a contract-signing for Belmere Skin Centre, the primary sponsor of the pageants they competed in. He won the title of Gentlemen of the Philippines - Mister Model International 2016, while she reigned as Miss Belmeré Skin Care 2016. When they met at the press conference at Marco Polo Hotel, both Job and Kristine instantly knew that something special was about to develop between them.

Through their Facebook Messenger conversations, which lasted for hours, Job sensed the type of a person he was talking to. “I found Kristine to be very bubbly and sweet,” he recalled being smitten by her infectious enthusiasm. “I took some time off so I could spend more time with her. We dined at a restaurant and then watched a movie.” Kristine, on the other hand, thought that he was a real gentleman. She shared, “he was kind of noble, especially in this day and age. He’s someone who knows how to respect a woman.” Then the inevitable happened. After a series of romantic dates, where they talked for hours about their hopes, fears, dreams and life stories, they both found themselves falling for each other.

AGAINST ALL ODDS | Some people were against their relationship, for fear that it would affect their careers (both were in the modeling and beauty pageant industry) and make them lose their focus. Kristine shared, “there was a time when Job needed to hide our relationship so he can get more modeling projects. I agreed with the setup. It wasn’t a big deal to me because as a model, I knew how this business worked. He did what was necessary to be able to save for our wedding and future family.” They continued to love and to support each other despite their challenges.

A COUPLE LIKE ANY OTHER | Like any couple, Job and Kristine would also fight and argue. They’ve had their fair share of misunderstandings but could never stay away from each other, no matter what happened. The bride shared, “the best part about our relationship is that we don’t hold grudges and we don’t go to bed angry. I think that’s what makes our relationship extraordinary and special. The essence of our relationship is love. We also share a deep faith in our strong bond. I know our feelings for each other are true, honest, deep and pure. And we are madly, crazy deeply in love with each other. We truly make a great couple. Our relationship is not perfect, and it can be difficult to be in at times. But it has been amazing and comforting.”

THE PROPOSAL | When the couple officially got together, Job started dropping hints to Kristine and would say, “Kristine will you…?” She, on the other hand, would interrupt him by saying, “don’t continue what you’re about to say if you’re not serious about it. Getting married is not a joke, Job.” But he was indeed serious. “I don’t want you to be my girlfriend. I want you to be my wife.” Shocked as she was, she still didn’t take things seriously, thinking that he was only rushing things.

Two years later, Job and his family went to Kristine’s house for a pamamanhikan (a Philippine pre-wedding tradition that symbolizes honor and respect for the woman’s parents). That's when he formally asked for his girlfriend's hand in marriage. Kristine shared, “I really love him and see a future with him. I could see him as an amazing father to my children.”

THE PERFECT CHURCH | It wasn’t hard for the couple to decide on where to get wed. Kristine already had her sights on the Immaculate Conception Parish because her birthday fell on the 8th of December, the same day as the Feast of Immaculate Conception.

 THE ENTOURAGE ENSEMBLE | The bride sought the help of her friend Tita Jovita Laureola, who helped her gather wedding inspirations by scouring through countless photos of gowns online. But it wasn’t long until they gravitated towards Paul Semira, a friend who also happened to be a fashion designer. Paul knew what styles suited Kristine’s body shape and worked with this in mind. Kristine shared, “I absolutely adored my gown, as it was so perfect. I even received so many compliments about the dress." The bridesmaids, on the other hand, wore matching, turquoise infinity dresses, while Job’s groomsmen donned a classic, gray Chaleco vest, and slacks.

 The bridal entourage consisted of the Principal Sponsors, who the couple picked based on maturity. "They were those who we could easily talk to and ask advice from about married life." Job, on the other hand, chose his eldest brother Jesus as his Best Man, while Kristine chose her sister Ericka as her Maid-of-Honor. The groomsmen were close family and friends of Job, while the bridesmaids were Kristine’s close family and friends.

JOURNEY DOWN THE AISLE | Many soon-to-wed couples will face some difficulties towards their journey down the aisle. And for Job and Kristine, creating a working budget for the nuptials was one of their challenges. “No matter the size of the wedding or the net worth of the couple, the budget will always be a concern,” said the bride. They also had to find the best date, time (whether to do it during peak or low season) and venue, so that all their family members can attend.

The couple’s wedding also took a lot of time and effort. They spent much of their time planning the details, communicating with a lot of suppliers, getting quotations, making comparisons, consulting family members for advice, and getting a team to ensure that things move according to plan. Kristine shared, “my team had a far location, so I could only connect with them online.”

 Preparing the guest list, sending the invitations and doing follow-ups on people to RSVP was also a challenge for the couple. “Thinking of who to invite for the wedding reception can be an arduous task. You'll need to dig into your smartphone directory and social media friend list to make sure that you don't miss any important people. Once you've narrowed down your list, consider the reasons why they should or shouldn’t be invited. This only applies when you’re on a tight budget and have to limit the number of invitees.”