Our Love Story

“When the time is right, I, the LORD will make it happen”

- Isaiah 60:22

In 2012, at Catanduanes State University, Gio and Mary Ann crossed paths for the first time. They were just classmates then, faces blending into the sea of students. It wasn’t love at first sight—no spark that ignited instantly—but slowly, like how the seasons change, something began to grow between them.

Gio took notice of Mary Ann first, catching glimpses of their shared moments in class. With time, he gathered the courage to make his feelings known. His pursuit wasn’t easy; she didn’t say yes right away, but after months of gentle persistence on February 28, 2013, she finally gave her heart to him. He became her first boyfriend and in that moment, a new chapter began.

But, as in all young love, the road wasn’t without bumps. After just six months together, they drifted apart, each of them young and uncertain, perhaps not yet ready for the weight of the emotions they felt. They broke up, yet even in their separation, fate seemed to keep them close. Every day, they were in each other’s presence, still classmates, sharing the same spaces, as if the universe wasn’t quite ready to let their story end.

For years, they parted ways. After their graduation in 2016, when life had pulled them into the real world, they reconnected in a way that felt inevitable. In 2017, with hearts a little wiser and stronger, they decided to give their love a second chance.

Their relationship, however, would not follow a simple path. Life had a different kind of love story planned for them—one filled with distance. For 11 long years, they were in a long-distance relationship and it wasn’t easy. The miles between them tested their patience and their strength but through it all, their love remained—stronger over the challenges of time, distance, and the uncertainties of life.

One of the hardest trials came in December 2020 when he left for training. For more than a month, they had no communication at all. The silence was heavy, but it was also necessary—a sacrifice that tested their bond, and when he returned, he brought with him a promise, not just in words but in a ring, a symbol of his love and his commitment to her, despite the time apart.

Years passed, and their story continued to unfold. On August 21, 2023, during their pre-nuptial photoshoot he surprised her once again but this time, it wasn’t with a simple promise. It was a question—one that had been a decade in the making. With an engagement ring in hand, he asked her to marry him, to spend the rest of their lives together just as they had dreamed and in that magical moment, just as she had once before, she said yes.

Their love story is one of patience, of quiet perseverance, and of a bond that has only grown stronger through the trials they’ve faced together. From classmates to lifelong partners, they have written a tale that speaks of forgiveness and the power of love.

For Gio and Mary Ann, it’s been a long journey of love but surely the best one that they had in this lifetime.