Our Love Story

How It All Began

Their story started at Sonlie International, where they both stepped into the baking ingredients industry as enthusiastic newbies. Zarah was the detail-oriented Brand Manager working with various sales people, and Jian was a driven, proactive Sales Executive. While they each had their own separate accounts and areas to focus on, the projects they did collaborate on just clicked.

They worked so well together—and just genuinely looked so good as a team—that clients, coworkers and company leaders couldn't help but ask, quite seriously, if they were together. Back then, they were completely focused on their roles and would simply smile it off, but looking back, everyone else clearly saw the spark before they did!

Coffee, Netflix and Workouts

As their daily work encounters grew into a deep, meaningful friendship, they realized they had so much in common outside the office.

They quickly bonded over being major foodies and self-proclaimed coffee lovers, and avid fans of classic Netflix shows. They spend their free time hunting down new local cafes and trying out different restaurants. They also loved staying active, often heading to the gym together to sweat it out alongside their close group of friends. Through all of these shared moments, they became each other’s biggest cheerleaders and absolute safe space, supporting one another through both professional milestones and daily life.

A Beautiful Transition

The real turning point came when Jian made a career move into the coffee industry—a perfect step for two people who share a deep love for a good brew. Stepping outside the shared office gave them the room they needed to realize just how much they meant to each other, and it gave Jian the perfect opportunity to finally pursue his feelings for Zarah.

Once they officially became a couple, their bond only grew stronger. They loved escaping for their dream beach getaways with family, finding joy by the ocean. The solid foundation of trust, laughter, and friendship they had built over the years made transitioning from best friends to life partners the easiest, most natural thing in the world.

A Tagaytay Promise: December 26, 2025

What started as two colleagues successfully navigating projects together ultimately blossomed into the love of a lifetime. On December 26, 2025, right after the rush of the Christmas holidays, Jian took Zarah up to the cool, quiet hills of Tagaytay and asked her to spend the rest of her life with him—and she happily said yes.

Through every life season, they have always been better together. Jian and Zarah are so excited to finally start their forever, and they cannot wait to celebrate their wedding day with the people who have been truly meaningful to their relationship journey and their loved ones!