…I still can’t not blog about it. As much as possible, I don’t want to make kwento in person because I can’t miss a single detail. I might even edit this post because I may possibly have to add something I forgot to write. Who knows?
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Nearly 3 years ago, August 15, 2005, 10:11 pm (Philippine time) to be exact, Gian gave me a promise ring. He gave it before he left for the States. He made a list of promises – small and big. He also promised that he would come back home for me, and that he’d marry me someday.
I couldn't find a better pic of me wearing this ring... hehe
here's a close-up shot...
Gian's promise ring.
One day, I just got tired of wearing it. I felt that the ring symbolized nothing more than empty promises. For so long, I stopped believing; I stopped trusting, until just recently…
Weeks before our 5th anniversary – June 17,2008 – there’s this certain excitement in my heart that I really couldn’t comprehend. My prayer then, was like this: “Lord, if this excitement isn’t from You, I don’t want it. Take it away”. It’s similar to my prayer more than 5 years ago when I asked God to take away the love that I have for Gian kung din rin lang naman sa Kanya galing. Similarly, the excitement didn’t go away. In fact, it continued to grow. However, I got distracted and confused because Gian and I fought a lot during those times when I was excited and all. Little did I know that it’s one of the ways of the enemy to rob us of our joy.
Gian told me that he got me a watch as an anniv gift. That’s just so not him because he’s the I-want-to-surprise-you-kind-of-person. He’s probably the best example of a person like that. I can’t remember if he was able to convince me to believe him though. He also told me that he’s not planning to take me to a fancy resto this time. He said, "Ang dali-dali namang magpareserve sa mahal na resto pero gusto ko sana talga, memorable.” He’s considering CPK since we had our first date on the first weekend after we got together in CPK, Shangri-la in Manila (I can still remember so vividly that very day while we were in his car before leaving the mall when he prayed and thanked God for me and for the relationship that He blessed us with).He’s also considering an authentic Moroccan resto. In his words, “Para kakaiba”. We decided we’ll have lunch at CPK and then dinner at the Moroccan place.
The weekend before the date, I started wearing the promise ring again. There’s this voice that was telling me that I needed to start believing again. I needed to start trusting him again. That was a scary thought; at least for me.
That same weekend, I bought pasalubongs for my mom and sisters in C28 since I’m flying back to Manila on the 18th for a short vacation.
www.c28.com
C28 stands for Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Upon paying, the girl who assisted me asked if there’s something she could pray for me. I told her that my boyfriend and I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary on the 17th. She prayed for me and I found myself crying because I knew that her prayer was really spirit-led. After praying for me, she held my hand and said, “Anything that is from God will last forever”. Her words seriously meant a lot. God used her to encourage me and assure me of His promises.
On the day of our anniversary, I gave him a post-it note before he dropped me off to school. It’s from my quiet time that morning. I copied the notes of Gian’s life verse, Isaiah 29-11-13, from my Life Application Study Bible. It says:
“We’re all encouraged by a leader who stirs us to move ahead, someone who believes we can do the task he has given and who will be with us all the way. God is that kind of leader. He knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope. As long as God, who knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope. This does not mean that we will be spared from pain, suffering or hardship, but that God will see us though to a glorious conclusion.”
We weren’t able to have lunch at CPK anymore. Gian’s busy with work and I, with school.
After work, he picked me up from school. While on our way to the resto, he got pulled over by a highway patrol because his car’s missing one plate. He got a fix-it ticket. I was teasing him, “Now, our anniv’s really memorable!”
We found the place - it’s called El Mansour but we couldn’t find a parking space! Hehe. When we finally got to park the car, we headed straight to the resto and no one’s there! Hehehe. It was a funny feeling. We were already feeling adventurous about the food and the whole Moroccan dining experience then suddenly, we were afraid because no one’s in there. I was teasing him, “Wow, you had this whole place reserved for us?!” Hehe. He didn’t. People arrived a little late but there weren’t really a lot.
El Mansour
We washed our hands the traditional way, ate with our bare hands
(at least, I did, and I enjoyed it!)…
Gian washing his hands.
Ate foodies we’ve never had before!
Lentil Soup. I don't like lentils but this one, I really enjoyed.
Cold Salad. This one is definitely my favorite!
Our appetizer. it's similar to baclava, but it's different. it has chicken, spices, egg and almonds.
Gian's order: Lamb and Chicken.
My order: Sea Bass.
Well, I’m really adventurous with food and I like trying something new every now and then. I would even dare eat something that’s unheard of! But that’s not the case for Gian. He said, that’s probably gonna be the last time we’ll eat in a Moroccan resto. Hehe! So I guess it’s memorable in that sense. ;)
The belly dancer even wanted Gian to dance with her. He politely refused.
Gian and the belly dancer. ;)
Us :)
It was a fun evening!
We headed to the parking lot after eating. He’s thinking of wearing his coat. I insisted na ako magsusuot sa kanya (para sweet. Hehe) but he didn’t want me to so he wore his coat on his own and then went to get his “gift” for me in the trunk. I already opened the passenger’s door and he was like, “Ako dapat magbubukas ng pinto for you e.” so I closed it again, waited for him to open it for me and then I sat down at the passenger’s seat. He then, gave me a Tagheuer box. That’s his gift daw. And I was like, “Bakit ang gaan?!” Hehe. And he just said, “Buksan mo.” When I opened it, there was a letter inside...
Gian's 5th anniversary letter
Gian asked me to read it and instructed me to let him know when I’m done with the first page.
Gian is such a private person that he wouldn’t let anyone read the letter and it’s so special for me that neither I would let anyone read it. But it’s just too wonderful not to be shared. I will try to give a summary, a gist of that letter…
He greeted me and told me that he loves me. He said that it’s wonderful to look back and see how our love for each other blossomed. He said that sometimes, di nya maisip how I loved, love and will continue to love him despite his “flaws”. He said that I am a reflection of God’s grace for him; that he’s blessed so much more than he can imagine, and that he longs to be a blessing to me as well. He also said that he’s sure we’ll still have fights and disagreements in the future and hopes na hindi ako magsawa sa kanya. He said he wants to take care of me, shower me with gifts, treat me with respect, travel with me and share every new and wonderful experience with me; and he hopes I feel the same way.
That’s the first page. So I told him I’m done with the first page na and then I continued reading…
On the second page, He said, he’s been praying for that day, June 17, 2008; and that he’s been asking God for confirmations if the timing is right, if that day’s the ordained day. He said he asked blessings from his mom and dad, and from my mom as well. He said that he has the desire in his heart to give me a token of his love and commitment to me. He said he received confirmations and reassurances and that he wants to fulfill what his promise ring was supposed to be for… that one day, we will be united as one. He said that that day hopefully starts that day, on our fifth anniversary, and that sometime in the future, we will officially be one, in the eyes of God. He invited me to keep journeying with him and to walk with him til our last days here on earth. He said that he loves me so much and that he knows, feel and see that I love him as well. His last sentence says:
“I know that you are God’s fulfillment of His promises to me in Jeremiah 19:11”
Jeremiah 29:11 – that’s what my note for him that morning was about. Little did I know that it is probably one of the last reassurances/confirmations that that day’s the ordained day. He even shared that he’s considering proposing at the airport on the 18th, before I leave for the Philippines but he knows in his heart that our fifth anniv is the ordained day.
Anyway, going back, after reading the letter, I couldn’t look at him… at the same time, I was wondering why I wasn’t crying coz I’m really such a crybaby. Perhaps, even though I knew that that’s the reason why there’s a certain excitement in my heart regarding that day, I was still so shocked I can’t explain! Then, he knelt down and got a small box from his coat pocket. That's the reason why he didn't want me to even touch his coat. He handed the box to me. I opened it and saw a beautiful and stunning 1.01 carat round brilliant diamond ring...
It's not merely the ring itself but the effort he put in finding the right one that makes it so special
I hugged him tight. Then he asked, “Will you marry me?”. I couldn’t quite believe it that nothing came out of my mouth; I just nodded. J Then he got the ring and put it on my finger. It just fits perfectly… and the ring’s just so perfect. I never told him what I want but he got me exactly what I wanted. He told me that when he saw it, he knew, that’s the one. I can’t believe that even those details, God put in his heart…
When we got to my house, we prayed together in the car, just like how we prayed together on our very first date as a couple. He thanked God again for everything… and then he asked for guidance and wisdom.
We're always like this when he's driving, except that, there wasn't any engagement ring before...
The next day after my last class, we had lunch at CPK in Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek. It’s just so wonderful to reminisce. The first one’s 5 years ago…
Our usual order: BBQ Chicken Pizza and Portobello Mushroom Raviolli
I told my close friends about the engagement. One of our friends, who’s just a few years older than us, but will be our godmother because she saw how we started as a couple and guided us all the way through, sent me this note:
“Every good and perfect gift is from God above!! We thank God for the gift of friendship we have with you and your family as well. Thanks for the updates! Congrats again and keep the fire burning for Christ. Love yah!”
It was similar to what the saleslady in C28 said to me. Indeed, I am certain that our relationship is a gift from God… and I know that it will last forever. It’s not exactly like a fairy-tale-happily-ever-after because for sure there’ll be bumps on the road, but we will rest in the assurance that God brought us together and will continue to protect and nurture us each day.
Me and Gian on our 5th anniversary
