We start from childhood... Pip decided she liked Eny when they were in 5th grade. Since then, he started sending her notes of admiration, "I love you," "crush kita" and the likes. But the most memorable gifts he gave her was a towel with her embroidered name, which was very trendy during those times, a ring with her initial, and her name made of a wire pin. Unfortunately, Eny was not impressed, she didn't entertain Pip's advances nor his gifts, for the simple reason that she wanted her first boyfriend to be the man she marries.
They graduated from elementary and started high school in separate schools. Pip, however, never lost his feelings for Eny. He waited every morning at the corner from their house just to catch a glimpse of her before he goes to school, some might think this creepy, but not for a lovestruck teen. It was during this time Pip promised himself he would come back for Eny when he has made a name for himself.
College came and went, both had their own lives and new friends, but something still wasn't quite right.
After college, Pip was asked by his dad to go to Canada and try his luck there. Eny on the other hand, took a year off after college and stayed in the Philippines.
As most events in life has its ups and downs, Eny and Pip's wasn't an exception. Pip had to come back home just after a year because of his dad's death, but it was an opportunity for him to attend his class reunion. There, they saw each other and spent the night talking to each other beside the pool catching up. Eny appreciated Pip's thoughtfulness, accompanying her the whole night of the reunion. Little did she know, that was already Pip's way of showing he still cared for her. Pip didn't return to Canada after their reunion and he asked Eny out. And after three months of persistent texts and phone calls she finally agreed.
July 4, 2004 was the date they went out. Everything and anything went wrong right from the start! Pip, of all things, forgot to bring his credit card! He had to go back home to get it and made her wait at the jeepney stop. He ordered iced tea for the two of them, not knowing Eny is not supposed to drink anything with caffeine. They weren't even able to see the movie they wanted. Their first dinner out wasn't spared either, Eny separated her favorite part from a chicken (spirit as they called it), saving it for her last bite, but Pip suddenly reached out, took it and ate it, saying "Akin na lang to ha!" since it was also his favorite part.
After the "infamous" date, they separated and Eny didn't hear from Pip again. Three days went by and still no Pip. Eny, infuriated, texted Pip and asked if he was just playing games. Pip replied "Hahaha huli ka! Mahal mo din ako!" Pip confessed that was his way of knowing if Eny felt the same way he did. Realizing that their feelings were mutual, they were officially a couple on July 8, 2004.
Now being a couple, you'd think everything would be peachy, but a lot of people didn't approve of their relationship and they had issues between them that needed to be resolved. Overwhelmed, they split up just after 3 months of being together, though Pip never stopped texting or calling Eny. In November she finally decided to end it completely, but before she even had a chance to tell him it's over, Pip sent her the most beautiful bouquet of flowers she had ever seen. Their status still wasn't clear, so on December 26th, Eny wanted to clear things and asked Pip if he really loved her, coz even when they were apart, she knew Pip was the only man for her. Pip said he felt the same way, so they pushed all issues aside and got back together.
In June 2005, Pip had to go back to Canada. The couple now had to face a new obstacle, long distance relationship. A lot of couples go through the same thing, but only a handful end up still together. Of course it wasn't easy, but having that commitment to each other to work on their relationship regardless of location definitely helped. Plus they had Skype and phonecards to help bridge the distance between them.
In 2008, after years of just chatting on the Internet, Eny's working visa finally came through and went to the US. Now it was just a border separating them. Ironically, things between them got a lot more bumpy, being closer didn't mean less problems. But no matter what, they talked it out and handled it.
Being able to go through all those issues throughout the years and still ending up together only meant one thing, they were destined to be together. Twenty-one years ago, a fifth grader wanted her first love to be her last. Eny got her wish in Pip. So on a beautiful beach in Miami, Eny Balagtas became Mrs. Pip Herbosa on January 1, 2011.
Now they are coming back to the Philippines, the country where it all began to promise once again to love and honor each other in front of friends and families. You see the Lord has, for each one of us, chosen a soulmate, and Pip and Eny are exactly that. |
