Manila Bulletin

ARIEL G. DELA CRUZ AND DIOR A. LAUS

My Answered Prayer

It was a rainy and cold May 10, 2008. After a long flight from Italy including more than 6 hours flight delay, I finally arrived at San Francisco International Airport. I am a stranger to this place, knows no one and my first time to set foot in the US. I planned this trip to surprise my exfiancée who had broken up with me a few weeks back and I wanted to save our relationship. Little did I know that I will be the one getting the biggest surprise of my life. She is now married,and pregnant. She just stopped communicating with me and this may be the reason why. My whole world came crashing down. I was ready and accepted the fact that maybe I meant for a life of single blessedness. Fast forward to December of 2012 I went home to Philippines to attend my friend’s wedding. I was just there to attend the celebration, no expectations and uninterested in meeting anyone. And then the unexpected happened, I got the traditional garter and as traditions would say I will be next in line to get married. I just brushed it off. I went back to Hong Kong to focus on work and continue with my life there. After a few months, I sent a whatsapp message to a person I quickly met at the wedding. She replied and our conversations the coming days became more and more interesting. Suddenly my nights are no longer

boring. I feel excited whenever my phone beeps. My prayers have changed, I now tell God that I am ready to meet the person He has created for me. Dior and I finally became a couple in mid 2014. It was one of the best feelings I had, from hopelessness to one full of optimism and vigor. I am more equipped to handle long distance relationships and make our relationship work. Just like any aspect of life it is not without a challenge. Aside from the physical distance, Dior is the youngest among her siblings and the only single person in her family. She acts as her dad’s assistant in many ways but when we became a couple her time with her family was somehow limited. I did not immediately get her dad’s approval and it is very understandable. I need to gain their trust because out of nowhere there is this guy who suddenly came into the picture and now spends a lot of time with one of the beloved members of the family.

After almost four years of dating and feeling ready for the next phase, I asked her eldest sister to arrange a secret breakfast with their parents. I asked for their blessing to marry their beautiful daughter. To my surprise, the family has been so generous and gladly gave their blessing. Tragedy struck in April of 2019. The helicopter carrying Dior’s dad crashed causing his untimely demise. We were all grieving and I postponed my planned wedding proposal to Dior. It was Sunday, 8th of November 2020 and the family is at her dad’s musoleo. I made my proposal to Dior in front of her dad’s tomb to which she gladly said yes! Remember I mentioned I got the garter at the wedding of my friend in 2012? Dior on the other hand got the bouquet. Who would have thought these things happen? Or is it a coincidence? Whatever it is, I believe Dior is the answer to my prayers. God hears, listens and in His time He will provide more than what we ask for. He gives us only the best and Dior is without a doubt the best person to spend the rest of my life with.

REAL WEDDINGS

en-ph

2022-05-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://manilabulletin.pressreader.com/article/283381950541295

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