"You've got an email!"...it really sounds like a movie title but that's how we all started. Who would ever thought that two people separated by great time and distance could get along to each other? It was in 1997 when Wolfgang sent his first email to me. It's not so easy to reply to an email knowing it came from a total stranger. A week or two had passed, the unanswered email was still in my mailbox. "Ok! Why not give this man a chance?" I whispered to myself. At first, there were lots of hesistations, lots of if's and maybe's on both parties. But "sincerity" and "honesty" broke the barriers betweens us. Eventually, we became comfortable to write everything about ourselves, our families and friends...from our most serious and humorous experiences of our day to day existence. More and more emails were sent and answered. Despite of the demands of our works, ( I was teaching Mathematics,Chemistry and Physics to college students and completing my Masters in Computer Education at the same time!)it became a part of our systems to check our emails everyday...once or twice a day and always looking forward for the next email. Our different cultures were never a problem for we learned how to "accept" and "respect" these differences. We became the best of friends on the net.
In May 1998, Wolfgang went to the Philippines for a visit. We were so nervous and excited at the same time thinking about the idea of meeting each other. ....face to face. Good thing, we adjusted easily and the friendship grew deeper. We found ourselves funnier and more serious compared to our stuffs written in our emails. No need for us to impress each other or pretended to be another person. Wolfgang proved to be a true gentleman. He's a natural sweet and nice person. Secretly,he really gained my admirations. His two week visit made us even closer and discovered not only about us but also about Manila (where I was residing), Makati (where I was working and known to be the biggest business site in the Philippines and to the other key cities. He witnessed some of our rich culture ...experienced the Filipino way of life...the hospitality...the conservativeness.Oh yes! He didn't mind if sometimes a "chaperon" should accompanied us during our dates. He really enjoyed his stay!
During Wolfgang's second trip in December 1998 when we realized that we're really meant for each other. It was a tough decision which was guided by lots of constant prayers. As a part of Filipino customs, he asked my hand from my parents (pamanhikan). We felt mixed emotions at that moment especially my parents who willingly granted us their blessings. Being their one and only precious child, they didn't think that they lost a daughter but they gained a son instead. We formally got engaged on January 8, 1999.
The preparations for the wedding took almost a year and it was more difficult because we're apart. The longiness was more than we can bear knowing we're miles apart again. Thanks to the two most wonderful people whom I proudly called my Mommy and my Daddy, my original best friends, for their supports and encouragements.
After many sleepless nights, burning telephone lines and hundreds of emails (of course!), the waiting was over. Wolfgang arrived two weeks before our altar date. Together, we managed some other little details for our wedding. We exchanged "I do's" on December 18, 1999 in Our Lady of the Abandoned Church in Manila. It was a dream come true for us as we promised that we will love each other for the rest of our lives. No more distance can keep us apart. After more than two years, love found a way for us. And like in a fairy tale.....they lived happily ever after.
I never notice there was something missing in my life until I found you...
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