It was supposed to be an ordinary Saturday, just like any other Saturday when the highlights of the day were 3pm Frisbee games at Ateneo and the occasional movie-dinners with our Frisbee group. I was so wrong!
Two days before, Ron told me he’d be picking me up extra early on Saturday so that we can check out their condo unit at the Fort. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to wake up early on a Saturday so I initially begged off. He was insistent that I go so I half-heartedly agreed to getting picked up at 12 noon.
September 29, 9:00 AM – Cannot be Reached
Ron sends me an SMS saying he’s running errands and won’t be able to take calls.
11:50 AM – Too lazy
JP Brion, Sarah Duran, and my cousin KML send me messages saying they’ll be playing Frisbee later. Mig Molina and JP Tamayo text me the game’s on---rain or shine. I started packing stuff for the game and a possible after-game activity. I was almost sure Ron would be late so I didn’t bother getting ready early. I was watching ET, The Insider. No rush, really.
12:15PM – Ready to get muddied
Ron sends me an SMS saying he’s on his way. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was on time, for a change. So I scurry to the bathroom and quickly get dressed. Ready for a muddy Frisbee game, I wore my usual navy blue Nike running shorts, my green Milo marathon singlet (read: SANDO!), and my purple flip flops. I opted not to wear my cleats (football shoes) yet because that would be weird when we check out the condo! With no make up, and with my unwashed, fresh-from-the-bed hair pulled back, I waited for Ron. Since it had been raining nonstop---well that, and to add some decency to my ensemble, I decided to wear my green jacket.
12: 20PM – “Sino yan?!?!?”
Door bell rings! I bid my brother Luigi and sister Clarisse good bye. Clarisse gets up from the computer and kisses me on the cheek. I thought that was an extraordinary gesture for a usual Frisbee game farewell. I dismiss it though and think that she’s just extremely happy that last night I got her the wallet she’s been eyeing for months.
Outside our gate is a blue Nissan Murano. I ask our help, “Sino ‘yan?!?!?!”. She answers, “Hindi ko kilala.” So I walk to our gate to see who it was.
It was Raffy Celestial, one of Ron’s high school buddies. With an umbrella in tow, he ushers me to the car and mouths some excuse why Ron wasn’t picking me up. Going with them was not a matter of choice. At that time all I can say was, “Sh*t, I look like crap!” A gazillion scenarios played out in my mind. Would today be the day I get engaged? Why in the world am I wearing this crap of an attire? How? Where?
In the car, JP Sarmenta, driving, and Trick Bilog, riding shot-gun, greeted me. Overwhelmed by disbelief, I asked where Ron was. They wouldn’t give me a straight answer. Instead they showed me a map to my house that Ron gave them. JP took pictures with his iPhone (which he sells, among other things, at the best prices, contact him for more details---free plug!). And we were off.
KML (Camille) ditches the game!
Before we got out of the subdivision, I remembered we had to pass by my cousin’s house because she was supposed to play with us that day. I tell the guys we had to make a detour because my cousin was waiting for me. Man, were they baffled! It seems that wasn’t part of THEIR agenda.
At Kml’s house I find her not at all dressed for Frisbee. She tells me, “Go! Sige! Kinkidnap ka na!”
Kidnapped!
That’s exactly how it felt. I was in the car with three of Ron’s friends, in my sporty-meets-pambahay attire, not knowing where we were heading. I was thinking we’d probably have lunch at the Fort. Ron would probably propose in some nice restaurant, and then we can go back to Ateneo in time for Frisbee. Ron and I couldn’t possibly miss the game because Brion, Sarah and her friend Thea were “supposed to” meet us there to join the game.
In the car I knew JP, Trick and Raffy were communicating with Ron through their cellphones. Part of me wanted to ask where Ron really was or where we were going, but part of me just wanted to remain oblivious to play up the element of surprise.
Ron was concurrently sending me messages at that time. He told me it was going to be a long ride. Okay, I thought. I hoped it won’t be long enough because I was by now nauseous from feeling hunger and anxiety at the same time. I haven’t eaten the entire day!
Jollibee for Lunch
Traversing EDSA, to my surprise we skipped the Fort Bonifacio left turn and the succeeding U-turns. Wrong venue, I thought. The three were very accommodating kidnappers, asking me if I were still okay. Every now and then they’d ask about a gamut of random topics like Frisbee, the October Boracay trip, and Ron and how much progress he’s had with his Salsa dancing. Slouched behind JP, I grew really quiet because I was famished!
I SMS’d Ron and told him I wanted to eat. He asked how much cash I had. I checked my wallet and told him I only had Php 250 (which was quite a surprise because I remember having only Php 100 last night). He said we could go grab a quick bite but that I should only spend Php 50. After that, we decided to eat somewhere since we had “enough time” and that we were “on schedule.”
And so we headed to the Jollibee branch in front of the old domestic airport. Trick wouldn’t let me pay for my spaghetti meal. Thanks!
Go Where?!?!?
Grateful that I’ve eaten my first meal that day, I was ready to return to playing the kidnap victim. After Jollibee, we drove to the old domestic airport. I was nervous. I had an inkling that’s where we were headed but now that we were actually there I didn’t know what to expect.
Towards the Departure gate I was surprised to see a host of familiar faces. First it was Walter Yu(Ron’s office friend) with Kat Hizon-Yu(Wa’s wife and Ron’s officemate), then JP Brion, then Jacqui Olayres, then Sarah Duran and Roy Macaraig.
The Ticket
That was when it really, really hit me that this could be THE DAY. All our close friends were there. They gave me three red roses and two special packages. Then someone handed me my ticket. It was for Davao. I wanted to cry!
Davao
I was assigned in Davao for almost a year as part of my Nestle SMT stint. During that time, Ron would visit me there and try to “win” me. We have several wonderful memories of Davao. The choice of the location was impeccable.
AdMU vs La Salle
One of the first things that crossed my mind was…”Kelan ako babalik? Aabot ba sa Ateneo-La Salle game tomorrow? Sayang naman tickets namin!” The ticket said DVO-MNL 1140. “Abot!”. Haha.
Speechless and Overwhelmed
I was holding back tears and for the first time I was speechless. I was asked repeatedly, by my “send-off party”, if I had enough money for the terminal fee. Then it dawned on me---so that’s why Ron was adamant that I keep Php 200 in my wallet! (Later on I find out he snuck in our house the night before to check my wallet if I had ID’s and if I had enough cash. He put in the “mysterious” additional Php 150! Galing!)
I was also given instructions to open the first package (brown envelope) on the plane, and the second package (nicely wrapped gifts that said “Welcome package”) on Sunday.
I went through the mandatory x-rays still feeling overwhelmed. It’s a good thing I’ve been through this exercise a thousand times this year, for work and pleasure. Everything was perfunctory.
Crying Episode 1: Pre-Departure Area
I settled at the pre-departure area feeling very underdressed---excited, nervous, apprehensive, but happy. I called Mig to tell him I won’t be able to join Frisbee today because I was being kidnapped and was being flown to Davao. Apparently he knew about this whole heist so I started crying to him on the phone! I didn’t mind looking stupid crying and laughing at the same time. If only the people around me knew about my morning ordeal, they’d be welling up at the thought of the promise of romance ahead of me---cheesiness at its best.
I thanked JP, Trick, Raffy, Kml, Wa, Kat, Jax, Brioni, Sarah and Roy through text. Later on I got messages from more of Ron’s officemates, my Mom, my cousin and more friends greeting me have a safe trip. They ALL knew! I started to cry even more.
While On the Plane
The Cebu Pacific flight to Davao got delayed by 30 minutes due to bad weather. We boarded a few minutes before 4:00 PM. While on the plane, I opened the FIRST PACKAGE. It was the scrapbook of Davao pictures I made for Ron. This time, he continued the project with our pictures from Zamboanga, GenSan, and Cebu---complete with restaurant receipts, movie tickets and chocolate wrappers! On the last page it had the words “ September 29, 2007: The Escapade Continues…”
Davao Arrival
The familiar scent of durian greets me for the nth time. I was just here three weeks ago for work, I thought. Who would think I’d be back so soon under these circumstances? Ron SMS’d me and told me to just wait for my ride. I’d know him/her when I see him/her.
Not for long, my hunch was validated. The all too familiar red van rolls by. It was Kris Gaisano, a good college friend who works in Davao, and my constant companion during my Davao stint.
She greets me excitedly and orders her driver to drive to Waterfront Hotel.
At Waterfront
I was already imagining where Ron could possibly propose in the hotel. A restaurant perhaps? A room? Why Waterfront? Kris and I continued to walk on and on and on and on…We skipped the reception area and the restaurants. We were headed for the dock!
The Scary Ferry
It was quarter to seven in the evening. The tide was high and the waves were violent. It’s a good thing I’m not afraid of the water, else I’d strangle Ron for having me go through the rough waters at this time of the day! I was the lone passenger of the relatively large ferry. The water ahead was pitch black. Only the light from a 25-watt bulb of the ferry offered some illumination. Twenty three life vests were hanging above me. I counted all 23 of them and figured out which one I’d pluck out the easiest, just in case.
Flip flops: Vindicated
The boat ferried me to Chema’s By the Sea---a small, beautifully laid-out, semi-private resort in Samal (a small island 15 minutes off Davao). Getting off the boat was a struggle. The waves were violently rocking the boat and the water was crashing against the breakwater. I jumped off the boat and ran up the steps. My feet were soaked with salt water. My flip flops were vindicated. I may have looked crappy the past seven hours but then I knew I was wearing the right garb. I was in a beach; no place for pretty heels here.
Straight from a Movie
From the boat I was ushered to a private cabana. Outside the room I saw a dinner setting for two. As I entered, I looked around and there was still NO SIGN OF RON anywhere! It’s been seven hours and all we’ve done was communicate through text.
To my right I noticed the bay window seat was decorated with flower petals. On the seat were pictures of Ron and me, my letters and cards to him (including notes from college!) and his laptop which played a slideshow of our pictures to the tune of some of our favorite songs like Genuwine’s Difference. I was advised by the boatman to freshen up within 20 minutes, in time for dinner.
Dinner Time
I quickly showered and put on the white tank top and khaki cargo pants I had originally packed for post-frisbee activities. By 7:30 pm, a lady knocks on the glass sliding door and announces that dinner is ready. I refused to go out as I was still valiantly trying to dry my hair sans a blow dryer.
I wanted to look well put-together for my engagement pictures! Haha.
As I scuttled back and forth across the room, I heard Ron call my name. I turned around.
Alas! By some will of the fates we were wearing MATCHING attires! He was wearing a white long sleeved shirt and khaki cargos too!
He hands me a bouquet of flowers and leads me to the bay window seat. We are already taking pictures---with the flowers, by the bed, us-together, just me. He was showing me the cards I wrote for him. I took one of them and read it on the bed.
THE PROPOSAL
I was on my belly, laughing, and fascinated by the cheesiness of the card. Ron leaned against me and I could feel his heart throbbing wildly.
“Bakit ka kinakabahan?” I asked between chuckles.
Then Ron shows me this BEAUTIFUL ring in a black velvet box.
“WOW! Ang ganda!”. I’m amazed beyond words.
“Dinaganan mo sya kanina” Ron says laughing, before he asks…
“Will you marry me?”
I throw my arms around him and answer him with the surest “YES!” a girl could give.
He slipped the ring on my finger. It felt so right.
Crying Episode 2: Too Many To Mention
After that we went to the dinner table and ordered food. People were congratulating us left and right. I was crying, again, because my parents were genuinely happy for us.
May parents love Ron. Who wouldn’t?
I must say this is probably the best engagement story I know by far. Not only because it was elaborate, well-orchestrated and well-executed, but ultimately because it is MINE. J
