Yup! I'm finally dating someone! And you're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation. 😂😂
After many years of prayers and countless Novenas, God finally answered my prayer.
It's like Jesus saying, "Yan, diara, kakulit ba nimo. Nasamokan na jud ko'g gamay nga sige ka'g balik-balik. Di man ka kapaabot uy." 😂😂
Honestly, writing this feels surreal because what do you mean I'm no longer a kandidata sa "matiguwang na dalaga" in our family?
These past years, I would cry once or twice a month because no matter what I did, I couldn't really stomach the idea of dating or flirting with someone. The thought of going on a date made me want to gouge my eyes out and gag all my internal organs.
When guys like me, I don't really like them. But when I like a guy, he doesn't really like me, or if he likes me back, I get disappointed when I get to know him, and we don't share the same core values.
It’s a never-ending, depressing cycle.
However, looking back, I can attest that God intended me to wait for a long time because He wanted me to date when my frontal lobe is already developed to protect me from potential heartaches and unnecessary dramas that come with dating.
He wanted me to face my internal issues first, acknowledge my insecurities, and know my real identity as His daughter.
Reminiscing about how everything turned out, every decision I made was unknowingly one step towards where God wants me to be.
First, during my waiting season, I found my great love for READING. What started as only love for fantasy, romance, thriller, and historical fiction books turned into a quest for something more. It made me question the main themes in every story that I read-LOVE and BEAUTY. And this quest led me to search for the ultimate DIVINE SOURCE OF BEAUTY AND LOVE.
My love for literature led me to read and learn basic theology that deepened my Catholic faith and has guided me to a personal relationship with Jesus.
My love for reading gave me patience and enjoyment to study and understand the importance of the Eucharist and all the sacraments of the Church.
It led me to frequent visits to the Sacrament of Confession, which made me face my internal conflicts and healed places in my heart that I didn't even know were wounded.
It helped me turn to Jesus at all times instead of finding comfort elsewhere.
In 2023, I was able to go back to a habit our mother instilled when we were growing up, which is praying the Holy Rosary.
Instead of wallowing over my lack of lovelife, I was able to direct my attention to The Rosary, the 'Bible on beads,' and meditate on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which is far better than playing victim and having a pity party in my room.
But don't get me wrong, there are many days that are very hard and made me act like Liza Soberano, asking, "Am I not enough? Pangit ba ako?" Haha. 😂😂
Singlehood is truly a combination of peaks and valleys; sometimes I feel fine being forever single, saying, "Lord, okay rajud ko single ko hantud sa hantud basta kay naa koy daghang kwarta unya I can read great books forever". But other times, I cry my heart out because I am afraid of dying single or never experiencing the love Bruno Mars is willing to catch a grenade for.
But now, I'm so grateful that I waited (im)patiently and never compromised my standards.
It taught me patience the hard way and made me TRULY understand the fact that a romantic relationship would never satisfy me.
I also got a chance to learn about the saints and their imperfect but joyful lives. They made me realize that whatever vocation God calls me, I would find happiness and satisfaction in it if I put Him in the center.
And after years of waiting but not really expecting anything, last year, 2025, I met a guy. I met him in the most beautiful place in the world, where heaven and earth meet- THE HOLY MASS.
He is an amazing man of God who really walks the talk.
He's calm. Siya ang exact opposite sa kadali nako mataranta.
He's genuinely kind. Bisan kinsay pangutan-on.
He's very smart. Nauwaw akong chaotic nga brain.
He's hardworking. Grabeng daghanang side hustles.
He loves his family so much. Grabe ka close sa iyang mga igsuon ug ginikanan.
He's handsome. Murag James Reid-level sa akong panan-aw.
He finds my dark humor funny. Nag-match ug ayo among personalities.
We share the same values when it comes to purpose, family, and faith.
And most of all, he is saving himself till marriage like me. He respects and upholds my physical boundaries in dating, especially since it is one of my non-negotiables and is really the reason why I never dated anyone.
Mostly akong mga lalaki nga nakaila, muingon nga kaya nila mo-wait hantud makasal, but even when we start getting to know each other, they begin to tell me that my boundaries are too strict or my beliefs when it comes to chastity are outdated. So, even before the relationships start, I cut them off because I will never settle for someone who doesn't hold the same standards that I do.
But this guy is different; he gets tempted like everyone else, but his conviction is strong, and he really holds on to our boundaries.
And it’s funny because my Mama would always say (in tinarung nga murag binuang way) after Mass while holding her hand on my heart, "Yan, akong gina-pray nga pahumokon na unta sa Ginoo ang imong tig-a nga kasing-kasing, para mag-uyab-uyab naka, kay tiguwang na baya ka. I pray pod nako nga mu gawas naka sa balay kay unsaon nimog ka uyab kung balay, laptop, ug simbahan ra imong adtuan pirme."
Well, jokes on you Ma! Sa simbahan ra jud diay mi gisugat sa Ginoo, ahaha 😂😂! While gina-pray over ko nimo sa simbahan, ang taw nga akong ma-uyab naa ras atubangan nato naglingkod kada Domingo kauban pod sa iyang family. Unya gina pray over pod syas iyang Lola nga unta mag-uyab-uyab na siya. Haha!
To: Engineer/Farmer/Singer/Songwriter Kenneth,
I don’t know where this story ends, but I pray it will be at the same place where I first saw you, but this time, instead of saying “Peace be with you,” we will both say “I Do.” (Huy! Kangilngig! Lord, kaluod naba nako, kuhaa nakog sayo bi. 😂😂 Atik ra Lord, makasab-an napod kong Mama aning akong baba.)
To: Mama Mary, St. Joseph, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Anne, St. Agnes, St. Raphael the Archangel, and St. Carlo Acutis,
You guys are the best! I'm forever grateful to your intercession! Thank you for praying for me! Palihog ko'g padayun. Haha! 😂
To: Father Naz,
You don't know me, but my regular sacrament of confession in 2024-2025 helped me process issues I swept under the rug for many years and helped me get closer to Jesus.
To: Father Pepe,
You don't know me either, but your long announcement (talking about your church improvement project) after mass helped me notice the guy with long hair blocking my vision of the tabernacle. Pasaylua ko 'dre nga while sige kag storya, magsige ko'g tan-aw ra sa tabernacle or sa lalaki nga sige'g atang-atang sa akong panan-aw.
To: My Parents,
Ma, Pa, salamat sa pag-set ug great example on what a healthy romantic relationship should be. Thank you for instilling love, peace, and faith in our family, bisan gikan sa gagmay pami nga grabe natong lisoda, hantud karun nga okay-okay na atong panginabuhi. We wouldn't be who we are if not for you. God really did know what He was doing when He crossed your paths sa pasaheroang barko in 1991.
To: Ate Jorek & Kuya Katib,
You have been married for only over 2 years, but I have seen how you keep on standing by each other, fulfilling your vows, in sickness or in health, in your little family. You guys are one heck of a team! I'm always praying for your marriage. Blessed kaayu si Himaya nga kamo iyang parents.
To: Etin,
Kambal sa kigwa 😂. Kastoryaan nakos tanan-tanan. I keep on learning from you every day, but one thing na na-semento nas akong utok ug ako pong gina-share always sa uban kay: "Yan, 95% of your happiness later in life would depend on your husband, so CHOOSE WISELY. Medyo cliche na sya, pero itatak jud nas imong huna-huna."
To: Raprap&Rairai (my younger brothers),
Instead of thank you, sorry kaayu. Sorry kay usa sa inyong tulo ka Ate is still in the process of resolving her bad temper. Sa sulti na ni Etin, right daw akong intention, pero wrong akong execution. 😂
To: Sir R. & Tita G.,
Thank you kaayu kay tungod sa maayung pagpadako ninyos inyong mga anak dako kaayung chance nga di ko matiguwang daga. Regards kos inyung Bebe! 😂😂
To: C.A.S.
Thank you! Kahibaw naka unsa!
To: K. T.
Wa ka kahibaw unsa, pero thank you. Haha! 😂
Finally, nagtagbo najud ang dalan sa tindera ug barbero sa Hunan. 😂😂
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