Our Story

Tomorrow's going to be our anniversary. Imagine that. A year had passed ever since we had decided to make our lives more complicated hehehe Joke! I'd rather look at it as making our life more richer and fuller :) And yeah, more fun too! hehe

Below is an account of "our story" I wanted to post in here in view of tomorrow's "ocassion." I want to remind myself how we ever came to be... This was read during our wedding reception last year by a good friend, Anne. Thank you, Anne :) It went something like this...


On the evening of Nov. 29, 2001, Bolo and Rodilyn met for the first time. Only, they haven’t really noticed each other then. She went to Edge Outdoor Shop in Bajada to purchase a new pair of sandals she would be using for the 7th Mindanao Forum that will be held around Mt. Matutum in South Cotabato. Melai, her officemate and also a co-mountaineer, invited her to come along with some friends and Pastor and Mary Anne who were only sweethearts then.
Mary Anne was a classmate in a summer class during her first year in Ateneo. Pastor, she knew from her brief stint at wall climbing over at Torres. And so she accepted the invitation. When she made an inventory of her gears, she found out she is in need of a new pair of sandals. Melai offered to accompany her to Edge to purchase a new pair.

That’s when Bolo and Rodilyn met for the first time.

Bolo was the one who fitted in Rodilyn’s sandals for her. He first asked her to try on a size seven, hardly noticing that her feet were obviously small. She pointed out that fact to Bolo who, being a good salesman that he is, insisted that size seven give her enough room for comfort. To convince her further, he said that the size would allow her to use socks with the sandals should she want to. Unconvinced, Rodilyn asked for a size 5 and ½. As there had been none, she asked for a size 6. She tried on one, and being satisfied, concluded the sale and went home.

Both did not give each other a second look then. Rodilyn came for the sandals alone. Bolo, was only eager to make a sale and nothing more. Little did they know that fate had other plans for them. But here’s the catch, upon reaching home, Rodilyn found out Bolo gave her mismatching sandals. She had with her a size 6 for her left foot and a size 7 for her right! Obviously, Bolo made a mistake. He was probably distracted then and thus the error. Either that, or he was making sure Rodilyn will come back to the shop to make the switch. But upto this day, he denies having such intentions… As Rodilyn would have to leave that very dawn for South Cotabato and having no other pair of sandals to bring with her, she brought the pair anyway in case she needed them, mismatched and all.

At the forum, she found Rey there and informed him of the error. He advised her to just return the pair to the shop on her return to Davao. That’s what she did when she did went back to Davao. She returned to the shop 3 times but still got no replacement. There was no available size 6 for her. Getting tired of the whole thing, she requested Melai to do the switching for her as Melai sometimes drops by the shop on her free time. That was December of 2001. Let’s leave it at that. But take note of the sandals as this would play a very important role in their meeting each other again.

On to their second meeting. Again, this time, they hardly noticed each other. In fact, neither knew that the other existed. The sandals incident was entirely forgotten. And neither could have recognized each other have they bumped each other on the street. Their second meeting was on March of 2002. Melai, Rodilyn and Mary Anne teamed up to join the all-women team segment of a mini-adventure race organized by First Peak and Edge for the celebration of "Araw ng Dabaw." It was all for fun and for the experience for the three of them. To prepare for the race, Melai and Rodilyn would diligently jog at PTA grounds everyday after office hours. Once or twice, Bolo was said to have joined them. But Rodilyn had other friends with her and so she hardly noticed him, if at all. Neither did Bolo paid her any attention. He was friendly with another team.

On the day of the race itself, Bolo was the one assigned in one of the CPs of the race, particularly at the Caltex Gas station in Ma-a. Rodilyn’s team were the second of the women’s team to have arrived there. But they were able to leave the CP ahead of the 1st team as they were able to answer the riddle immediately. It was Rodilyn who answered the riddle so she really came face to face with Bolo then. Still, hardly any spark flew. Rodilyn was intent on the race. As she was answering the riddle, her mind had already been on what awaits them at the next Control Point. As for Bolo, he was busy performing the task assigned to him. And there were other female participants then. And, Rodilyn hardly stood out. To him, she was just another race participant.

The race ended with the team of Melai, Mary Anne and Rodilyn placing third, over-all in the women’s team. Bolo and Rodilyn again had the chance to be together during the awarding ceremony held in the evening after the race. But again, they hardly noticed each other. In fact, as this photo shows, they were really close to each other then but neither of them paid any attention to the other. This “not-noticing-each-other” routine, however, is understandable as both are very much into relationships. Rodilyn was nurturing a 2-year long distance relationship. Bolo, on the other hand, also has a girlfriend – and several flings – at that time.

Then Months passed. Rodilyn bought the sandals at the Edge on November of 2001. The race took place March of 2002. It wasn’t until June 2002, after 7 months! that Rodilyn finally got the replacement for her mismatched sandals, thanks to the efforts of Melai. But the replacement came just at the right time as DAP, Rodilyn’s office, was due for a trip to Boracay that month. She needed her sandals then. Over at Boracay, the sandals gave Rodilyn numerous cuts. While the fit is just right for her feet, the straps were a bit tight. Totally unaware that they were adjustable, she endured the pain all throughout. And then they all went back to the office. So Rodilyn went back to her old routine -- work and occasional side trips when her schedule allows it.

Then came July. Fresh from her Luzon trip, Rodilyn, with Melai, Chona, and Mamay decided to visit Epol in Marilog. Rodilyn had already been there on several occasions. But the mention of “Sandawa Falls,” made the trip appealing to her. She had never been to the falls yet.

The trip took two weeks to finalize. There were some work concerns. And there was difficulty in looking for a guide to take them to the falls. Melai had already gone there but could not vouch she could find the falls on her own. And so they needed a guide. Since Melai frequents Edge and had several friends there, she volunteered to take care of the matter. She then made some arrangements with Dong Estapia who first volunteered to be their guide. But something else came up. All of a sudden he had other plans. Or perhaps, it was fate that had other plans. So instead of Dong, Bolo became their guide then.

So on the last weekend of July they scheduled their trip to Epol. On that very weekend, fate had decided that it is high time that Rodilyn and Bolo start paying each other attention – some real good attention as they would have to spend the whole day together. Their hardly-noticing-each-other, one-doesn’t-know-the-other-existed drama is bound to change after that weekend.

That week, Rodilyn had to be in Carrascal in Surigao del Sur for some work concerns so it meant she would have to go home on Friday to make it to Epol the next day. She was tired from the long trip and hardly had any sleep. Still, she woke up at 3 a.m. the next day to be on time for their 4:30 a.m. rendezvous at Ecoland Terminal. Melai had informed her that they had to be early to have enough time to enjoy Epol. So right on the dot, Chona, Melai, Mamay and Rodilyn met at Ecoland Terminal at 4:30 a.m. of July 27, 2002.

Then lo and behold, there was hardly any sign of Bolo. He was late. Awfully late. Rodilyn was feeling a bit cross already, having had little sleep and having to wake up real early only to wait for a very late guide. It turned out that Bolo forgot about the trip and Melai had to call him to wake him up that morning. It wasn’t until 6:30 a.m. that Bolo arrived at the terminal. They immediately boarded the next available bus. Rodilyn took one look at Bolo then slept the entire trip. She was told later on that he had been real noisy the whole time, telling jokes and making fun of some of the passengers there. But Rodilyn was totally unaware of the whole thing. All she could think of was catching up on her sleep, which she did. It wasn’t until they were already at their desired stop that she woke up.

Then their adventure began… in the beginning, Rodilyn hardly paid any attention to Bolo. To her, he was just a kid who was there to take them to the falls and back. But perhaps Sandawa Falls worked their magic on them. Or perhaps it was the sandals that worked its magic on them. Having had little time to buy a new pair, Rodilyn again made use of the sandals for the trip.

Mindful of the cuts it had given her in the past, she wore the sandals with socks to protect her feet. They were already at the falls when Bolo noticed Rodilyn’s sandals and her socks. Quite tactlessly, he pointed out to Rodilyn that the socks made the get-up “baduy.” In other words, he was short of telling Rodilyn she was “baduy.” Rodilyn was unmindful of the criticism, however. She did not take it against him. Instead, she pointed out to him that the sandals were giving her cuts. And as if to counter his barb, she told him she now knows why the sandals are called “Sandugo,” kasi raw pala, dumudugo ang paa pag sinusuot na siya.

Then Bolo, ever loyal to their product, pointed out to Rodilyn that she should have adjusted the straps when she found out it was tight for her feet. Rodilyn smiled sheepishly. She did not know it was possible to adjust the straps. Then quite gallantly, Bolo helped Rodilyn take off her sandals and adjusted the straps for her. He asked her to try it on again. He was right. The sandals are now more comfortable to wear even without the socks. Then they all made their way to white cave. Bolo then started being chummy with Rodilyn. He walked with her on their way to the cave. At one point, he taunted a carabao and both of them were chased by it…

That’s how everything started. From then on, Bolo would look for a reason to be by Rodilyn’s side. He would constantly engage her in a conversation – talking about anything, from soccer to climbing to caving to almost anything. On their way home after spending the whole day in Epol, he found a way to sit by her side on the bus. Then like a kid he repeatedly said he wished the bus would have a flat tire so it would take them much longer to get to Davao. Di pa man, and kakakilala pa lang, humihirit na si Bolo. He was so charmed by Rodilyn. (Asus! This part I do not quite buy! hehe) Rodilyn, on the other hand, was only confused with how Bolo was acting up. She could not understand his sudden enthusiasm to be with her. She just shrugged it off as his being a kid – being playful and all.

When they reached Davao, they had dinner and decided to go home. Rodilyn was puzzled when Bolo offered to accompany her home since he lived somewhere close there too. She reminded him that he had told them he lived in Matina. And she lived in Panacan. That hardly equates to being “somewhere close.” Still Bolo found a way. He said they had a house in Buhangin too, so he’d go home there instead. Eager to just get home and rest, Rodilyn did not argue anymore. On their way there, he started asking for her phone numbers. Wary of his over-eagerness, Rodilyn told him she forgot her cell phone number as it was a new sim. But it was not easy to discourage Bolo. In the end, she gave him her phone number at home. In her mind, she is hardly home anyway, being at work and constantly on a travel, so he would soon tire calling and not catching her.

Then he dropped a bombshell on her. He asked her for a permission to court her. Ganun kabilis si Bolo. He did not waste any time. Rodilyn was taken aback. After all, she just met him and he hardly knew her. And the more she grew wary of him. She told him down pat -- she already has a boyfriend. And she thought that settled it. But Bolo just shrugged it off. He told her that if that’s the case, then he was content to win her friendship instead. So Rodilyn went home thinking the whole affair weird. But she was amused by it just the same. She thought that would end it all. That she would not see Bolo again. But how wrong she was.

Bolo proved insistent. Upon reaching home the next day after office, her Papa informed her that someone called looking for her. And that the same person had already called thrice. And that that person was a “he.” There was no censure though. Her father did not appear mad or something. Rodilyn just shrugged it off. While she suspected it was probably Bolo, she did not think much about it. But Bolo proved ingenious. He found a way to ask for her cell phone number. He first texted Melai for it. Then Melai asked Rodilyn for a permission to give it. Rodilyn found the whole thing amusing. And so she relented. That started a never ending barrage of “miscalls.”

Since it was hardly practical to text or call Rodilyn often, Bolo would content himself with constantly sending Rodilyn miscalls. Naging tampulan sa office tuloy nila Rodilyn. It had become a common joke in the office that they were beginning to memorize Rodilyn’s ringtone as it would constantly ring at intervals the whole day. Yes, the WHOLE DAY. It was Bolo’s way of making his presence felt constantly. Wala pa kasing landline noon sa Edge. Kung meron, malamang, tinawagan niya na si Rodilyn noon sa office. So miscalls na lang ang ginagawa niya.

Then, biglang nauso ang drop call. Ang swerte ni Bolo. It worked to his advantage. Since Rodilyn had to be constantly on travel because of work, it meant he would not see her often. So he took advantage of drop calls. Rodilyn would be on a travel but Bolo would find a way to contact her. So as not to disturb her while working, he would call her at night, making use of drop calls. Maalala nyo pano magwork yung drop call? Tatawag ka, say something for a few seconds then end the call para walang bawas sa load. That meant, he would call her ever so often in order to manage a full conversation. Tatawag siya, mag-hehello, end the call. Then, tatawag uli para magsimula ng kwento then end the call ulit para di mabawasan ang load. Tapos tatawag ulit… paulit-ulit. They would do that the entire evening till dawn.

Para di makaistorbo sa kasama niya noong officemate na si Jean Radoc, Rodilyn would have to hide underneath the pillow just to accept his calls. She would turn off the ringer of her phone and set it to vibrate mode para di maingay yung pag-dro-drop call ni Bolo. Yes, she was accepting his calls. Little, by little, he had endeared his way to her. His persistence was starting to work its magic.

But the more they had gotten close when a tragedy struck her family. Coming home from travel, Rodilyn found out her father was hospitalized. It all came as a shock to her. If anyone was sickly in the family, it was her Mama, not her father. He was hospitalized for 9 days. And Rodilyn was torn between wanting to give in to the weakness and the worry she was feeling, and that of being strong for her mother. It was putting much strain on her. It was something she had difficulty handling. Her cousins were all working out of Davao. There was no one to turn to. She could not cry to her mother as she felt she had to be strong for her. Also, her Dad’s medicines were quite hard to find. Kailangan niyang suyurin ang buong Davao halos para lang makita yung gamot na yon. That’s when Bolo proved handy. He would tirelessly accompany her just to look for the medicine. That’s when they had gotten close.

When Rodilyn's Dad died, every night Bolo would be at the wake. The wake lasted two weeks and Bolo came every night. Rodilyn was busy with family and friends so there were times she could not talk to him or entertain him during the wake. Still, every night he would come, sitting at the back, as if to just assure Rodilyn that he is just right there should she need him. He even helped during the internment. Yet even then, there was nothing but friendship between them. There was no relationship yet but the appreciation for each other was definitely there.

After all that, Bolo continued to court Rodilyn. He would bring her lunch, fruits, even ukay-ukay. Magdadala siya ng ulam when Rodilyn would have difficulty securing one for herself. By then she had already been on a strictly vegetarian diet. No meat, not even fish. So it was difficult buying food for herself. Knowing this, he would thoughtfully bring her food in the office when he can, which was quite often. Even at noon when the sun would be at its fiercest, Bolo would take his bike and ride all the way to DAP just to bring Rodilyn ulam.

And he did not stop there. When he found out her reason for switching to the diet, he made an effort to switch to a vegetarian diet too. So the meat-eater Bolo became a semi-vegetarian. He could not do away with the fish. While there was no formal commitment yet, they had committed themselves to keeping each other healthy. And everything just flowed from there. Before they knew it, they were already having a relationship and being constantly together when neither is on a travel. When one of them on travel, they would keep in touch by calling and texting each other.

Rodilyn introduced him to her set of friends and he had become a fixture to the group, accompanying them to travels, outing and other activities. It was easy to like him as he is kind, helpful and fun to be with. But it is his regard for Rodilyn that is very much apparent for all to see.

During climbs, instead of bringing his usual light pack, Bolo could be seen carrying a very tall, very compact backpack that he would often get teased. The reason for it is that he would be bringing with him as much as four jackets and two trekpants for Rodilyn knowing she is ”lamigin.” In all of those trips he would be bringing most of the load – grocery and all -- giving Rodilyn just enough load to carry.

They were teammates too. Though he wouldn’t want to participate anymore in some contests and knowing full well, teaming up with her meant matatalo siya since she’s a bit fragile for all those activities, still he would team up with her.

He has a passion for winning, still he would give in to her and team up with her knowing full well she doesn’t know how to swim. He would rather look out for her safety than win. Bolo understood Rodilyn’s passion for life and experience and so he supported her when he can. He understood her wanting to explore her physical limits and so he provided his physical strength where she is weak. And it worked both ways too. Rodilyn knew and understood Bolo’s passions. She understood his love for sports and adventure since she shared it also. She also understood his having such low self-esteem which he quite successfully hide by his being boisterous and fun to be with, and so she encouraged him constantly. She gives her support as much as he supported her. While he often spoils her, she does her share of spoiling him too.

But it’s not all a bed of roses for them though. They had their differences, lots of them in fact, that is also why they would fight a lot. They would often fight over the littlest of things. Still, their’s had been a wonderful “teamship” in almost three years of a shared relationship.

Now, they have decided to take a step further. They have decided to team up for yet another adventure – that of a married life and building a family. Just like any adventure, they face certain hurdles up ahead. There would be several of them up ahead. Still, let us be one with them in hoping that the teamwork that had sustained both of them all these years would be the same teamwork that would sustain them in what they are yet to face up ahead.

Let us all pray and hope that they would not forget what made them decide to pursue a joined life together, in the first place – that is their love and honest concern and regard for each other…

There were hurdles alright. Lots of them. There were times we came real close to calling it quits. But the "teamship" prevailed. Because our love for each other prevailed. In the course of that one year, I have seen the worst (maybe not yet) of Bolo and he had seen mine. There were times when one could feel the strongest dislike to the other. But at all times, the love prevailed.

I love you B. Happy Anniversary. It had been the most "stressful" hehehe yet the most fun year yet. We had been grounded for a year, having baby and all. I guess that was also the root of the tension between us -- being tied when what bounded us in the past was the freedom we both enjoyed. We had always been free-spirited. Faced with all of those responsibilities, I guess we both got a bit of a culture-shock hahaha! But little by little, we are learning the stroke. And though we don't quite synchronize at times, we always did make good music together. Thank you so much for continuing to be my strength when I was weak. Thank you for being my sweet "alalay" for the past 12 months.

Thank you for the intimate conversations that filled my spirit to the brim. Thank you for satisfying both my external and internal needs. Thank you for feeding not just my body but my spirit as well. Without your having to make an effort, by simply being who you are, you inspire me endlessly.... I could not thank you enough, there are a million other reasons why I should thank you. On top of this is how you are to our son. But this I could tell you, though at times I may not think so? I know that there could have not been the perfect partner for me than you. Love u ulit B. And as you sometimes say -- "consumingly."