Wednesday, February 14, 2007

A Valentine Post: How We Met


Tasha's blog is having a Valentine's Day contest, and the theme is called "How We Met". I'm not quite sure if my post will even make it to her deadline, but I will post just the same because today, Valentine's Day, is a special day for me and my honey. Why? Because it also happens to be Allan's birthday! Yay!!! (Happy birthday, hon! I love you!!!) :-) Ok, here's how our story goes...

How We Met

Back in 1998, I worked as an Events Manager for a big American multi-level marketing company (yup, you probably guessed already which one..) and Allan worked as a marketing and events manager for a club near my office. My job entailed that i set up events for the distributors to attend, and they were usually within the provinces here in the country and in neighboring countries like China and Hong Kong. My office counterpart did pretty much the same but handled events here in Manila and in India. Allan, on the other hand handled big party and launch events in his club, which fit a large group -- 1000 people max. Where am I heading with this story? I guess you can pretty much predict how this turned out. When my office counterpart was assigned to India for a full 3 months to handle the launches there, I had to take over her local events. She gave me a list of venues I could book for the weekly and monthly meetings, and a list of suppliers to contact. So when event month came, I made my round of calls to set appointments with these venues for an ocular inspection of their place.

On March 17, 1998 I drove out with my friend to go to one of my appointments at Meralco theatre, a local theatre in Manila, to check out the place. I was in the passenger seat of the car staring at the road ahead when my eye caught the name of a club. Limits was the name. I stared at it for awhile, and i wondered why I had a strange feeling about the place. My heart did a skip and I felt the urge to turn the car around to go back to that club. On impulse, I asked my friend to make a u-turn. He kinda freaked out at my request since we had driven quite a distance already. He asked if I had an appointment set there, and I replied that I didn't. I just felt that I had to check the place out. So, in kind obedience (hehe), he drove back and we went down to check the venue. I arrived the door of the club, but was hesitant to knock because it was dark inside and it seemed like it was still closed. Somebody must have seen our silhouettes through the glass door, because someone came running out to open it. And there he was. Allan. My future husband was standing right in front of me. Smiling in his dark short-sleeved polo shirt and brown slacks. Believe it or not, that's exactly what I thought at that very moment -- that he was my future husband! I was probably crazy to think that way, being single at that time and having come out of a really bad break-up two years before that. But it was true. Anyway, we inquired about the venue. To my pleasant surprise, the place was really big! It had everything I needed for me to put together this event I was planning. In short it was the perfect place. Allan stood up to get the details of the place and the contract. I stared at him as he walked away, and turned to my friend to ask, "how do i look?". He looked at me like I was possessed. "What??" I didn't understand it either. All I knew at the moment was I wanted to book the place and I wanted to look pretty while booking it. Allan came back out and took in the details of the event and explained more of the amenities, da da dah..da dah... I just stared at him the whole time wondering if there was such a thing as love at first sight. Surprisingly, he confessed that he felt the same way! He told me that he wasn't supposed to be at work that hour of the day, because the club opens at 6pm and he usually arrives work just before 6. When he saw me at the door he said he felt different and wondered at that moment if I had a boyfriend and...get this... if I had nice feet! Haha!

For all those who think the concept is unreal, well I am telling you all now -- Love at first sight IS possible and real! To fast forward my story, Allan and I met up everyday since that fateful day as friends getting to know each other. We became boyfriend-girlfriend after just a month. Then we became engaged in just four months after. By August of that same year we were already married civilly! We got caught in the whirlwind of that very first meeting and we've been married for 8 years already. Call it fate. Call it divine intervention. We were in places at that very moment were we shouldn't have been at. We were supposed to be meeting totally different people that day. But for some reason we were brought together, and everything happened almost spontaneously! Plans changed with just a snap of a finger. Just goes to show that we are never really in full control of our life. We think we have great plans, but God always has something better. And better was His plan for me indeed! 8 Valentine's days and 2 children later, I can say I am happy that I made that u-turn. :-)


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY VALENTINE BOY!!!! :-D

11 comments:

Tasha said...

That's a great story too! All the stories are great- I am glad I am not judging because I would never figure it out! I believe people can be in love at first site and I definately believe in fate. When I first met my husband I NEVER even thought twice that we would be together but the fate part was obvious. I am posting mine tommorow after I announce the winner! Be on the lookout:)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a cool contest to me. Happy Valentine's Day to you all. Love is in the air, so time to celebrate.
Happy Birthday Allan.
Peep into my blog on birthday e- cards for some beautiful e-greeting cards.

Anonymous said...

God had this appointment set for you guys. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is too cute and you too make a beautiful couple indeed...
Happy Valentine's day!

(((hugs)))

Meow (aka Connie) said...

What a beautiful story. Hope your hubby has a wonderful birthday, and the two of you have an amazing Valentines Day.
Take care, Meow

Anonymous said...

I never tire of hearing of how you two met no matter how many times you already have recounted this in past MWGs. It is just too surreal!!! Happy V-Day to both of you and our warmest birthday greetings to Allan!

Anonymous said...

Sis, just dropping by to greet you and Allan a happy heart's day and of course a special birthday greeting to the hunk of your life. Happy Birthday bro. It was really good to hear your story again.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful How We Met Story! Love at First sight intrigues me!

Good Luck in the Contest!

Unknown said...

I loved your story!! You never know what's going to happen when you least expect it.

Anonymous said...

belated happy v day and happy b day to allan! = )

agree! God is in control. check out my post about it and the book I am currently reading.

take care always!

Looney Mom™ said...

What a beautiful love story. God bless you both!

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...

A great story and a great love. It was not only being in the right place at the right time with the right man. It was I believe....that you were just meant to be.
Happy Valentine's Day too.!