PeopleAsia wishes you a Happy Valentine’s Day! Get your dose of romance with the stories of courtship, devotion and enduring love featured in our February – March 2017 issue. Check out previews of the ‘Love’ issue’s exclusive features in this gallery.
Miko de los Reyes and Nicole Tantoco: No questions asked
Photography by MAU AGUASIN
Just like in the movies, the rain stops for the lovers strolling hand in hand. It’s the same rainwater harvested for the flowers in The Flower Farm in Tagaytay, giving them life and making them bloom. If you stop to smell them, you will also notice something else has blossomed: love.
The weakened rays of light peak and filter through the clouds, and dare not compete with the brilliant sunny hue on Nicole’s hand — that finger, encircled in yellow and white gold, cradling a yellow diamond shining like the summer sun.
“With the other people I’ve dated, I would find myself having other priorities. Except with her. That was the cue that told me, who she might be for me.” – Miko
“I always felt like I was giving more love than I was receiving. It’s different with Miko. Whatever love I put in, he gives me so much more back. He really takes care of me and always tells me that I’m his first priority.” – Nicole
Neil Llamanzares and Sen. Grace Poe: Against all odds
Photography by MAU AGUASIN
This juvenile predicament may be familiar to many: girls grow up quicker and notice boys sooner, while boys remain boys for a little longer — until a certain girl finally captures his attention. For Neil Llamanzares of Xavier school, such a time came when a young Grace Poe from Assumption College walked his way, one unforgettable summer.
“I’m confident that if people decide that they don’t need me anymore to do a certain thing, I can always come back home.” – Grace
“When I finally proposed to Grace, I knew she was the one. Whenever I would go out with another girl, I would always compare her to Grace.” – Neil
James Yap and Michela Cazzola: Heart-court action
Photography by MAU AGUASIN
As everyone in the loop, and in the hoop for that matter, knows, James’ past relationship was as eventful as a heated basketball match. After his annulment, most of James’ fans and followers were happy with his new lease on love, having met a new and loving girlfriend, who eventually would become the doting mother of his youngest son.
“I treasure our bonding moments together. If I don’t have training sessions, practices or basketball games, I would rather spend time at home with my family.” – James
“We are also both open-minded; when there may be conflicts that are about to rise, we both meet in the middle. Compromise and patience are very important factors in a relationship.” – Michela
Mark Villar and Rep. Emmeline Aglipay: Live for love
Photography by JAR CONCENGCO
Married for over two years, the joy and happiness that she feels now as a mother and as a wife is a dream she had never thought possible a few years ago. When their paths had first crossed as neophytes in Congress, not only did the sparks fly, but finding love was simply off the table for Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, or Em, as she is fondly called.
“When I had met Mark, I wasn’t thinking about getting married or going into a relationship because I had a lot of my plate — my career and my health. At 28, I was dealing with lupus,” reveals Em who was first diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, an auto-immune disease, in 2007.
“There are not enough times in the day I could thank her for loving me and taking care of Emma. If I could thank her for every second, every moment of every day, I would.” – Mark
“Mark is really God’s gift to me. I thank him for taking me as I am with all my faults and weaknesses, and for seeing beauty even when it is not pretty every day.” – Em
Francis Libiran and Christian Mark Jacobs: Two strangers in Paris
Photography by DAN YUSAY HARVEY
Oct. 19, 2014. Mid-afternoon. In a café near Jardin de Tuileries. Inside it were two people, two strangers to each other from the start.
Inside the café, Christian was nursing a glass of red wine while reading a book. He was also studying a subway map, wondering which destination to go next in the city. Unknown to him, his next destination was just the table beside him. There, in an instant, he knew he found love.
“In all the churches that we visited for the first time in Europe, I would stay for 15 minutes inside this or that church or chapel to pray specifically for a partner.” – Francis
“Francis has the knack for dealing with situations that are unpleasant. From him, I have learned how to hold back.” – Christian
See the complete stories and other features in our February – March 2017 issue that’s now available in your favorite bookstores and newsstands. For inquiries and orders, call Bong at (02) 892 1854 or at (0922) 877 6556.
