Our Story

They say love finds you when you least expect it—or in Paul’s case, when you're a freshman and completely unaware that a third-year student named Sofia had a secret crush on you at San Lorenzo Ruiz CSS.

Sofia was subtle, and only her friend Janee knew. Paul? He just thought she was kind. Ah, young love… or something like it.

Fast forward a few years—Paul was in first-year college, Sofia in her final year. Feelings resurfaced, but fate hit snooze. Sofia ghosted Paul (no hard feelings, right?). They drifted apart but never fully disappeared from each other’s lives.

Then came March 14, 2021. Sofia, casually replying to Paul’s Instagram story with a simple “kaya pa? haha,” unknowingly reopened a door. And this time, they didn’t just step through it—they danced, stumbled, and eventually ran into something real.

They talked. And talked. Until midnight, sometimes later. So much so that one night, Sofia’s mom asked Paul, “May patutunguhan ba ‘tong pagpupuyat niyo?” That was the moment Paul realized: this wasn’t just a reconnection. This was it.

But love doesn’t always come easy. Their relationship spanned time zones—Paul in Rome, Sofia in the Philippines (and now in Bermuda). Despite the distance, they grew closer. Paul loved Sofia’s compassion, her God-centered life, and the way her love for family mirrored his own values. Sofia cherished Paul’s endless patience, the way he cared for others before himself, and how seamlessly he became part of her family.

Then came the proposal.

Sofia had just come back from a trip with her girlfriends. She thought they were off to a birthday party. Paul, ever the gentleman, suggested she wear the brown dress her sister gave her. She agreed—and almost wore Converse. Paul gently questioned her choice (with reason).

On the way, Paul was suspiciously glued to his phone and wouldn’t let Sofia near it—a rare moment that got her thinking: “Is he going to propose?” She remembered her cousins insisting they get their nails done (which was...unusual). The signs were there.

When they arrived, music was playing. A path of red roses led to a giant heart. At the center, a sign: “Will you marry me?”

She didn’t hesitate. She said yes.

Their story isn’t just one of romance—it’s timing, second chances, divine nudges, and a lot of love that waited patiently, until it was finally time.