A policeman surprised his wife with a second wedding proposal on Valentine's Day in Caloocan City.
Police Staff Sgt. Dexter dela Cruz, 40, and Mary Rose Grace dela Cruz, 38, were clad in red when they went to Jesus Christ the Living Rock Fellowship Church Sunday morning.
After the church activity, the couple bought a cake to celebrate Valentine's Day.
But Dexter asked his wife to go back to the church with him.
Upon arrival, Mary Rose Grace was surprised to see people handing her a bouquet of flowers and heart-shaped balloons.
She was asked to sit in the middle of the room and was serenaded by a band. She was read a letter that her husband wrote.
"Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord dahil ikaw ang ibinigay niya sa akin bilang asawa, katuwang sa buhay, at nanay ng mga anak natin (I am so thankful to the Lord because He gave me you as my wife, partner in life, and mother of our children)," Dexter said in the letter.
"Sa darating na silver 25 years wedding anniversary natin, nais ko sana hingin ang matamis mong 'oo' na pakasalan ako muli, hindi na sa west, kung hindi sa simbahan na (For our upcoming silver 25 years wedding anniversary, I want to get your sweet 'yes' to marrying me again, not at a civil wedding, but in a church). Will you marry me again?" Dexter added.
The police officer kneeled and presented his wife with a wedding ring. She shed tears and said: "Siyempre, yes (Of course, yes)!"
The couple held each other tightly and danced slowly.
Mary Rose Grace said she had no idea about her husband's surprise, which he has reportedly been planning for a week.
"Sobrang na-shock ako, hindi ko talaga alam (I was so shocked, I really didn't know)," she said in an interview. "Masaya ako, syempre, dream ng mga babae na maikasal sa simbahan (I'm happy, of course, it is a woman's dream to have a church wedding)."
Dexter said they have long planned to have a church wedding on their 25th wedding anniversary in August 2022, but his wife had no idea that he would propose again.
But the road here was not easy for the two of them, he said.
The couple met each other when they were just teenagers who were neighbors in Malabon City.
Dexter, who was 16 at the time, was playing in a band when he saw 14-year-old Mary Rose Grace in the audience. He was lovestruck.
But Mary Rose Grace said she found the police officer "annoying" when she first saw him.
Still, Dexter pursued her by sending her letters and gifts and calling her on the telephone often, eventually making her fall for him.
Things became complicated after Mary Rose Grace got pregnant.
One night, the couple tried to elope but were found out by Mary Rose Grace's father. Both families disapproved of the relationship.
But eventually, they successfully eloped to Cavite where the police officer's family had a house.
Before she gave birth, Mary Rose Grace's family asked her to come home to Malabon.
The couple juggled studies and parenting. When Mary Rose Grace got pregnant with her second child after high school graduation, she and Dextee decided that only he will continue with schooling.
They put up a "sari-sari" store where Mary Rose Grace stayed while looking after their children.
Meanwhile, Dexter took up various jobs while studying to support his family, from being a security guard to a construction worker. After eight years in college, he was able to achieve his dream of becoming a police officer.
He is currently assigned at the Manila Police District Public Information Office.
Now, they have four children and two grandchildren.
The couple said all the trials they went through only made their relationship stronger and sweeter. Now, they have nothing but love and gratitude for each other.
"Salamat, laging nandiyan ka sa tabi namin anytime na kailangan ka namin. Mahal na mahal kita (Thank you for always being by our side whenever we need you. I love you very much)," Mary Rose Grace said.
"Salamat sa mahabang mahabang pangunawa, pagmamahal. Sana wag magbago, hanggang sa mag-retire ako, kami pa rin hanggang sa dulo (Thank you for your very long patience and love. I hope that doesn't change, until I retire, it will still be us until the end)," Dexter said.
For this couple, they proved that love is indeed sweeter the second time around.