Pass the tissue, please!
When engineer Mark Vincent Yap Nodado posted a picture of him and his wife Mhei Legaspi Nodado last April 14 with a lengthy appreciation post, they didn't think it would go viral. Having been married for 12 years, the Pampanga-based couple is living a blessed life with three wonderful children ages 10 and 8 years old, and an 11-month-old baby. They have been married since 2012, which prompted financial life adviser Mhei to ponder on what life has been since then.
In his Facebook post, "My wife said this morning, '10 years na pala akong graduate, parang wala akong personal achievements,' to which I immediately responded. "Huwag mo sabihin yan. Yung achievement ko, achievement mo. Kasi hindi ko naman magagawa ng wala ka."
He reaffirms, "Totoo naman, kaya nakakaalis ako para magsite kasi alam ko naaalagaan mo ng mabuti babies natin. Kaya nga malakas loob ko, kasi alam ko you have my back and you will support my decisions." He even pointed out that Mhei makes sure she has his back, including typos in his Facebooks posts. "Kaya kapag nagpost ako, hindi ko na chinecheck kasi alam ko na kung may typo, mag-memessage ka kaagad. Kaya nga yung mga maliliit na bagay, hindi ko na napapansin kasi nandiyan ka naman."
Ten years married, Mark did and continues to see everything Mhei has been doing for him such as leaving the towels anywhere, forgetting to flush the toilet, leaving clothes everywhere. "It's the simple things that I don't notice anymore kasi alam ko nandyan ka naman." A cup of hot coffee is ready when Mhei knows he has a long drive. Turmeric drink is prepped when she knows Mark has a talk that day. When he's tired from a long day he knows there is delicious homecooked food waiting for him.
He reassures his wife, "Hindi totoong wala kang achievement, kahit personal, sa pagiging financial advisor mo, sa mga plantitas mo, sa pagiging taga review ko ng documents. Dami mo ng na achieve." And with regards to their family, "Yung mga anak natin, mababait, matatalinom and loving kasi nandiyan ka lagi. Mas pinili mo yung freelance work para mas marami kang time sa kanila, sa amin."
And because he knows he has a wife who is there for him and his family, "I’m free to reach higher. That’s why every achievement I get, you are a big part of it."
Of course, being an engineer, he had to describe their relationship as to how he builds, cheesy as it may seem. "You are the scaffolding to my structure, in the end, people won’t see what you’ve done, but this structure won’t go higher without you." He ended the post with "I love you."
"It was really that morning that she asked me that. And sometimes, telling someone personally is not enough, and you have to shout it for the whole world to know," he tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. It can be overwhelming for a mom-of-three like her to juggle so many things, including giving financial advice and managing businesses on her own, too! So, it was apt that Mhei, of course, cried when she read her husband's post.
When asked why he thought of posting it, "Know the love language of your partner. And learn to speak it. Don’t be worried of what other people will say or if it’s normal or not. As long as she appreciates it. People will say, masyado naman public, but if that will make her happy or if that’s how I can express what I feel for her, why would I care what others will say? Be supportive of each other and let them know. Speak it. Action speaks louder than words but sometimes words are still neeeded. Love her. Show it. Let her know."