By Annalyn Jusay
After their grand engagement was announced, Internet personality Zeinab Harake said she prefers a simple low-key wedding to her fiance, Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. This is because they are saving their money for other things, like their future home.
"Actually, ako, ang dream wedding ko is, kung gaano naging kabongga ang proposal, ayaw ko naman ang ganon ka-bongga. Gusto ko, ano lang, yung mararamdaman natin yung pagiging intimate ng love, mas mangingibabaw kesa yung dami ng tao. So mamimili talaga ako kung sino lang talaga yung nasa buhay ko, yun lang siguro yung invited," Zeinab bared during an interview after her contract renewal as an endorser of Luxe Slim.
(My dream wedding is something that's not as grand as the proposal. I would like something that's intimate, where you can feel the love instead of being overwhelmed by the number of people. I will choose who I will invite and they're the ones who are really part of my life.)
The social media star said she and Ray have invested in a piece of real estate and they are saving money for the house construction.
"Kaysa i-spend mo yung malaking pera sa kasal, parang mas maganda mag-spend for the future with the kids. Actually, excited ako para dito. Dalawa kami.Kaya work hard kami parehas," she added.
(Instead of spending money on the wedding, it seems better to spend for our future with the kids. Actually, we're both excited for this, that's why we're working so hard.)
Ray currently plays for a basketball league in Japan. Both of them are flying between Japan and Manila to maintain their relationship. But things may change once they are married and start building their own family.
"My godly counsel told me that it's not really advisable to be apart. The moment that we are married, I assure her that I will be there for her and the kids," Ray who is a born-again Christian, remarked.
Zeinab has an adopted son, Lucas, and a child with rapper Skusta Clee, Bia, who is now four years old. The internet star described Ray as a positive influence on her two kids.
"Siya (Ray) ang nagpapakalma kay Bia. Tuwang-tuwa ako na nandiyan siya to support and help me. Yung talaga yung pinaka-blessing," she pointed out.
Zeinab said she was introduced to Ray by a mutual friend in February last year, but it took five months for them to be in a relationship because she was still recovering from her tumultuous relationship with Skusta.
"Kasi ako, from the start naman, sinabi ko na hindi ako ganun ka okay, may mga traumas ako, may mga takot ako, and especially sa pagiging nanay, ganyan. Pero siya, ginagawa niya lahat para sa akin. Kaya sinasabi ko, deserve ko ba ito? Deserve ba kita? Deserve ko ba na nilalapit mo ako sa Diyos? Yung mga tao, sa paligid natin, kung paano yung pagtanggap niyo, kahit na ganoon na yung mga past sa buhay ko. Yung pressure na nanggagaling sa feeling ko, ako pa yung hindi niya deserve. Pero, nailaban, at lalaban kami. Yun naman ang relasyon eh. Dapat lumalaban kayo parehas," Zeinab stressed.
(From the start, I told Ray I'm not okay. I have my traumas and fears. But he did everything for me, that's why I asked myself if I deserve this. Do I deserve him? Do I deserve being brought closer to God by him? The people around us accepted me even though I had this past. The pressure within me was that I felt he doesn't deserve me. But we fought for it. This is how relationships are. You should fight for it.)
The engaged couple received a few pieces of advice from beauty CEO Anna Magkawas who will also stand as a sponsor to the wedding set for next year.
Anna, who is married for 11 years to her husband Mel, told Zeinab and Ray : "Hindi pwedeng magsabong kayong dalawa. Hindi pwedeng parehas kayong mataas ang ego at parehas kayong nagmamatigasan. Kailangan meron at merong magpapakumbaba sa inyong dalawa."
(You cannot clash and have the same ego. If both of you are stubborn one of you should take the initiative to stoop down.)
"Of course, dapat ninyong intindihan ang mga flaws ng isa't-isa. Kasi, nakilala mo naman yan, syempre, ipapakita nyo sa'yo sa una yung perfect side niya, and saka nalang natin makikita yung mga imperfections along the way kapag magkasama na kayo sa isang bubong. Pero, dapat, kapag na-discover mo yun, tatanggapin mo pa rin siya at mamahalin mo pa rin siya ng buong-buo," the CEO of Luxe Beauty and Wellness Group added.
(Of course, you should understand each other's flaws. Because when you meet your partner, they will always put their best foot forward. They will show their perfect side and you will only know their imperfections when you are both together in one roof. But when you discover that, you should learn to accept and still love each other fully."