Nicole and Ice worked their matchmaking magic, introducing us online. And from there, it all began…

With lockdowns in place, all our dates were virtual — Zoom, FaceTime, and texts. It wasn’t the most traditional start, but it worked for us.

Joey decided, completely out of the blue, that it was time to meet in person (masks on, of course). That first face-to-face meeting is something we’ll never forget.

Most of our initial dates were “car dates,” parked at Wilcon Visayas Avenue. Simple, yet always filled with laughter (and snacks)!

This was a big one — Joey met my mom for the first time (and yes, he still had his long hair!). He even cooked and washed the dishes during the whole trip — setting the bar high right from the start.

Two days later, on February 16, 2022, we officially became boyfriend and girlfriend <33333

Joey introduced me to diving, and we celebrated his 30th birthday with our first beach trip together.

Our first Christmas Eve together was extra special, and of course, Chief and Tory joined us for some great food and festive fun!

We celebrated our 1st anniversary in Siargao, and even though it rained the entire time, it didn’t stop us from having an amazing time together.

Our first international trip took us to Korea, fulfilling my dream of breathing the same air as BTS! And those love locks we placed? Totally worth it.

First beach trip with the fur babies, Chief and Tory

For our second anniversary, we went to Antonio’s, and let’s just say I may have started manifesting a proposal around then.

Then came my 30th birthday celebration — still no proposal, but hey, manifesting takes time!

Finally, our US vacation kicked off on the East Coast. The last stop? Central Park, New York. Joey, ever the staller, offered to take pictures at every corner of the park (which I later realized was part of his plan).

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of walking, near Bow Bridge, Joey asked the question that changed everything.