Moms and Dads

These Parents Share Their Kilig Love Stories

by Gretchen Gatan Fragada
February 10, 2023

As the month of love is in full swing, we interviewed several couples about their kilig love stories and some lessons from their marriage.

Time and time again, we’ve heard the saying that marriage takes a lot of sacrifices and hard work. It’s evident in our recent Spotlight story featuring Armand and Georgia del Rosario. It’s also visible among these parents who shared with us their kilig love stories and what they do to maintain a healthy and happy marriage.

Parents and Their Kilig Love Stories

Jody and Chris

Jody and Chris met while playing Ultimate Frisbee. Their club teams were considered rivals but when an international tournament presented itself, their teams made the decision to merge. “We had a lot to drink on the second day and we went back to our hostel a bit tipsy,” Jody shares. “I forgot to lock the bathroom door and I was brushing my teeth in my underwear when he barged in because he was about to barf. I guess we couldn’t stop thinking about each other after that!”

Both work in corporate and believe that constant communication and maintaining a good sense of humor are keys to a strong marriage. “We are also intentional about going on regular date nights and taking JUNK (Just Us, No Kids) trips. When our kids were younger, our date nights would start after putting them to bed. So we’d end up leaving at 11 or sometimes 12 midnight. We called it our #takasbagets and it bonded us because it felt like a secret between us.”

In addition to this, they apply what they’ve learned in their corporate setup to manage the household. This way, it can free up time for date nights. “Eliminate what is not essential. Delegate what you can. And outsource what is not your expertise.”

When it comes to the lessons they wish for their children, Chase and Cadence, to learn from their marriage, Jody is quick to answer, “Spouse over children.”

“We feel that the greatest gift we can give to our kids is a model of an imperfect but healthy relationship where they see their parents as equals and partners who communicate, negotiate, and compromise.”

Kirae and Andrew

Kirae and her husband Andrew met through a youth encounter weekend in 2006. It’s another kilig love story because Kirae and Andrew were just in their teens. They became good friends and got to know each other better through weekly prayer meetings and carpool rides. After all, Andrew’s family lived just five minutes away from Kirae. When Typhoon Ondoy hit in 2009, both found themselves restless at home. They wanted to do something for the victims and decided to look for ways to help out. This led them to Red Cross in Alabang where they volunteered for two days together.

A few weeks after, Andrew confessed his feelings to Kirae and started to court her with the permission of her parents. Eight years later, they tied the knot and now almost five years into their marriage, they have a toddler daughter named Ellie, whose smile can light up any room.

“What keeps our marriage strong and happy is that we love, serve, and do all things together. Being and serving in a church community is a big part of our marriage and has really brought so many good things to us. It brings out the best in us, both as individuals and as a couple,” says Kirae.

“I also love that there is so much respect, support, and understanding in our marriage. In our respective low moments, we give each other space by simply being there for one another and by always making each other feel loved. Whether it be buying Andrew’s favorite Whopper, surprising me with takoyaki or milk tea, or just going out together to breathe and pray.”

“Most importantly, as we would always say, we strive to stay true to one another. In our thoughts, our hopes, and more so in our disappointments and failures. We stay true to our vows, to our commitment to one another, and to our family. This is how we honor our God who is true and faithful to us.”

For Kirae and Andrew, living their lives to the fullest and being thankful to God serves as their example for Ellie. “We just want her to enjoy her life. To find joy in everything that she does, serve God, and live a generous life. And hopefully, she won’t enter into a relationship at the age of 16 like her mommy,” Kirae finishes with a laugh.

Mara and Mikey

Unlike some kilig love stories where couples meet in college or during their teen years, Mara and Miguel met on a blind date in 2018. “We had been texting for a few days leading up to our first date, a blind date. We’ve been inseparable ever since,” Mara starts. “If you’re wondering how my husband got my number, well, he was resourceful enough to find it through a common friend!”

One of Mikey’s good friends happened to be cousins with one of Mara’s best friends, who gave him her number. And the rest was history. The two tied the knot in an elegant wedding in 2020. And in 2022, they welcomed their beautiful baby girl named Belli.

“Happiness is really in the small everyday things. Never ceasing to say I love you, unlimited hugs and affection, and spending time with one another even if it’s just to watch a movie or sit in silence on our phones together albeit separately. After a few years of marriage and our life now with a young baby, we always make time for just each other. We go on dates and have made a pact to go on a trip—just the two of us—at least once a year.”

Belli may still be young but Mara and Mikey want to teach her through their own dynamic and experience that family always comes first. “We do also hope she dates only when she is truly ready and with the intent of marriage. Hopefully, we will be able to influence her choices in a positive way.”

Doris and Rafael

Doris and Rafael’s kilig love story is not very common either—because they met through an online dating app. “My husband, Rafael, and I met on an online dating site sometime during the pandemic,” shares Doris.

“We had other lives apart from the site before that. I just came home from abroad and decided to try this app to meet new people. He was convinced by his siblings to try it, too. It was ‘love at first talk,’ and I would say it was really a meeting of the minds. Even if we hadn’t seen each other yet, there was an instant spark and a feeling of being at home.”

Doris was a single mom back then. But Rafael was determined and decided that Doris and her son was where he belonged. “Because we met online and did not really have a long time to get to know each other, we always make sure not to let that thought affect us and our family.”

“Now that we are four with the arrival of baby Paco, we don’t have as much time as we did before. But we know that we are together in this together. Rafael always promises me dates in places that I want to go to. And I always tell him that we will buy stuff for each other apart from those we buy for our children. On our rare time alone, mostly after midnight, we watch movies at home.”

The two also love long conversations on just about anything. Their sons, Sven and Paco, are their reminders not to take their relationship for granted. “I hope one day they’ll learn that families have different sizes, shapes, colors, and faces. The differences don’t matter. As for my husband, he is my forever crush. And I know I am his, too.”

Chem and Ja

Chem and Ja’s kilig love story all started at work. “I was the new account manager in the team. And he was already two years with the company as a software engineer but decided to resign. Our boss back then requested him to extend his resignation to another month. So this was the reason why we still met. Who would have thought, right? The extended 30-day notice led to getting to know him better,” Chem explains.

“It started during our company outing when our boss asked me what qualities I liked in a guy. So just to say something, I replied, ‘Tall, dark, and handsome.’ Everyone teased us because he had moreno skin. A few days after our company outing, he borrowed my phone and put his number without me noticing. On my way home and upon browsing my phone, I saw an unfamiliar number with no name so I messaged and it was him! Para-paraan.”

“We were just friends at first. Since I was new, I was looking forward to having friends at work and he was one of the first people I made a connection with easily. We took our time to get to know each other. After his resignation, we stayed in touch. And little did we know, we were already talking about personal matters. That’s when we realized we were on the same wavelength. I think the chemistry was always there but I was still not over certain things from the past. Meanwhile, he was dealing with ex-girlfriend drama. So we remained good friends for a year.”

“Eventually, since we were almost together every day, things began to change between us. We stayed up way past bedtime talking about anything under the sun. We were comfortable with each other and we never felt we had to put our best foot forward. He was so consistent with his actions, he would often see me after work hours, and he would bring me home. I didn’t realize that our deep friendship had turned into love when I didn’t feel complete without a message from him. One night, when he was driving me home, we finally talked about our feelings and we officially became a couple.”

Chem and Ja got married in 2018 and are now proud parents to an amazing three-year-old boy. For them, marriage requires patience, respect, and compromises—especially now that they have a son who still breastfeeds. In addition to this, the couple chooses not to have a nanny or household help. “It’s a challenging battle to juggle work and household duties. So I think the biggest key to any successful relationship is teamwork and always communicating. We also keep in mind to control our temper and not to be disrespectful to each other.”

“Don’t just communicate but understand your spouse,” Chem advises. “Even though we don’t always agree with each other’s point of view, we always try to listen and understand so we can meet in the middle and feel that we are mutually supported. It deepens the relationship and connection when you always open up about small issue before it blows up.”

“We also do things to keep our cups full. I would take 30 minutes to go for a run on my treadmill to clear my head and get my blood pumped. He would go on long rides on his motorcycle or play video games when he feels stressed at work. Though we don’t have time alone together, what matters to us right now are the simple things. In this stage of our relationship, the level of kilig is different. It’s not rainbows and butterflies anymore. The simple act of giving coffee in the morning means a lot. Keeping the house clean makes me kilig!”

“We also share the same dreams. It’s important for us that we are on the same page; that we know our plans for the future but we still make sure to enjoy the present. Though we have struggles, sacrifices, and little disagreements, we always choose each other over and over again and work things out for our family the best way we know. And when life gets hard, we always remember our vows and promises and how we became a couple. We remind ourselves why we are here building our own family together.”

If there’s anything they wish for their son to learn from their relationship, it’s that love is not just a feeling. It’s a choice. When you choose to work on your relationship, communication, trust, and respect, you’re choosing love. Moreover, good things take time, and patience is needed in everything. Lastly, little things make a huge difference. “We want him to see that a simple hug and a sweet note in the morning make a huge difference in the relationship. Showing appreciation by thanking them for small things like cooking meals and washing clothes can show respect and hopefully help him understand how good it feels to be validated.”

Lesley and Ton

Lesley and Ton have been married for almost eight years now. They have two daughters—Adelle who is six years old, and Julia who is ten months old. Both were taking their MBA when they met at a party that their student council organized. Not all kilig love stories begin smoothly—just like theirs.

“For me, it wasn’t love at first sight,” Lesley shares. “Since he came across as mayabang and too flashy for me, I judged him to be a party boy and immediately assumed that he would not be husband material. In fact, I turned him down not just twice, or thrice, but four times. Our love story wasn’t all sparks and enchantment. Rather, it was a love that was hard-earned, sincere, and real. It took time for me to love him, but he was very patient and very persistent.

In keeping a marriage strong and happy, Lesley and Ton believe there’s no sure formula that works. “We have tried and tested every advice, such as ‘Don’t sleep angry,’ and ‘Keep things interesting,’ and ‘Have date nights,’ but at the end of the day, you should do what feels natural. My husband and I are both very emotional people. So what works for us — instead of repressing or controlling those emotions — is that we make sure that we are aware of them and are accountable for them. This makes learning and improving so much easier, and much more proactive.

When it comes to their two daughters, Lesley and Ton hope that they learn to choose their battles. “Not everything that irritates you is worth fighting about,” says Leslie. Moreover, learning to compromise is essential. “This isn’t a competition, so you don’t need to always win.”

Lesley adds, “Leverage each other’s strengths. Life (and love) is so much easier when you have the support of those around you. Accept help from other people, especially your family. It’s also necessary to build a family with a partner who has the same values and morals as yours because it ensures that you are moving along a common thread. It makes decision-making clearer, and it makes the journey much more pleasant to trek—if you’re with someone who loves and supports you.”

“I hope that we show our children that love and relationships are never perfect. It is a daily commitment to love, support, and cherish your partner, despite the obstacles and despite their flaws. I hope we show our children that despite it being hard, we are making every effort to make it work and to commit to our vows.”

Marielle and Jamel

Marielle and Jamel are both athletes and met during an Ultimate Frisbee tournament in Dumaguete. “I just tagged along with my friends since they were playing on different teams and my then home team captain just happened to pressure me into booking a ticket. While I was watching the games, Jamel’s team didn’t have enough girls playing so their captain asked me if I wanted to play. I again gave in to peer pressure and said yes since it was my first time playing for a provincial league anyway.”

Marielle admits that she didn’t regret the decision. She had the best time playing—laughing with newfound friends and even winning the tournament with Jamel’s team. “I ended up going back to Manila with a new set of friends who became my constants to this very day. So you can say we were friends first before anything else. A few months after, we started dating and a year later we were officially boyfriend-girlfriend.”

Both Marielle and Jamel have strong personalities, which is why communication and picking the right time to talk are crucial in their marriage. “One thing I love about our relationship is that we eventually learned how to talk things out instead of shouting at each other when we’re mad or going the passive-aggressive route. We’ve done both and after more than a decade of being together, we figured that it’ll save us the heartache if we just talked things through.”

Timing also plays a big part for them and when they’re angry, they give each other space to cool down. “We pick the right time to talk to each other. We let each other be for a while just to let the anger subside, and when we’re both in a better headspace, which can be an hour later, that’s when we talk. Usually, it takes a little bit of cariño or something funny to break the ice.”

Fortunately, Jamel knows exactly how to get Marielle to smile or laugh. And once they’ve cooled down, they get to talk things out properly. “I know that whatever we have to say, be it differing opinions, will be heard. It’s just the acceptance of the fact that even though you’re mad at each other, the love you have is still bigger than any argument you may have had. You chose this person to be with you for the rest of your life, so at the end of the day, you will still choose each other and want to work things through.”

The two are first-time parents to their toddler son, Aqui. Someday, when he’s old enough, Marielle and Jamel hope that he learns the value of communication and the importance of having a sense of humor. “And accepting your partner for who they are—the good and the bad. Hearing the other’s point of view is different from understanding where they’re coming from. Being in a relationship as well is different when you’ve accepted who you’re committed to. We can’t really pick out which traits we like and what we don’t like from our partners. Nobody’s perfect but it’s the imperfections that make life interesting.”

It’s this sense of humor that allows Marielle and Jamel to enjoy each other’s company so much. “Anyone who knows us knows how much we tease each other. But it’s all in good fun. Being able to laugh at yourself and not taking everything so seriously is actually one of the things that make life interesting and enjoyable. I wish our child would learn these things when he grows up. He’ll definitely be a happier and much better person—which is what any parent would wish for their child.”

May these parents and their kilig love stories inspire you!

Sometimes, being together for so long can make you forget how and why everything started. For many parents with young kids especially, it can be difficult to find the time to even go on a date on Valentine’s Day. But let these couples show you that every marriage has its own dynamic. And it’s all about finding what works for you!