Genesis & Teri

It all started at Epic Boracay, on a night out with friends. Two of Teri’s friends spotted Genesis and approached him to dance, but there was just one problem: Genesis wasn’t much of a dancer. 😂 While everyone else was caught up in the night, Teri was standing at the back, being the sober wingwoman. Somehow, in the middle of all that, Genesis noticed her instead. What could have been just another night out turned into a four-hour conversation about practically everything. There was just one small detail Genesis didn’t know at first: Teri introduced herself as “Sam.” She was being cautious about meeting someone new, while Genesis was determined to prove he was who he said he was. He showed her his Facebook and Viber accounts, but even that wasn’t enough to convince her completely. 😂 Eventually, the night came to an end, and they went their separate ways without knowing whether they would ever see each other again. Neither of them could have guessed that they’d be telling this story on their wedding someday.

A couple of months later, Genesis reached out to Teri and told her he was in her area. Considering they had only met once, Teri wasn’t exactly in a hurry to see him again. Genesis, on the other hand, seemed willing to put in the effort. Teri sent him her address, then deleted it, not realizing he had already taken a screenshot. He managed to find the general area but couldn’t locate the exact house, eventually waiting on Martinez Street, just two streets away. And there he stayed for two whole hours, and apparently, wasn’t ready to give up on their story just yet. While Teri came up with excuse after excuse. 😂 Eventually, she agreed to meet him, and they finally had their first date in Manila. It wasn’t exactly the smoothest start to dating, but it definitely became one of their favorite stories to tell.

In November, Teri’s Tito passed away, and her family suddenly had a lot to take care of. One of their immediate concerns was that no one could drive his car, so Genesis stepped in to help. What began as helping out for a day turned into three days of driving the family around, making sure everyone had food, and taking care of whatever else needed to be done. Their relationship was still relatively new, but Genesis was already showing up for Teri and the people she loved—not because he had to, but because he wanted to be there. Around the same time, they welcomed Sebby Boy, their beloved Sebastian, and started making some pretty big financial decisions together. 😂 They were moving quickly in more ways than one, figuring things out as they went along. Teri also remembers her first conversation with Tito Rolly at the dining table. There was something about his warmth and their simple conversation that reminded her of the morning talks between a father and daughter she had missed. November became a month of difficult moments, unexpected responsibilities, and meaningful connections. Somewhere along the way, the relationship began to feel like more than just the two of them. It was starting to feel like family.

Genesis became the first guy brave enough to travel all the way to Capiz to meet Teri’s parents. It was a big step, especially since meeting the family meant getting to know a much bigger part of each other’s lives. For Genesis, it was an opportunity to spend time with the people who raised Teri and learn more about where she came from. For Teri, it was another milestone in a relationship that was becoming more serious by the month. Of course, no memorable trip would be complete without a little chaos. 😂 They accidentally booked the wrong flight back to Manila and only realized that their flight was actually headed to Iloilo. Not quite the return trip they had planned! Thankfully, it became another story they could laugh about afterward. And while the flight mix-up was certainly memorable, what stands out just as much is how close Genesis and Teri’s mom have become since that first visit. What started as a nerve-racking introduction eventually grew into a relationship of their own—and now, they’re incredibly close.

Their second trip to Capiz felt different from the first. This time, they were back to celebrate Teri’s birthday with her family and spend more time bonding with her cousins. They also joined their friends for the PawPassion outreach project in Bulacan, sharing an experience that brought them together for something beyond their own relationship. Little by little, family gatherings and shared experiences were becoming a natural part of their lives. They also got to share a special moment with Teri’s parents, who returned to Boracay after 20 years. The island already held a special place in their story, so being able to experience it with her parents made the trip even more meaningful. They later made their first trip to Mindoro to visit the Paala family, where they enjoyed the sea breeze and morning walks by the ocean. And somewhere between the family visits and the slow days by the water, they had their first sunset date in Puerto Galera. 🌅

Singapore was supposed to be a birthday trip for Genesis, and the itinerary was packed with places to visit and things to do. With so much planned, Teri didn’t suspect that anything else was being arranged behind the scenes—especially not a proposal. What she didn’t know was that Gillian was already in on the secret, and Ate Geneva had been keeping the ring safe for three whole months. Their siblings helped keep everything under wraps, somehow managing to pull off the surprise without giving anything away. The preparations were an adventure of their own. There were candles, balloons, flowers, and around 30 batteries needed for the setup—with more than 10 somehow making it past NAIA security. 😂 After the busy Singapore trip, everything had to come together quickly, and the entire setup was finished in less than an hour. Then came the question Genesis had been preparing for, and Teri said yes. ❤️💍

From a four-hour conversation at Epic Boracay to a two-hour wait on a street in Manila, their story has had its fair share of unexpected turns. There have been family visits, road trips, wrong flights, big decisions, sunset dates, and a proposal that somehow stayed a secret despite all the planning involved. Some moments were carefully planned, while others happened when life called for someone to show up. And through all of it, they kept finding new ways to become part of each other’s lives. Now, in January 2027, they’re returning to Boracay to celebrate their wedding at Savoy Boracay—the same island where they first met. It feels a little surreal to think that what began with a night out, an unexpected conversation, and a name that wasn’t even real has brought them here. This time, they’ll be surrounded by the family and friends who have been part of their journey, ready to celebrate the next chapter with them. And unlike that first night at Epic, when they went their separate ways without knowing what would happen next, this time they know exactly where they’re headed: into marriage, together. ❤️