Thousands of students have entered and left UA&P with their academic goals fulfilled. Some, however, left not only with the bright prospect of a successful career but also with the beautiful promise of a future family. They met their spouses-to-be in UA&P, and, when the right time came, they decided to commit themselves to that one person for life.
See how true love waits and how beautiful openness to life is from the stories of these alumni married couples.
DINO AND DEBBIE OBIAS
Edgardo Obias – AB Humanities with Specialization in Business Administration, 1995
Debora Alcañeses-Obias – AB Humanities with Specialization in Business Administration and Political Economy, 1995
Years Married: 20
We started out as friends, part of the college barkada who got together because we were carpool mates, most of whom lived in White Plains. We treated each other like brothers and sisters in the group, so having a romantic relationship was unthinkable. We knew each other’s love interests, heartbreaks, and boyfriends/girlfriends. Our group would always have study sessions in my house, so we got close. We went home together, studied together, and went out and had fun together.
In 1994, people in the group graduated except me—due to my double degree—and Dino, who still needed to finish a few subjects because he was a transferee.
We became really close because of this. After we graduated, we even joined the same company. Still carpool mates, our friendship blossomed and we became more than friends. In 1997, we got married. We now have two children, both boys: Gino, 19 years old, and Diego, 16 years old. My eldest is currently a third-year student in UA&P, taking up Industrial Economics. My youngest, who is in De La Salle Zobel, is considering going to UA&P soon – Debbie Obias
RONI AND RICHELLE BALBIERAN
Ronilo Balbieran – MS in Industrial Economics, 2003
Richelle Hernandez-Balbieran – MS in Industrial Economics, 2003
Years Married: 8
I first met Roni in one of our projects when we were both in 2nd year (we were not classmates then). It was just a simple hi and hello. After a year, we met again because we chose the same course. We were both unattached then, though someone was courting me, and I think he was also courting someone. Our block mates started to pair us, but we ignored them.
In one of our projects for the Civilization (CIV) class, which was to create a play, Roni was the director and scriptwriter, and he chose me as one of the actors. We grew close because of the regular script readings, rehearsals, and group dinners; then he asked me to have private one-on-one sessions with him ostensibly to sharpen my acting skills, since I did not have any acting background. Furthermore, numerous IEP (Industrial Economics Program) activities brought us closer to each other.
One day, he gave me a dozen white roses. When I asked him why, he said he just felt like doing it. It happened several times. Then came Valentine’s Day. During our 10-minute break in CIV, a group of 4-5 students entered the classroom and announced that they came to serenade a girl in our class. They sang three love songs in acapella. After the song, the guy said, “Maraming salamat sa pakikinig. Sana ay nagustuhan ninyo ang aming Human Telegram para sa espesyal ninyong kaklase mula sa kanyang humahangang kaklase. At itong mga kantang ito ay inihandog para kay Ms. Richelle Hernandez. Galing ito kay Mr. Ronilo Balbieran.” Roni, who was seated right in front of me handed me a bunch of red roses. One night after that, he asked me if he could court me. After nine years of courtship, he proposed; those nine years of my life were beautiful.
We got married in May 2009. After a year, I gave birth to a beautiful girl named Roesia (Old French word for Rose). Ridger (Old English, which is a version of Richard, meaning the Lion Hearted) came in 2011. Then we had another baby girl in 2012, Raya (Old Spanish name for Rays of the Sun). This year, we are expecting* another baby girl; we will name her Rella (Italian word for Flower). – Richelle Balbieran
*Richelle gave birth to Rella on August 22.
EDMOND AND LEIGH TOBIAS
Edmond Francis Tobias – AB Humanities with Specialization in Business Administration, 1998
Elizabeth Ann Duñgo-Tobias – AB Humanities with Specialization in Business Administration, 1998
Years Married: 13 years
Edmond and I first met in second year college at UA&P in 1995. Back then, I had shifted courses from Information Technology (IT) to Business Administration (BA). I would say it was providential, as I would not have met him if I stuck it out in IT. We were classmates in most of our subjects, and I noticed that each time I would go to Mass or go to the oratory, he would always be either behind me or a few pews away from me.
He then started to ask me out during our “free cut” periods. He would either ask me out for snacks at the caf or, if the school calls off classes because of severe weather, he would ask if I would like to go to a mall. Then he started calling me on the phone (there were hardly mobile phones back then), writing notes/letters, sending me flowers, visiting me at home, and inviting me to UAAP games, movies, and other fun activities. He would also come during my volleyball games and taekwondo sessions and bring me Gatorade (and flowers at times). I would also watch his basketball games and cheer for him.
We dated for seven years before we finally tied the knot on November 28, 2003. We have been happily married for almost 14 years, and we have six very energetic children: Rafa, Cisco, Chesca, Joaquin, Cayo, and Seb, with ages ranging from 2 to 12 years old. I can say that we have been very blessed over the past several years, and we are truly grateful to God (and UA&P, of course) for making us meet, get together, get married, and have kids. – Leigh Tobias
RB AND LORI ZALAMEA
Raymund Benedict Zalamea – BS in Entrepreneurial Management, 2001
Laurelle Infante-Zalamea – MS in Management, 2002
Years Married: 5
RB and Lori first met in a P.E. class in college. RB liked Lori, but he had a girlfriend at that time, while Lori had a number of suitors. They parted ways to pursue their careers. RB pursued his MBA in Boston then lived in New York. After 10 years, he moved back to Manila.
While Ondoy came as bad luck for most of us, it was a lucky event for RB. The ad congress, which was supposed to be held in Baguio, had to be moved to Subic. RB decided, together with his friends, to attend one of the sponsored parties in Subic. There he spotted a winsome and pretty girl, who turned out to be Lori. RB approached her right away and started his small talk. He did not let a minute pass before asking, “Are you still single?” That was where it all started.
RB’s first text message to Lori was “Hey, Lori! What are you doing this weekend? Let’s catch up if you’re free.” The official dating began in 2010.
RB proposed to Lori in Beijing. They celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary on July 28. They now have two kids, a boy and a girl.
CHAD AND ABB MANLAPAZ
Chad Manlapaz – AB Humanities with Specialization in Entrepreneurial Management, 1999
Abigail Anne Sta. Cruz-Manlapaz – AB Humanities with Professional Certificate in Management, 2000
Years Married: 14 Years
It was in the summer of 1994 when we first met. After that, we had a series of encounters because we were connected in many ways, for one, through my grade 7 teacher who happens to be his relative. I was 15, and he was 16. Fast forward to Chad’s pre-college course in CRC and my last year in high school: we parted ways. I thought, “Wow. After I decided to go to UA&P for college, we broke up. That was such a disaster.”
We lived separate college lives but remained good friends, secretly keeping watch of each other and also secretly getting jealous sometimes of the other’s partner (even if Chad will deny this). We would often be asked if we were related because we looked alike. In my freshman year, one of Chad’s classmates asked him if he had a sister in the lower batch, and he immediately knew that his friend was referring to me. Even if we had separate college lives, we would talk on the phone once in a while to catch up or confide in each other about concerns that we would not tell anyone else. Somehow, our lives were just really intertwined. One proof is Father Perez. He was my spiritual director all throughout my college days, and he was Chad’s too. However, we did not know this until we got back together in 2002, six years after parting ways.
At 25, we were both at the point in our lives where we just needed to pause and take a step back. One said a prayer and surrendered everything to God, and the other said that something did not seem right in his life. So we got together one afternoon and things were said. It seemed that nothing has changed. We still cared so deeply for each other. This time, we were better people and we were of age. A year after, December 2003, we got married. Fast forward to 2017: After 14 years of marriage and 23 years of loving each other, we are still the best of friends. We have four children: Anya (12), Enzo (7), Natalia (5) and Danella (19 months). We are happy and thankful, and though we were not together during our UA&P days, the school helped shape us and instill values in us to become better people and prepared us to be each other’s “forever.” – Abb Manlapaz
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