March 27 2004 I got on an airplane to go see Luz for the very first time. I was SO nervous! I already knew that she was someone very special. We had an instant connection. It was like I already had known her for years! The flight lasted 28 hours. I landed in Manila on March 28 2004 at about 11 PM local time. After an hour of going through customs and immigration I finally found myself outside the airport. I had to walk across the street and through a tunnel. When I immerged I saw what could only be described as a sea of people!! There were hundreds of people there waiting for others to arrive! I wandered across the street and waded into the massive throng. I was jet lagged, and very tired because I hadn't slept in more than 36 hours at that point. Here I was, dragging my bag, looking through all these people for my Luz. She was no where to be found!! A porter stopped me and asked if he could help me. I said "I am looking for my girlfriend!" He just smiled and pointed his finger down. I looked down and there she was! Looking up at me with that beautiful sweet smile of hers she said "Here I am baby!" Oh my God! I think I died right there! I was instantly in love right on the spot. How can I describe it? It was like an electric shock went through my body as I stood there looking at her. I never believed in love at first sight before but I am here to tell you it is REAL!!! I knew right there that I had just met the woman of my dreams! I took her in my arms and gave her a big hug. "I am so glad to be here!" I said. She took my hand and we started walking to the taxi. She kept asking me, "Are you disappointed?" I was so thrilled with what I had found all I could do was say, "Oh no baby! I am so happy!" We spent the first night in Manila at the Lotus Garden Hotel. That night I got on my knee and asked her to marry me!! SHE SAID YES!! I have never known a love like that. I fell for her instantly and I knew right there that she was the only woman for me!!

The next day we went to her home town of Novaliches. We stayed at the SOGO hotel in Novaliches. I spent a week with Luz on that first trip. She took me around the town and showed me the sights. On the second day I got to meet her family. I took an instant liking to her son Robin. I also met her mother, sister, aunt, brother and two nieces and a nephew. Luz told me that one of the conditions for her accepting my marriage proposal was that I had to ask her mother for permission. Needles to say I was very nervous.  I got down on my knee and made a total fool of myself!! I called her by the wrong name, and every word that came out of my mouth was twisted!! I was so embarrassed! Everyone laughed but it seems that I was a hit! The whole family took me in and made me feel at home!

On the second to the last day there we went to the beach as a family. We packed up everyone into a rented jeepnee and took a 3 hour ride to Subic Bay. There we had a seafood feast that just couldn't be beat! It was all so good! It had to be one of the best times I had in my life!

All to soon my week was up. It was so hard to leave the woman that I had searched my whole life for. I told her, "I shall return!"

When I got home I decided that I wanted to show Luz just how serious I was about her. My first payday after I got back home I gave her a little engagement present.

Needless to say she loved it!! That is how I met the woman I will spend the rest of my life with!!