We’ve Gone Sapphire
Roli and I have been married for 45 years. Before that, we courted for nine. Simple arithmetic tells you that we’ve been together for 54 years—which, in this day and age, feels like a lifetime and a half. Is it even possible to stay together that long? Apparently so, as our own story proves.
So, what’s our secret?
First, there had to be an initial spark. He had a wonderful singing voice; I could string a decent sentence together in English. He looked dashing in his cadet uniform; I had a curvy bottom. Physical attraction is what makes you give someone that crucial second look. And that second look inevitably leads to daydreaming—before you know it, you're scaling hurdles you wouldn't bother crossing for just anyone. In our case, those hurdles took the form of long, grueling daily bus rides from UST in España all the way to UP Diliman, just to eat lunch together.
Next, every romance needs an enabler—what we in the Philippines call a tulay, or bridge. For us, that bridge was his niece, who also happened to be my best friend. She orchestrated "accidental" run-ins in the unlikeliest of places: a distant relative’s wake, a local town plaza senakulo performance, and a bloody street penitensya under the blazing noon sun.
Then came the clearing of the decks. I broke things off with my new high school boyfriend, and he ended a years-long relationship with a family tenant after I posed a decidedly unsubtle question: “Is it true that a Bosconian’s kiss can make you fly?”
The theory was promptly demonstrated—and proven entirely true.
Ah, young love! It served as our foundation, which was fortunate, because the years that followed brought their share of highs and lows. Tempers flared, tantrums were thrown, and foolish breakups ensued. We had four major splits where we temporarily soothed our bruised pride in other relationships. Yet, love always won out in the forgiving, sweet reconciliations that followed.
The Stylistics couldn't have sung it better: “Break up to make up, that’s all we do. First you love me, then you hate me, it’s a game for fools.”
For 54 years now, we’ve been happily playing that fools' game. If nothing else, you have to admit: that’s endurance!
