For sure, many couples out there were able to relate with the love story of Vagelyn Tumbaga-Pacio and Janwell Pacio that was featured in the latest and inaugural episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya this 2021 last Saturday, January 2.
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Titled “Singsing”, the episode gave us a glimpse on how their admirable and relatable romance started – from being mortal enemies during their elementary and highschool days to becoming sweethearts for several years now after the universe seemingly conspired to make their paths intertwine again after more than two decades.
In their “kumustahan” with MMK host Charo Santos-Concio, Vagelyn related the changes happened in her life when her inspiring life story as an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai got featured on the long-running drama anthology in 2016. According to her, she became an instant celebrity after that as she got invited to become a resource speaker in various graduation ceremonies and events, got recognized by people and took pictures with her, and got awarded with several accolades for the inspiration she had brought for her fellow OFWs and non-Filipinos alike.
As the host went on to quiz them regarding their love story, Vagelyn and Janwell enthusiastically recalled how the sparks between them flew right on the very first time they talked to each other via chat. Their conversation – which began when she congratulated him for winning as city councilor of San Fernando, La Union – ran smoothly for hours.
Upon finding out that both of them were already separated from their previous partners and were single that time, he had mustered the courage to ask her if she could consider him as her beau, to which she assumed was only a joke. Their communication became constant since then and their feelings for each other slowly got developed in the long run, with Janwell even flying to Dubai after three weeks just to visit her and her family.
As they eventually got into a long-distance relationship, he bridged the gap by going to Dubai almost every month or every two weeks just to see her and celebrate special occasions with her. It wasn’t only her who he pursued, but her whole family as well, which truly worked as they even got married in the end.
When it comes to getting the approval of their children, Vagelyn revealed that it was actually tough for both of them as her three kids and his five broods were initially against their blossoming affair.
“At first po talagang mahirap po. Hindi po talaga nila natanggap, to the extent po na blinock po ako ng mga anak ko sa Facebook kasi ayaw na nilang nakikita sa Facebook ‘yong mga pino-post namin. At first, mahirap tanggapin ng mga anak ko, per he did everything naman to win their hearts. Pumunta siya sa Dubai, kinausap niya ‘yong mga anak ko, pinakita niya that he is really serious, na clean ang intentions niya sa akin. So inilabas niya ‘yong mga anak ko, pinalapit niya talaga ‘yong loob ng mga anak ko sa kanya. And gano’n din po sa akin, pumupunta rin po ako rito sa Pilipinas, dito rin po ako sa bahay nila nakatira para mapalapit din po ‘yong loob ko sa mga anak niya. Ginawan ko rin po ng paraan,” she said.
She’s also planning to settle down with him in the future when the construction of their hotel and resort at their hometown is already done.
When asked regarding he biggest love lesson they’ve learned and would want to convey to the viewers, Janwell uttered, “Sa mga kagaya kong nabigo noong una, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa kasi darating din ang tamang tao para sa inyo. Mas masaya ang hinaharap po,”
Vagelyn, on the other hand, gave a lengthy and hearty advice about opening our hearts and giving love a second chance.
“We should always open our heart and always pray to God na siya ang magbigay ng para sa atin kasi He will orchestrate everything. If we pray for it, He will give you the best. Kapag nand’yan na ‘yong taong mahal natin na bigay ng Panginoon, we should learn to love unconditionally. We should learn to forgive and forget the past. Diyan nagsisimula ‘yong fostering the relationship. Kapag may trust at kapag may honesty, kapag may tiwala kayo sa isa’t isa kahit malayo kayo. Walang distance ang makapaghihiwalay sa inyo. I think, that’s the lesson that we’ve learned, that there’s power in second chances kasi we learned a lot in our previous experiences, in our first relationships, in our failed relationships in the past. We learned already, so there’s always a power in second chances. We should open our hearts. We should give a second chance to love,” she stated.
For your weekly dose of delighting and inspiring stories, don’t miss an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, every Saturday on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z!