When I thought True Love doesn't Exist...

Nung college pa ako, photography enthusiast na ako. Though I don’t have the money to buy a DSLR (that was the time when digital photography is just starting to become popular), I only have a point and shot film camera.  I love taking pictures of anything.  But I must say, I’m not really good in compositions and stuff. That’s why I always dreamed of one day that someone will teach me how to take high-impacting images.  So I stumbled on a Multiply site, named ZHAM MAKES HISTORY.  I was curious.  Ano kaya tong site na to?  Google just suggested this site for me to take a look.  I was browsing all the way to the oldest post, with several albums of glamour shots, high end fashion photos, and conceptual images.  Sabi ko, sino kaya tong photographer na to?

Yeah, his name is Zham Libunao.  Andami niyang fans and followers sa Multiply niya.  And automatically, nadagdagan iyon ng isa—that’s me.  I mindlessly said to myself na sana maka attend at makaafford akong maka attend ng photography classes niya, if in case na magkaroon siya.  Since then, I became a stalker of his works, lagi kong binabalik balikan ang site niya for his new uploads, and from there I gained more inspiration to shoot, and I became more motivated to have my own DSLR someday.

Come the years before I graduate, and the preparation for my CPA Board exams, I have to cut down my internet surfing time to focus on my studies, so nawala ako sa loop sa site niya.  For a while, I have to set aside my photography dream. 

I went through tough times during my singlehood days.  Lahat ng guys na nalink sa akin, kung hindi ayaw akong ligawan, di daw kami talo.  Or lalaki din pala ang gusto.  In other words, lahat hindi nagprosper, hindi nagiging kami.  I cried over this several times ‘til it came to a point na sumuko na ako. I brought it all to God, sabi ko sa Kanya, “ibigay Niya sa akin yung tamang guy for me in a time na hindi ko ineexpect na ibibigay na pala Niya.”  So then, I focused on my career as a CPA, and became busy sa church.

Last January 2011, I signed up to join our church’s training for a new batch of worship singers.  Aside from photography, singing is also my passion.  Kahit minsan nahihiya akong kumanta sa mga videoke gatherings na pinupuntahan ko.

I was late for our first training session.  Overtime kasi sa work. Huli akong dumating and the session already started.  The attendance sheet was given to me. When I was about to write my name, one of the names on the list caught me by surprise. Parang naexcite ako bigla.  I saw his name—ZHAM LIBUNAO—and I was surprised kasi magkabatch pala kami sa training! Fan mode on.  I looked around and saw him (well I assumed na siya yon kasi di ko pa sya nakita before in person).  But I was right, siya nga iyon, and right there and then, naging friends na kami. At ease ako sa kanya kasi marami kaming napagkakasunduan.  He was like an older brother to me—hence calling him KUYA ZHAM.  Nagkataon na magkakaroon siya ng photography class sa summer.  So I signed up right away and even bought a new lens for my DSLR just for that class!

The photography class was soooo fun! Sobrang ang saya ko kasi at last magagawa ko nang tama yung passion ko, and may nagmementor na sa akin.  Never did I know na Zham has a crush on me then. As in di ko inexpect.  I was so at ease with him kasi gusto ko talagang matuto sa kanya.  Kaya pala tuwing may shoots siya ako lagi ang sinasama niya, yun pala para makilala niya pa ako.  That time nadedevelop na yung feelings niya for me—lagi na niya akong minemessage to check me out. Palagi din kaming magkasama sa mga event coverages sa church (we were both a part of the photo club of our church). Shooting pictures with him was so enjoyable.

July 2011, I flew to Canada for a mission trip. Almost a month.  Though we’re oceans apart, palagi kaming nagkakausap sa Facebook and BBM.  Up to this time, di ko pa alam yung feelings niya for me.  Pagbalik ko from the trip, mas lalo siyang naging close sa akin.  But I just assumed na he’s just being friendly. Ayoko na din kasi ulitin ang pagkakamali ko noon—ang umasa.  Pagod na din kasi akong masaktan.

August 12, 2011 is a significant day sa aming dalawa. Why?  Because that night, naholdup ako sa FX na sinakyan ko pauwi.  A guy took my valuables, tinutukan ako ng baril sa mukha ko mismo. I was so scared that I just had a blank reaction after that incident.  Na-trauma talaga ako. Pero thankful ako kay Lord kasi He spared me.  That same night, muntik nang maaksidente si Zham.  Yung cab na sinasakyan niya muntik nang mabangga ng van.  But God also spared him.  Maybe because hindi pa niya nasasabi yung feelings niya for me. Maybe because God has something better for us to discover it ourselves.

After that incident, mas naging close si Zham sa akin. I was now wondering why. But still I don’t want to expect.  Until one night, he finally told me his feelings for me.  I was shocked. I was confused.  He’s too good to be true, he’s too good to be the one for me.  For weeks, I prayed to God to guide me, na huwag kong pairalin ang emotions ko, to give me the discernment to know if he’s sincere or not.  He has been in bad relationships in the past—another thing that we had in common.  Tsaka ko narealize, na unknowingly, I also fell for him already.  I enjoyed so much of our friendship that I almost forgot that it will be more wonderful if we will take our relationship to the next level.

He courted me, my family and my close friends =).. naging kami last 11/7/11.  After that, we eventually started to hold photoshoots for a cause named Project Miracle, and went again to the photography business—fashion, glamour, ad, events, and now, wedding photography coverages.

The Lord gave Zham to me in a moment when I least expect it.  He gave him to me in an instance when I was about to believe that true love doesn't exist; when I was about to say to God, "ayoko na pong magmahal ulit kasi po pagod na pagod na ako." He’s my best friend, my mentor, and now, my soon to be husband.  Up to now, hindi pa din ako makapaniwala. Ibang klase talaga pag inallow mong si Lord ang sumulat ng love story niyo—mas nakakakilig at nakakainspire pa sa pinaka cheesy na movie na maiisip niyo.  All we have to do is to enjoy the things that we have at the moment, excel in what you do, be a good person to everyone, and most of all, LOVE GOD above everything and everyone else.  I know that there will be more tougher trials to face, and harder times to endure with Zham, but I also know that since God is the center of this relationship, the author of our love for each other, we shall break through all these.

True love is really worth the wait.  Just be patient, and it will come. J