It was Valentine's day. Dolly and Arbhen first encountered each other on a dating app at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Special thanks to Anna and Venus for pushing Dolly to explore dating apps!)

Dolly wasn't so happy on her birthday (yeah, pandemic sucks), but Arbhen made sure to put a smile on her face. He surprised her with a cake (designed with her watercolor painting) and a bucket of choco butternut munchkins.

After many months of talking and getting to know each other, Dolly and Arbhen decided to meet at Intramuros, taking advantage of moderate quarantine and eased safety protocols (imagine going on a date wearing the legendary face shield)!

First Christmas date, first exchange gift! Dolly received a huge bag filled with gifts for her and for her mama & papa (talk about effort!).

Arbhen and Dolly went to Tagaytay to celebrate her birthday. It's the time Arbhen formally asked Dolly permission to court her.

Dolly finally met Arbhen's family. Since then, Mommy Violy (Arbhen's grandma) always made sure Dolly goes home with tubs of kare kare, biko, menudo, and other goodies every time she visits Arbhen's home.

Dolly sent a calendar invite to Arbhen on September 14 as their first monthsary. Arbhen finally crossed the friendzone phase and became Dolly's first boyfriend.

Time flew so fast, they'd celebrated their first anniversary as a couple!

It was Arbhen's 28th birthday that day and he celebrated it with Dolly, Nhize (his sister), and his Papa Arnel in Taiwan. Inside the cable car traveling 275 meters above sea level, with the right timing, Arbhen nervously pulled out a ring and popped the question... And now they're here, ready to get married!