It all started when Mark arrived at Eton College in Vancouver in September 2015. Jazmin wasn't supposed to be in the class schedule that he was attending due to her waking up late for her actual start date for her class. Thus, God placed them both in the same class schedule.

Jazmin met Mark through a friend that introduced them during lunch time. They exchanged names and information and found out that they had the same birthday on June 8, 1997. Dumbfounded, she asked for proof from him. So, Mark gave her his drivers license and to Jazmin's surprise, she saw the exact date of her birthday on his ID. Excited that both of them found each other, Mark's heart dropped and was speechless. All the while, Jazmin ecstatically got to know Mark.

They got to know each other a bit more and felt a connection. An even stronger one than the one that their ID's showed. Mark asked her on a first date to Smoke's Poutinerie in downtown Vancouver. While they ate, Mark noticed a little boogie in her nose and gently removed it for her without hesitation, and that's when Jazmin's heart fluttered and felt that maybe this guy would be the one to take care of her for the rest of her life.

Mark and Jazmin went on more dates and Mark eventually made it official and asked her to be his girlfriend on July 2016 while they were having a romantic stroll in the beautiful botanical gardens in Steveston Village in Richmond.

Jazmin introduced Mark to her family and they mistakenly thought that he " Bats for the other team " due to his exemplary fashion sense and caring nature. Later learning that he was a guy that deeply cared for her, they saw that he was a man of God and valued his family's teachings.

When Mark found the appropriate time, he invited her to his home church Family Christian Fellowship and introduced her to a closer relationship with God and later learned that Christianity isn't about religion but a personal relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ. Jazmin fell in deeper when she learned the talents that Mark had and used it for God's glory through music. With Jazmin's extensive experience in singing since childhood, she thought that maybe she would also use her talents for God through Worship.

With their relationship now stronger through the foundation of God, they continued to date and eventually made a big decision to get a dog ( Lilah Rose ) together to test their relationship and responsibility. This brought them even closer to each other and went on numerous adventures hiking mountains, paddle-boarding lakes, and jumping waterfalls.

Through approximately 8 long years of dating, they have had their ups and downs and saw each other through their highs and lows. Even having close calls of discontinuing their pursuit of their relationship. But through time and maturity, they learned that everyone has their own faults and strengths and accepted that the jigsaw puzzle of their personalities and values fit each other perfectly.

Mark planned his proposal with Jazmin's sister Marjorie and decided to pop the question when they got to Osaka, Japan for Mark's family vacation.

The weather was cold and snowy at the time, and Mark was sickly due to the change in weather from Philippines to Japan. It was a nerve-wracking moment for him as he thought that everything was going wrong up until the moment of the day of the proposal. Through God's grace, Mark felt a boost of health and noticed the weather turn sunny and clear when he & Jazmin went to Osaka Castle in Japan in the morning of March 4, 2024. As they slowly toured each 8 levels of the castle, Mark's knees got weaker and weaker the higher they got. He was nervous that there might be too many people on top of the castle and may not get a good chance to propose. As they walked the last steps to the top floor of the castle, they noticed that it was suddenly empty of people. Mark felt that God was paving the way for him and giving him the best opportunity possible for his proposal. They were alone overlooking the clear views of Osaka on top of the castle and Mark gave his speech and got down on 1 knee and popped the question. It felt like time stopped for this moment to happen because immediately after the moment, tourists all of a sudden started crowding and gave congratulations. They called their loved ones to inform them of the great news and celebrated the rest of the beautiful day strolling through cherry blossom gardens, exploring the city with its bright lights and eating great delicious food.