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A personal note!

Expats, Relationships, Returning Filipino / by

I’m writing and sharing about our personal life story of Bob and myself. It’s almost time for our 24th year wedding anniversary. I was just pondering what to write this week, and it hits me while getting something in Bob’s wallet. He wants me to check on something for him and I had to get his id (driver’s license). Something fell out of his wallet, it was behind his driver’s license. When I picked it up, I remembered that Bob had his reminder of our first meeting.

“It’s his boarding pass from his flight from Manila to Cebu” to meet me for the first time.

Bob's Boarding Pass from Manila to Cebu - July 26, 1990
Bob’s Boarding Pass from Manila to Cebu – July 26, 1990

Wow, as I was staring at the boarding pass, its just so worn out. It showed the time that it stayed in Bob’s wallet. It was there for 24 years already. No matter how many times Bob changed wallets over the course of our marriage that boarding pass remained in his wallet. Looking at it as if it’s just nothing but for Bob it’s really important to him. For me; It really showed how he loved and valued me. For the kids; They think it’s a sweet gesture of their dad to their mom. It will be in that wallet forever, I’m pretty sure of that.

I gave Bob a Tagalog-English dictionary upon meeting him for the first time. I was thinking at that time that he should learn the Tagalog instead of Bisaya since Tagalog is taught in school and spoken in the main island. He still has that dictionary and he lets the kids use it for school. They had to promise that they will take care of it. Really, Bob rarely opened that dictionary since my parents never spoken to him in Tagalog. At that time it’s hard to find a Bisaya- English dictionary or Bisaya-Tagalog-English dictionary unlike now that they’re all over bookstore and the internet. So thankful now that he did learn our local dialect. So proud of him for that.

I was graduating in college when I met him. Bob gave me a Sony Walkman when we first met. One of our regular phone conversation I was talking to him about my project with my classmates, it’s sound systems with bunch of LED’s and with walkman. It was really hectic schedule for me being graduating and with my on job training and the touring of the radio stations. My teachers were just happy that I made it through being the only girl in class out of 200 students.

I took 2 weeks off from school when Bob came. I talked to all my teachers that I would be in GenSan for the entire time. I took exams later when I get back from Gensan. My classmates didn’t know that I am marrying Bob. They just thought I went home to be with my parents. But my teachers they knew though. Luckily they didn’t make a big fuss about it. LOL.

To you my Wonderful Husband : Honey, Wow 24th year of marriage. I’m so grateful for your love for me and our kids. So happy for the time we’ve shared. Thank you too for being so kind to my parents before they passed, you really showed you loved them. Thank you for the wonderful years. We’ve been through a lot but we managed to be strong and talked it through. I love you so much. I thank God for you!!!

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Comments

  1. Feyma,

    That was a beautiful testimonial. With Bob holding onto that boarding pass shows how romantic and passionate he is about you and kids which would come later. Most people can only dream of having that kind of love. I know I’m one of them.

    I wish to also let your readers know that I met you and Bob through his websites. We’d become friends and then you and Bob helped me get settled here in Davao. Something I’ll never forget. I can also say that when I’m out and about with Bob his love for you and family is very clear. He speaks of you and his children with such respect and pride.

    I told Bob my friends are determined by loyalty. His love and loyalty for you and his children is beyond this world. You BOTH are lucky!!

    Happy Anniversary!!

    Your Friend – Bill

    • Hi Bill – Thank you so much Bill for the nice message. I’m sure you will find the perfect partner for you later. Just keep looking, we’ll help out. 🙂 … LOL

      Thank you too for the friendship. It’s really nice to see you at your house or at our house. Good company.

      Have a great day!

  4. Hi Feyma – Holding the boarding pass for 24 years is really extreme love or extreme hording. He he. Well done for 24 years!!!

    • Hi Brenton – I definitely say “it is love”. 🙂 .. Hoarding? Nah, Bob is far from being a hoarders. He always said here at the house “if stuff not in use for months it’s either give it away or throw it in the garbage”.

      Thank you for the nice thoughts!

      Have a good one!

  6. Wow ! Twenty-four years. Congratulations to both of you. Wish you many more years of happiness.

  7. Bless you and Bob, and the rest of your family. Tell Bob he should just forget about the lost luggage and tun the ticket in for the forty dollars the airlines allocates. That is a very touching gesture, may you be writing about your 50th in a few years (better may I be reading it)

    • Hi Gerald – Thank you so much… Ha ha ha… They can keep the luggage and I will keep the boarding pass. LOL.

      Nice to see you here. Have a great day!

  8. What a wonderful love story! Congratulations to both of you, Bob and Feyma, for a happy 24th, and wish you many more anniversaries to come. I have to read this sweet story over again in my laptop when I get back inside the house to enjoy it fully. It sounds like a winner! Again, all my best wishes to you both for an enduring love affair for eternity.

  12. Tears in my eyes as I read this Feyma. I so wish I could have the happiness that you and Bob have. All the best for many more happy years together.

    • Hi Murray – If it’s any consolation to you, there is a Filipino saying that for every pot there is a lid. I have been following your occasional posts on here, and it’s hard not to notice the anguish you have been going through over losing your girlfriend and her son because of her relatives. As hard as it must be for you to do, you have to forget the past and move on, because somewhere out there, a fine Pinay must be waiting for you.

      • Murray,
        I second what John said. I know its hard to get over someone you love, but you being a good guy, you would be a fine catch for any filipina.

    • Hi Murray – Thank you that you’re happy for Bob & I. But I’m also sad for your loss. But like John said you will find a great partner later. Just keep on looking and god will give you the right one for you.

      Again thank you for the nice thoughts. Take care and God bless!

  13. Feyma and Bob Happy Anniversary!

    And thank you for sharing that. Really touched me.

  16. Mrs Feyma,
    Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us your heartwarming love story. It just seems that the both of you were always made for each other. We are just so happy for you two. My parents just recently celebrated there 58th Anniversary and we will be looking forward to you guys celebrating that and beyond. Congratulations Bob and Mrs Feyma!

    • Thank you so much PapaDuck. I really appreciate your nice thoughts. Hopefully we will get to be like your parents. 58th year, wow, that would be something to look forward to.

      Thank you again, always good to see you here. Take care and have a wonderful day!

  19. Hi Feyma and Bob – Happy anniversary to both of you. You have set a fine example for your children of how a couple should love and help each other in their married life. Best wishes to both of you and may you have many more happy anniversaries together.

  21. Congratulations Feyma and Bob. The joy and happiness you share together and with your family often come through in many of the things you post on the internet.

  22. Hi Feyma,

    I met my Juliet for the first time in person at the Cebu airport as well. I think it is great the way Bob saved the boarding pass. Congratulations to you and Bob on your upcoming 24th anniversary!

    • Hi Jay – Thank you so much. Cebu airport changed a lot since Bob and I met for the first time. Have you been married a long time too?

      Again thank you for the greetings!

      • We will have been married for 12 years on December 7. My question for you is do you still have the Sony Walkman that Bob gave you?

        It sounds like we had a similar meeting at a different time. I was a little worried at first because I did not see Juliet for awhile after I got off the plane. I looked around to find her. She later told me that when she first saw me in person she was frightened because I am 6 feet tall and at that time I weighed 265 lbs. She said she hid at first. To be honest it was awkward to meet the way we did, but I am sure glad we did.

        We flew into Cebu in June 2014 and it really does seem to have grown a lot! Good job on the article!

  23. I would just like to say thank you to all of those who have passed along their congratulations and well wishes to us on our (upcoming) anniversary! It is truly appreciated.

    Also, and mostly, I want to thank my wonderful wife for her nice article. Yes, I saved that boarding pass from the plane ride that took me to Feyma for the first time. It was a momentous event in my life. It was, frankly, the root of everything that is wonderful in my life.

    Thanks again to everybody.

  24. Feyma that was the sweetest tribute to your special marriage and the love you have for Bob and your family. I only know you and Bob from reading and communicating on here and Facebook — but even in that I can sense the love and devotion between you two. It is great how many small things in ones life can add up to major success. This is the case with you both in saving and remembering the small things that touched your hearts before, and continue to have great meaning in your relationship. Happy 24th anniversary in advance – and may God continue to bless your family.

    • Hi Stephen – I really like what you wrote. It means so much to us. I really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you so much for the lovely greetings.

      Thank you for stopping by here on LIP. Have a wonderful day!

  28. Feyma Bob is truely in love with you that I am sure. Congratulations for 24 years of marriage, and for another 24 years to come.

  30. Hi Feyma,

    Congratulations on your 24th year marriage anniversary with Bob, that is awesome! Bob, congratulations to you as well! Keep up the good work!!! 🙂

    Thank you!
    From, Aklan Heat.