They say that destiny is not a matter of chance but really a matter of choice. This 24-year-old man is a living proof to that!
After 16 years, Liam Paelmo was able to reconnect with his childhood friend, Argie Gregorio, thanks to social media.
“Kasi meron kaming isang mutual friend, which is dun ko siya nakita kasi ‘yun nagpost siya ng picture nila so parang ako nacurious na kung siya na ba ‘to kasi antagal naming walang communication talaga so ang nangyari, inadd ko siya sa Facebook pero parang gusto ko lang as friends kasi antagal nga naming hindi nagkakilala,” Argie told The Philippine STAR.
But Liam did not immediately recognize Argie.
“Honestly nung una sabi ko, ‘Sino ba ‘to?’ then parang may nag-add sakin pero nagulat na lang ako may mga mutual friend,” he said.
Liam then asked his family who might Argie be. “’Pamilyar ba ‘to senyo? Sino yan?’ ‘Ah, yan ‘yung nung bata ka, ‘yung kapartner.’ then sabi ko sige accept ko then nag-isip pa ako na ‘Liligawan ko kaya ‘to? Parang trip ko siya eh.’”
Liam admitted that at first, he was hesitant to message Argie.
“Tapos nung bandang July, ‘yun ‘yung bigla na siyang nagmessage sakin na nagulat ako tas nangangamusta lang naman siya ganon tas hanggang sa araw-araw na kami laging magkausap,” Argie recalled.
“Kasi nung bata crush ko pa siya eh, eh sabi ko parang nostalgic feeling na crush ko siya ulit,” Liam added.
Liam and Argie first met on Liam’s 7th birthday in 2006. However, they lost touch after Liam left their hometown and stayed abroad.
“Sinasabi naman niya na nung bata palang kami, parang crush na niya ako. Sinasabi nga niya sakin na gusto niya akong hanapin after nung cotillion, kaso nahihiya na daw siya ako hanapin then after that, hindi ko na siya nakikita even nung kumakain ulit kami sa resto nila, hindi ko talaga siya nakikita, hindi ko siya naaabutan,” she said.
After a couple of months of courtship, Liam and Argie became an official couple!
“Ang galing ni Lord kasi antagal talaga naming hindi nagkita for almost 16 years, 16 years kaming hindi nagkita tas nagpunta pa siya ng ibang bansa tapos ako naman nandito sa Philippines tas after 16 years, ‘yung parang nagmeet ulit kami, hindi talaga namin inakala,” Argie shared.
“Ang bata pa namin nung nagmeet tas hindi ko akalain na dun din pala ako mapupunta parang ang dami na pinagdaanan tapos kami din pala. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na magiging boyfriend ko pala ngayon is kakilala ko na dati kasi parang wala sa isip ko ‘yun eh, parang kung dumating man, okay, kung wala, edi okay lang din pero hindi ko talaga inakala na ‘yung magiging boyfriend ko pala is kakilala ko na dati as in parang magical na ang galing ni Lord na pwede din pala talaga ‘yun,” she added.
With her fairytale-like experience, Argie gave advice to single women out there who are waiting for “the one.”
“‘Yung mapapayo ko nalang talaga is wag nalang magmadali kasi dadating din ‘yung time na ibibigay din talaga sayo ni Lord kasi kapag time mo na, time mo na, may ibibigay siya sayo kasi natutunan ko kasi once na nagmamadali ka, once na pinipilit mo, mas lalo kang masasaktan,” she noted.
For his part, Liam said that never lose a second chance in love.
“Kung nafefeel mo na ‘yung taong the one, ‘wag na maghesitate, ‘wag na matakot kasi kung natakot ka pa, may alinlangan ka pa pero kung wala kang takot ibig sabihin sure ka sa taong ‘yun,” he said.
