This Pinay based in Australia is one proud wifey to her Korean husband as she shows a glimpse of her life meeting her kind-hearted in-laws.
29-year-old Phia Matsuo met her husband, Kyongsoo “Ryan” Shin, in a dating app in 2018 while on vacation in Melbourne, Australia.
“Na-bored ako, nagbukas ako ng dating app, doon ko siya nakilala. Nung nagkausap at nagkakilala kami, hindi ko siya mineet. After noon, pabalik na ako ng pilipinas, continuous pa rin siya nag-cha-chat, inentertain ko na siya,” Phia told The Philippine STAR.
For quite some time, they were communicating online but it was just in 2019 when they first met in person.
“Nag-punta ako ng Korea, nag-meet kami doon, doon na nagstart ‘yung relationship namin,” Phia said.
Their relationship became official on April 24, 2019. After few months, Ryan traveled to the Philippines to visit Phia.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple was on long distance relationship for almost two years.
“Hanggang sa ‘yun nga, nag-decide na kami magpakasal kasi nga ang tagal naming magkahiwalay, so ang hirap na hindi kami magkasama. Noong pangalawang balik ko ng Korea, doon na ako nag-stay sa kanila. Pero hindi pa ganoon ka-close kasi nga bago pa lang kami,” she said.
They tied the knot in a civil wedding last May 16, 2022. Phia and Ryan decided to go back to Korea to further meet his family.
“After three months, pumunta na ulit kami ng Korea kasi hindi pa ako nakikilala ng buong family niya gusto nila akong makilala. Nagulat ako kasi sinurprise ako ng mga in-laws ko, may flowers, may banners, hindi ko inexpect na may plano silang ganun,” Phia revealed.
“Pagdating sa bahay, akala ko ‘yun na ‘yun, pagdating sa bahay maysurprise-surprise, design-design sa bahay kaya sobrang na-touch ako na sobrang bait nila. Kaya sobrang thankful nila kay Ryan, dahil mabait din ‘yung mga magulang niya. Kung paano ako itreat kasi syempre, only child lang din ako,” she added.
Phia admitted that even her parents had reservations on her visit to Korea.
“’Yung mother at father ko, medyo natatakot. Pero nung nakwento ko lahat, parang sobrang nabunutan sila ng tinik, alam nilang safe ako at alam nilang inaalagaan ako,” she noted.
Phia was Ryan’s first Filipino girlfriend. He said that his parents were also shocked by their fast-paced relationship.
“They were a bit shocked at first because it was pandemic. When they opened the border, I suddenly decided to move to the Philippines so I could meet her and marry her. During the pandemic, I was in a hard situation. It was so hard to find a job in Korea. She still stayed [by] my side, and she always cheers me up, maybe that’s the [reason] why I wanna marry this girl,” Ryan recalled.
Ryan added that he is very thankful for his parents’ hospitality to his wife.
“In Korean culture, they want a Korean son in law or daughter in law but my parents’ generation, they are better and open-minded. They are fine with their son getting married with a foreigner,” he said.
According to Phia, marrying Ryan was one of her best decisions in life.
“Hindi naman ako fan ng Kpop, pero nanonood ng Kdramas. Hindi ko din naman inexpect na magiging Korean ‘yung husband ko ‘yung mga friends ko lahat takang-taka sila. ‘Yung mga Koreans, very caring sila sa mga wife talaga nila tapos sobrang sweet, kahit saan PDA, talagang pinapakita nila ‘yung love nila kahit saan mang lugar. Siguro ‘yun ‘yung mga similarities na nakita ko ka sa mga Kdramas,” Phia shared.
“Kahit hindi siguro oppa, ipagdasal n’yo na magkaroon kayo ng partner na mamahalin kayo ng sobra,” Phia stressed when asked about her message to the public.
