A Divine Romance: Sixteen Years in the Making

Featuring Aemmanuelle Magno and Roxanne Siccion

Our love story is the kind you might find in a telenovela. Sixteen years in the making, it has unfolded into something truly extraordinary. Like a tree that takes its time to blossom, our relationship was a late bloomer. Roxanne and I started out as high school acquaintances, but it took us eight years to become a couple.

When I was a new student in third-year high school, I thought I stood no chance with Roxanne, the “crush ng bayan” and the most famous girl at school. Known for being conservative, she didn’t share her number with boys or entertain suitors. Seeing others fail to win her over, I knew I had to be different. I took my time getting to know her, befriending her on Friendster and Yahoo Messenger. Eventually, she gave me her number. Patience was a virtue I had to embody because getting her number was just the beginning.

Our conversations were initially bittersweet. It was clear that she wasn’t as into me as I was into her. My long messages were met with one-liner replies. I was lost, receiving mixed signals. I remember praying to God, asking for a chance. I thought, “What has Roxanne got to lose? I’m God-fearing, a family-oriented man, a goal-directed person, and most importantly, single!” Despite my prayers, our communication faded, and we pursued our dreams separately.

I thought our paths would never cross again, but God works in mysterious ways. We met by coincidence at a Halloween party! Dressed in costumes, we were surprised to see each other. That brief encounter reignited the candle of our feelings. I finally got the first date I’d longed for after seven years, and from there, the rest is history. Our meet-ups became dates, then monthsaries, and now, anniversaries.

I proposed to Roxanne on the same day, at the same restaurant, seven years after asking her to be my girlfriend: February 24. We wanted our wedding to be a year later, but the church and venue were booked. We decided on April 2, 2024, playing with the numbers 2/24/24 and 4/2/24. It felt right and meant to be.

The wedding was everything we dreamed of and more. As a doctor who faces tragedy daily, I thought I wouldn’t cry, but I was wrong. Seeing Roxanne walk down the aisle, all the memories and times we shared rushed through my mind, bringing tears to my eyes. It was surreal, like a dream turning into reality, a moment I wanted to fully immerse in without distractions.

We planned our wedding down to every detail, aiming for perfection. However, there is beauty in imperfections. Our coordinator had a medical emergency a week before, the ceremony started two hours late, and the program changed on the day. Roxanne and I even argued the night before. Despite these challenges, it was a wedding we’ll never forget! When we said “Yes,” we let go and let God.

For many, the most memorable part was our first dance, featuring AI technology and lumination integration—something never seen before at a wedding in the Philippines. For me, what was truly amazing was how God orchestrated everything to fall into place. Everything happens in His time.

I’ve learned that anything is possible. Roxanne was once a dream I never imagined becoming a reality, but now she’s the first person I see in the morning and the last at night. Challenges may come, and plans might change, but if God wills it, you will achieve it.

Ultimately, it’s not the fancy effects or expensive suppliers that make an event special. It’s the relationship you build together, centered around God, that shines brighter and binds your marriage forever.