(Marriage Proposal at Julia Fordham’s Concert in Manila)
an e-mail story by Nino P. Caruncho IV, a friend of Lit who is this story’s central character
Hey People!!
My friend just told me all about how he proposed marriage to his girlfriend. It’s such just a great and touching story that I hope he doesn’t mind me telling people about it.
OK, on to the story . . . excuse my storytelling talents (there aren’t any).
My friend has been planning to marry his girlfriend Angelica. It was just a matter of when. Both are such great fans of Julia Fordham that my friend managed to get 2nd row seats to Fordham’s concert last Friday, June 18, 1999 at PICC.
So to those who watched the concert – you know what happened at the end. To those who want to know HOW it happened . . . .
It was a perfect opportunity so on a whim or maybe just for the heck of it, my friend wrote 2 letters. One letter was for Julia Fordham. The letter said that both of them were fans and that they loved her album so much that they were even thinking of giving Fordham’s CD as souvenir’s for their wedding.
My friend explained that he would appreciate it very much if Fordham would dedicate a song to Angelica during her concert here in Manila. Because at that same night my friend also planned to propose marriage to Anj. Basically that was what the letter had said.
My friend made another letter to a certain Claire Cross. To real Fordham fans, Claire is Julia’s sister. The letter to Claire said the same things but asked Claire for help. It mentioned that it would be really hard for the letter to reach Julia and that my friend is hoping that Claire would help so that it would.
With these 2 letters and 2 bouquet of flowers accompanying them, My friend went to Philippine Plaza where Fordham would stay and where Claire is already staying (cause she arrived ahead). My friend went to the front desk and asked the girl there (I won’t mention the girl’s name cause she might get in trouble) if she could send the letters and flowers to Ms. Fordham’s room. The girl was surprised and said it was not possible because of all the security in her floor. The girl said she would try to get it to Julia’s manager. My friend hoped that the girl could help in bringing the letter and flowers directly to Ms.Fordham’s room. My friend explained to the girl why and what he planned to do. The girl was touched and sympathetic and she said she will try to get it directly to Julia’s room. The girl sent the flowers & letter up 3 times but it was always sent back down by security. The girl said she’ll try ringing the Manager’s room.
Who’d have thought this is how the pieces fit Love moves in mysterious ways Heaven knows love is just a chance we take (repeat chorus) Like the ticking of a clock two hearts beat as one (repeat chorus) Love moves… in mysterious ways…. |
From 9 till 11pm, my friend waited for the girl to get in touch with the room of the manager. The phone was constantly busy. At 11pm, the phone rang. The manager told the girl to send the flowers and letters up to his room. The girl also brought the letter and flowers to Claire Cross’ room with no trouble. When my friend left, the girl told my friend the room numbers of Julia and Claire if it would be any help.
The next day, my friend called Julia’s room but of course it was blocked by the operator. He called Clair’s room and he was connected. Unfortunately, Claire was not at the room so my friend left a voice mail. He explained who he was and apologized for bothering her. My friend left a message that he was the one who sent the letter to her and asked her to help him in getting the letter to her sister Julia. My friend left his phone number.
After 30 minutes, Claire called my friend. Claire’s was full of admiration. She told my friend how romantic a person he is. Claire went on to explain that every concert, Julia is flooded with requests for dedication and they really do not do accommodate any. Julia has a lot of fans wanting to do special requests and stuff. Claire said she will give the letter to Julia but she cannot promise anything. The only thing she can promise is that Julia will write them a letter wishing them the best.
Later on, my friend found out from Claire that right after Julia read my friend’s letter she called a meeting to see if they can accommodate the request.
Julia was touched with my friend’s letter that she was actually thinking of changing the script of the show for my friend’s dedication.
Claire asked my friend what song he wanted Julia to sing for them. It was the song (Love Moves in) Mysterious Ways. Claire remarked that my friend couldn’t have chosen the worst song. My friend was surprised why it was the worst? Claire explained that the whole show would be recorded and may be shown on TV or made into a video. The song (Love Moves in) Mysterious Ways is one of the 3 encores that Julia will sing. What if you propose to Anj and she says NO? The concert will end in a sour note and that cannot happen!! My friend assured her that Anj will say yes. Then Claire says, “well if she doesn’t marry you — I will.” Claire did not promise anything because it was all up to Julia and her manager. But my friend told Claire that whatever happens, my friend will go up to Julia during the concert and give her a bouquet of flowers with a letter of thanks.
On the eve of the concert, the show proceeded on marvelously. After the 7th song, my friend decides to go up to Julia to give the bouquet of flowers (7 is his lucky number daw). The stage was low (like an unplugged set) so it was easy for my friend to give the flowers. As he gave the flowers, Julia whispered in his ear, “I read your letter.”
Still, My friend doesn’t know what will happen.
Near the end of the show, Julia exits. She comes back for her encore. There was a long pause. Julia looks at her manager, then says to the mic, “there has been a change of plans . . .”
My friend told me that after Julia said that, he doesn’t remember a thing anymore of what happened . . . one of our other friends who was with my friend completed the story.
Then Julia said (not verbatim), “So my friend, if you’re going to do what you’re going to do . . . better be ready Angelica.”
Julia changed the script and gave my friend the opportunity of a lifetime. The lights opened a bit and my friend brought Anj to the center aisle in front of the whole PICC. My friend knelt down and proposed as the whole PICC stood up and cheered!!!
And of course Anj said YES – they hugged and kissed!!
Julia wished them luck and congratulated them. She completed the song and her other encores. At the end of the show, my friend goes up to Claire to thank her for all her help. He told Claire he would never forget her kindness. My friend told Claire to thank Julia for him for what she did for them cause he would never get the opportunity. Claire excused herself a moment and went backstage. A few minutes later she came back and invited my friend and Anj in.
There Julia met them. She hugged and kissed them both and congratulated them again. Julia, as promised, gave them a letter but she told them that what she wrote in the card doesn’t apply anymore because of what happened.
What my friend did was the most romantic and touching things she has ever seen. She told my friend not to forget to send her an invitation and the wedding pictures. After that they took pictures.
Leaving PICC, my friend was met by so many people (total strangers) congratulating him and telling him how romantic he was. Even when they left to eat in Northpark in Makati Ave., people were still congratulating him.
UY famous na siya!
The next day, my friend went back to Philippine Plaza to give Julia a gift but Julia had left already. He left a gift for the girl who had helped her give the letter to Julia and Claire but she wasn’t there either. The girl at the front desk also recognized My friend and promised to give the gift.
That ends the story. What do you think? Made me actually think how I would do it if and when it is my turn to propose. Hard to top.
How I wrote this story was very superficial. If you knew every single detail, you would be surprised how everything came into place. At the start, my friend just took a chance not expecting ANYTHING AT ALL and his perseverance just made nothing into something – a very perfect evening.
Every single detail came into place like God was actually orchestrating the whole thing.
Galing no? Makes it all the more harder for us guys. Seems my friend was upped a notch to every girl’s expectation that night.
So who says wishes don’t come true? If you believe . . .
So who is he? I didn’t write this story to glorify him or anything. I just admire what he did. Not a lot of people would do what he did just to propose to a girl.
Some of you people will know him. He’s Lit Onrubia. To Xavier Batch 89ers – he’s our batch mate, our PAYA basketball star. To Povedans 89, kilala n’yo naman siguro s’ya. To Ateneans, he used to teach Philo. Now he works in Nestle while his girlfriend Anj is in Med School.
GOOD LUCK LIT!!
This story is as accurate as I remember it. Sorry kung may mali.
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About the couple: Lit & Anj got married in June 17, 2000 at Caleruega, Batulao, Batangas.