Real & Beautiful Weddings: Emmy Gaite (Nicolehyala) and Renly Tiñana (Jowadik)

5Jun2010 Filed under: Contests & Promos, Real, Beautiful Weddings, Wedding Essentials Magazine Author: Marbee

THE GRAND FAN’S DAY
by Renly Tiñana

It’s never like the movies, I have to tell you. You don’t just walk up to someone famous and say something witty, date for a while, and go through some ups and downs in the real world. The ending doesn’t always find you at the altar. There isn’t always an epilogue about how you raised your kids when the credits start rolling. It never happens like that. But I’m getting ahead of my story here.

Flashback: three years ago. I was on my way to work when I heard Love Radio’s DJ Nicolehyala laughing her heart out on-air. Days would go by, I would head over to the daily grind, and, at 8 in the morning, I would always find myself listening to Nicolehyala and her partner Cris Tsuper (Ang Tambalang Balasubas at Balahura ). Caught under the spell of her charming laugh, I scoured the web for her photos and even her Friendster account and set out to do some detective work.

As the images flashed on my screen, I was stricken dumb. It didn’t matter what balahura people looked like, I was certain Nicolehyala looked about as far from them as the most horrific of my imaginings. The woman behind the laughter, I thought at the time, was the same woman I had been praying for.

Thinking back, meeting her was so impossible at that time. She was a famous DJ with several hit songs playing on the radio. I didn’t have any means to get through to her, much more talk to her personally, but the schoolboy in me felt so giddy and almost in love that, then and there, I swore she would be mine (oh, yes, she would be mine).

Mahal Kita Kasi…

Armed with nothing more than my infatuation, I decided that I would waltz into her life, though I wasn’t sure how to go about it just yet. It was a perfectly Notting Hill situation. I couldn’t expect her to say: “I am just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” No, it can’t be like that at all. I couldn’t just be like Hugh Grant and ask: ”Would you like something to eat? Something to nibble on? Apricots, soaked in honey?” that wouldn’t work.

Coffee. It had to be coffee.

I got Nicolehyala’s number from my dear friend, Love Anover, and started sending her text messages. Truth be told, I hyperventilated for some time the instant I got hold of her number. To my dismay, she would ignore my messages for about two to three weeks until, one fateful morning, I forwarded a quote with a ‘Good Morning’ in the end. She replied: ‘Good Morning, I’m so sleepy.’ After a brief exchange of morning nothingness, I then offered to bring her coffee from Starbucks. In no time at all, I came through with the promised beverage but, as I didn’t have guts to bring it to her personally, I asked someone else to do it instead.

The next day, I would again offer to get her another cup and, as in the day before, I would chicken out at the door and ask someone else to give it to her. This time, though, she personally decided to check out who was giving her all these doses of caffeine.

That was when I first saw her.

In times like these, at least, the movies are accurate. I felt as if my Biyaheng Jeepney had stopped and I had forgotten to get off. The woman in front of me, my heart was saying, was the very woman who belonged and fit perfectly inside it.

Like a young boy meeting his crush for the first time, I did nothing but smile, then waved at her a little and jumped right back in the car, glad that the ordeal was over. Later, I would muster enough courage to go for what I wanted. I sent her a message asking for a date – and she agreed.

…Nahuhulog na ako sa’yo, naman kasi.

I was a bundle of nerves.

You see, I have been an avid devotee of Sta. Clara for a long time and, in those days, I had ardently prayed for someone with whom I could share the rest of my life. Getting the chance to take the woman I had been a long-time love-struck fan of for a date made my vows to Sta. Clara even more intense. I was more than willing to keep my promises to my beloved saint and my dear NicoleHyala.

What was that promise, you might ask? Simple, to treat her like a princess; to make her feel loved, special, and cared for every single waking day of our lives.

We went out for a few months. Actually, we didn’t know the roles we played in each other’s lives at the time, having what people might call a “mutual understanding”. On January 11, 2009 at 2:25 a.m., I took matters into my own hands and declared to my friends that we were an item; that she was already my girlfriend, without her knowledge. When we came face-to-face, later I hugged her tight and kissed her…right on the forehead.

Kidding aside, I set out to prove that I wasn’t just a one-time lover.

One time I filled her car with flowers from the wheels to the seats while she was in the middle of a hosting stint. I remember, too, hanging a tarpaulin that screamed: “I love you, Nicolehyala!” on her office’s façade and having a sand castle in Boracay bearing the same affectionate words. If those things weren’t enough proof, I also filled her car with Hello Kitty stuff after a mall show. Nicole, I said to myself, will never regret her decision.

I was and am still proving that she is precious to me; that I can do everything and conquer anything for her—even the mighty Ondoy.

I am not fond of taking public transportation but when Ondoy struck and I wasn’t able to drive to her, I took the MRT, rode the jeepney, and—believe it or not—swam in the murky, rat-infested flood to be with her and make sure she was okay.

I swam for 2 kilometers near Hypermart in Mandaluyong and, as the flood went up to my shoulders, I found myself crying. These weren’t tears of fear or even disgust but more of worry. I thought I would never be able to see her again.

The water reached up to my head. God, I felt, was testing me and my love for Nicole. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t surrender or back down – my future wife was waiting for me.

So the storm passed, the story continued, and I made February of 2009 stand out from all other Februaries past.

I proposed.

The fan meets his idol at the altar

No matter how much planning I put into the big day, nothing really prepared me for that moment when the church doors open to finally reveal my bride. We swore that we wouldn’t see each other for a week before the wedding and, as I saw her walk in, tears started to well in my eyes. Then they began falling, just as my bride took a step and walked gracefully towards me.

I couldn’t explain how I felt that day. How many lucky and blessed guys in the world have ended up with the woman of their dreams? How many men even had the chance to meet them? Nicolehyala, the DJ I once idolized and listened to on the radio was walking down the aisle to meet me, her husband. It was like our first meeting all over again. This time, though, I wouldn’t hide inside the car.

On the day of our wedding, our hearts were full of happiness, seeing all our loved ones and friends in our pink and purple, “Love-is-in-the-air” themed wedding. It was truly very touching. From walking down the isle to saying “I do”, I was overwhelmed with joy.

We wanted everyone to have just as much fun as us so we prepared a little number for them, dancing to the tune of “Bongga Ka Day!” Never mind that Nicole was wearing a long gown and I, a suit. We wanted to enjoy our moment so we danced the night away!

I then segued to singing Nicole’s hit song, “Mahal Kita Kasi…”, which got more than a few laughs. It was really perfect for us because it was such a cute love song, and also because you hear her singing all the time over the radio – it was my chance to pitch in. I even rehearsed that song for months and I’m just glad we nailed our performance.

We couldn’t express how much we appreciate the presence and support of the people who attended our occasion. And of course, we wouldn’t have been able to pull off such a meaningful wedding without the help of our friends and organizers. No regrets, no worries. Our wedding was one magical fairytale that they were able to bring to life. It may not have happened just like in the movies but I believe it comes well near close enough.