Our Story

Stephen and Arlene first met as young students at Ilima Intermediate School. They were acquaintances all the way through high school, only saying "hi" to each other at school. Even during the last few days as classmates, they were never really good friends. But the simple pairing of the two walking down the aisle of their high school graduation ceremony would be the start of how they came closer together. Who would have thought years later, they would be walking down a different aisle together as husband and wife.

But there was more than just fate pairing them up - there was planning! And for those who know Arlene... that's what she does.

During their senior year of high school, Arlene was sad at the thought of all her friends going their separate ways after graduation. In order to bond and stay in touch with the Class of 2001, she started planning what she called "Senior Outings."

Kevin Agustin, Stephen's best man, was in one of Arlene's classes. She invited Kevin to these senior outings, but Kevin wouldn't go unless he his best friend Stephen came too. So Arlene extended the invitation to Stephen by getting his number. Contacting him on the phone then lead to chatting on instant messenger. Every time there was as senior outing, Stephen said he would go, but never did. Despite the fact that Stephen always flaked out on going to the outings, Arlene and Stephen chatted pretty often and got to know each other a lot better.

After graduation, they were comfortable enough with each other to start going to graduation parties together. At one of these parties, Arlene was dancing with a friend. He mentioned that he felt bad dancing with her because Stephen had told him that he started having feelings for her. The very next day, Arlene and Stephen were chatting online as usual and mentioned what her friend said to her the night before. She asked Stephen if this was true... he was a little hesitant to answer, but he said yes. Little did he know that Arlene started having feelings as well but was afraid to mention anything just yet.

Over a course of two months, Stephen won Arlene over. They finally made it official on August 9, 2001 and have been inseparable ever since. The day after their wedding marks their 7 years together.