This is just another one of those love stories. Or is it not?
One night in late May of 2013, there was a victory party in celebration of the recent election of Koko Pimentel as a Senator. Kath Yu, then working as a Chef, was not invited to this party. She was, however, asked to follow a smaller group of friends at the afterparty. Little did both Koko and Kath know that it was to be the beginning of many more nights, and many more days, on their road to forever.
“I want to get to know this lady better” kept repeating on the mind of Koko that night, very much like he was hit by a last song syndrome. As for Kath, she was thinking along the lines of “I don’t trust politicians, but why do I feel like I could trust this one?” This was a really good start.
Frankly, their journey was not a whirlwind romance. In fact, it is nowhere near a whirlwind, or a romance. It was a slow and sure one, and almost too slow, and even almost unsure, but for good reason. Both of them were not in a hurry. Although both of them, from that very first night, already felt something.
“I was smitten by her stories and I felt like I could just listen forever, one story at a time.”
“I was smitten by her stories and I felt like I could just listen forever, one story at a time”, felt Koko deep in his heart. “How could this guy be so sincere, and thoughtful, and even sweet?” debated Kath with her original belief about politicians.
“How could this guy be so sincere, and thoughtful, and even sweet?”
The dating game
The first attempt was a lunch date. Koko invited Kath. Kath did not show up.
The second attempt a was a group date, if it can even be called a date, but it was of course one for Koko and Kath, for the others were merely around them physically, but were not with them emotionally. They really “clicked”, and there was that desire to keep on “clicking’. It was, however, bordering on official, and not personal, as it was a function connected with work.
The third attempt was “the” date. No more chaperones, just the two of them. And the invite for the event was for Koko to really bring a date, and the date was Kath. Again, this was still connected with work, but work was farthest on their minds, and in their hearts, that night. It was a date. Enough said. Enough said.
The family factor
What happened to the first marriage of Koko is public knowledge. In fact, there was a point that it became way too public for comfort. Of course, this affected the way Koko would entertain a second chance, if it came, when it came. This must explain the need for slow, and sure, especially because his two kids whom he dearly loves are with him.
Around six months after that fateful night of two victories for Koko, the election and what would turn out to be his second chance, Kath finally met the two sons, Martin who was then about 9 years old and Akio who was then about 4 years old. Now this was, clearly, “love at first sight”. The kids instantly became comfortable with who they will eventually call their “Mama Kath”. And this new bond only grew stronger over time, and it still keeps getting stronger.
While of age already, Koko is now 55 and Kath is now 35, it would not hurt to have their parents’ approval. The parents of Koko, to be sure, support their son for they have seen him happy, happier, and happiest. The parents of Kath, without a doubt, support their daughter too, seeing Koko loving Kath beneath and beyond the flash of celebrity and the glare of politics, both blinding to the normal eye.
The wedding proposal
More than four years after they first met, a decision was finally made. No kneeling. No crying, or tears of joy. No camera, still or video. No drama, or any kind of fanfare, or any kind of surprise. Just a decision, uttered as if Koko was thinking aloud, and heard as if Kath was thinking of exactly the same thing. Yes, a decision was made, and the two of them were getting married, finally.
For the serious Koko, it was “cerebral”.
It was on Valentine’s, this year, over dinner, that Koko proposed to Kath. For the serious Koko, it was “cerebral”. For the happy Kath, it was “everything”.
For the happy Kath, it was “everything”.
The challenges ahead
Kath will celebrate her birthday, October 7, on the same month as her wedding to Koko, October 18. As for Koko, these two very important days will likewise coincide with the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the 2019 elections where he is running for reelection as Senator. Needless to say, it will be a fully loaded month for both of them. No problem, though, as everything has already been prepared, but of course there will always be challenges. No problem, still, as they will both face these challenges as a loving couple that they have been these past several years.
Their Filipiniana wedding will take place at the Coconut Palace, with President Rody Duterte among the principal sponsors. President Duterte is the Chairman of PDP-Laban, the political party of which Koko serves as the President.
Kath, by the way, is President of PDP Cares, the humanitarian arm of PDP –Laban that goes around nationwide conducting relief efforts, especially during disasters and calamities
Unfortunately, their honeymoon will have to wait. Then again, they are not in a hurry. They have waited for so long. They can wait a little more.
“No plans yet because we are going to delay the honeymoon until after the May 2019 elections” is the plan of Koko.
“No plans yet because we are going to delay the honeymoon until after the May 2019 elections” is the plan of Koko. “I am raring to go on the campaign trail as this is going to be my first time to do so and, in the process, be on a honeymoon all over the country” is the counter-plan of Kath.
“I am raring to go on the campaign trail as this is going to be my first time to do so and, in the process, be on a honeymoon all over the country” is the counter-plan of Kath.
Be that as it may, it seems that what they are most excited about, aside from the wedding, is neither the campaign nor the honeymoon. It is that beautiful thing called family. They cannot wait to be complete, to be together day in and day out, not just as husband and wife, but also as father and mother to Martin and Akio. In the end, this is what matters the most for them, and the best ever wedding present: a family they can call their very own.
