My Kuya Evar and Ate Che's Love Story

(I read this story during their wedding. It was December 21, 2013 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines.)

God is “the best maker of all marriages,” and I’m convinced that He loves to do it! He brought Eve to Adam. He prompted Eliezer’s prayer for guidance, and then answered it by matching Rebekah with Isaac. He arranged for Ruth to meet King Boaz. He prepared Esther to be the queen of King Xerxes. Now, there's Evar and Rachel. They're not a couple from the Bible but still a love story written and inspired by God alone.

So, now let me tell you as the Lord used me to write their love story for us to look back & to see how God is the God of perfect timing and perfect will so that we will all be blessed of this story.

March of 2002, almost 12 years ago, the Philippine Student Alliance Lay Movement, Inc. or best known as PSALM Ministry, a National Leadership Training was held in Talisay, Cebu City. At that very moment, God silently opened the book of love story of these two hearts in which unknowingly in the next chapters, He already knows what will happen that even Kuya and Ate Che were not informed that it was the start of the first chapter of their story book.

Kuya was from the district of Pagadian because he studied criminology in PCCS, Pagadian City during those times. He was an advanced level trainee in the training while Ate Che was from General Santos District as a specialized level trainee. Kuya first noticed Ate Che within those days. But due to busyness of the schedule of classes and activities, Te Che failed to notice him in return.

It then started the great awakening of a young man's heart or Kuya's affection to Ate Che. During the commitment night, something flashed on his mind of having a desire to be the lifetime partner of her. Yet he was anxious if the affection was
 from God or just from his own. He was in fact too young to feel that also. One day in the training, a morning devotional was then held. The activity was to look for a partner from other district to pray together for something. Kuya had a desire that Ate Che will be his partner at that time. But God did not allow that to happen.

April 5, 2002, it's within the week of the training, Kuya wrote a letter to Te Che inside his TBL. TBL means Training Bible Lessons for the delegates of the training. He gave it to her during the graduation & banquet. But it's just a friendly letter for Te Che because most PSALMists at that time followed that kind of practice to write letters inside the TBLs and exchanged it to co-trainees.

So on the last day of the same training, they sat together in one table during meal time and had the opportunity to talk and to introduce themselves. They then discovered that Ate Em-em, our eldest cousin in our mother's side and Ate Donna, Te Che's older sister are close friends.

After the training, they departed and went home. Kuya was 
very wise then, of course, as some men probably do, he asked Ate Che's phone number from Ate Em. Maybe he requested Ate Em to ask the phone number from Ate Donna. They then started to communicate to each other through texting or calling sometimes (kay mahal pa man kaayo ang load sauna).

During those days, when Kuya had a vacation on our house (in Sibugon) and I remember, Ate Em and the rest of the family were there also. Early morning, Ate Em told us na atikon daw namu ni Map2 si Kuya to tell him na nag-sleep talk daw siya ug sige siya mention sa name na “Che Briones”. So when Kuya woke up, amu siya gibinuangan & amu leader kay si Ate Em2x. So nituo pud si Kuya na nagyawyaw jud siya ug “Che Briones” while sleeping though wala jud. But anyway, what's significant in this event was that I immediately memorized this name “Che Briones” even if I didn't know Ate Che at that time.

So then it was August of 2002, Kuya took the Philippine Military Academy or PMA Entrance Examination. But before that, he called Ate Che first to ask for prayers from her. Ingon ni Te Che, sabit-sabit pa daw iya phone sauna while nagtawag2 sila kay hinay pa ang signal. Then by God's grace, Kuya passed the examination. He called again to Te Che and said that he will miss his family and friends in Mindanao, yet with strong determination to pursue his dreams not just for him but even more for his family.

It was April 2003, Kuya entered PMA in Baguio City. Because using cellphones are not allowed for cadets inside the academy, they rarely communicated to each other. Sometimes they exchanged letters as well. Ate Che failed to reply Kuya's letters, thus he felt he had no chance of expressing his feelings to her when the right time comes. For Te Che, they were merely friends because Kuya did not court her in the first place. For Kuya, he had to achieve his career dreams first before spending time to love life. Ate Che also had a new phone number and Ate Donna (Ate Che's sister) went back to Pagadian to finish her studies. (Te Donna spent few years in college at Southern Mindanao Colleges, Pagadian City where she and Ate Em-em became close friends.) This reminds me of this verse in Songs of Solomon 2:7 that says “Do not awaken love until it so desires.”

But as time passed by, Kuya was then very busy because of the rigid training and Ate also put her focus on her studies first. Therefore, they had no communication for quite a long time.

Kuya Evar went back to PSALM Leadership Trainings twice. He was eager to finish all the levels in the training and hoping he could see Ate Che at the same time. Yet Ate was not in the two trainings. The last training he attended was on April 2007. He asked his co-trainees from Gensan about Ate Che and knew that she already graduated from college.

Kuya and Ate had even both their sweethearts for quite some time. (Kuya had actually three, Ate had one.) However, they didn't have fullness of joy in their hearts. So individually, they asked the LORD to lead them to the right person, the one whom He has prepared for them. God's answers to their prayers came in difficult situations and that prepared them for the best that is yet to come.

In March of 2006, Ate Che graduated in college having a degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. The next year after that, March of 2007, Kuya finally graduated in PMA having the name as a 2Lt. Evar Louie Magamay.

In summer vacation of 2009, my sister Mapmap & I went to Pagadian City to study for TESDA skills in STI. Because I will be turning college in June that year, I brought Kuya's book entitled “10 Keys to Successful College Life” in which years ago, he actually wrote Ate Che's email address at the back part of the book. Unexpectedly Ate Em saw the book, opened it, and saw Te Che's email address. She copied it and added her and Ate Donna on friendster (kay friendster pa man ang  uso sauna).

God has really a perfect time table because at that exact month, Kuya asked Ate Em if she still remembers Ate Che. Of course, Ate Em, our ever supportive cousin suddenly asked Te Che's phone number from Te Donna and gave it to Kuya right away. So, Kuya immediately called Te Che and even joked that mao daw gihapon ang tingog niya, walay nagchange. That time, Te Che's lovelife was not okay. She had a boyfriend but they were not in good terms. That same time also, Kuya just broke up with her ex-girlfriend. See? They were almost in the same situation; same feeling that they were keeping inside. Thus, the LORD used this season for them to communicate again. Indeed God was working behind every scene.

Kuya kept on praying to God for His revelation what to do even for the matters of his heart. He slowly recovered by God's grace. He sometimes called and texted Ate Che. He even prayed Ate Che on the phone before hanging up the line. For Te Che, she had to seek God's guidance and wisdom as well. She had a boyfriend still. Yet for Kuya, pursuing her heart was God's revelation to Him. Kuya confessed his affection to her and even told her that he wanted a lifetime partner and dili uyab-uyab.

December of 2009, Kuya together with Kuya Jimjim Verano went to Suminot, Zamboanga del Sur where Pstr. And Mrs. Briones were assigned for their church ministry. Kuya had this belief that “Seek first the parents' hearts and their daughter's hand will be given unto you.” (He had his own version of Matthew 6:33). He also brought books to Pastor Briones as his present. After that, he called to Ate ug nangunsensya na nagmotor ra jud sila maski init ug abog pa kaayo ang dalan. Iya jud giadto para lang sa iyaa.

Kuya then sent a card to Ate in Gensan with a message saying “I pray you'll choose the right one.” So with God's enlightenment and her parents' approval, Ate decided to break up her ex-boyfriend.

On the 8^th day of January 2010 (that's their anniversary), it was when Kuya was so busy with his operation in Bicol. But that day, Ate sent Kuya a text message saying “It's you I love.” Yet Kuya was actually very busy and no time to check his phone. That's why, he failed to read the message.

The next day he called her and clarify the status of their relationship. With God's blessing, they both agreed na sila na jud. Finally!

Anyway, I want also to share this trivia. Their endearment or tawagan to each other is “Bha” from the Bicolano term meaning “love”.

In February 2010, Kuya went to schooling as a scout ranger. But in April of that same year, he went outside his schooling for he was recycled from the training due to his problem sa tuhod. He was on his deep depression and came up to the point of wanting to end his commitment to Ate Che. Ate, in return, wondering why he didn't call or even text, she wanted to give up also. But God was in full control of everything that He did not allow the two to be carried away with their emotions. God kept their relationship and preserved them for something best in the future.

June 8, 2010, they first celebrated their monthsary in Suminot Cave together with Pstr. and Mrs. Briones (pero wala kabalo sila Pastor na monthsary diay nila.)

Then Kuya went back to Scout Ranger Schooling and later became the President of his batch. On his graduation, he was awarded to be the Top 1 among the trainees.

Those times also for Ate Che's part, she was praying that if Kuya will be God's best for her, God will let her transfer to other BDO Branch where just near to her family in Suminot and near to our family as well.

It was November of 2010, she received the confirmation to be assigned in BDO Dipolog Branch. Aggressively, she accepted the offer. Ate Che and I first met in Pagadian City during our PSALM training where they also first met with Ate Jhai, the former PSALM Staff of Dipolog City. Then, Te Che and her parents first came to Sibugon before coming  to  Dipolog. She felt the full support of our family kay gihatod siya halos tanan sa pamilya namely: Papa, Mama, Nanay Mary, Uncle Boyet, Ate Yeng, Mala and even Pastora Maricel Pollescas. Deep inside her heart, there was no doubt at all. God arranged and ordained everything perfect. Indeed she experienced God's favor and blessings in disguise.

(Let's fast forward again...)

April 5, 2011, Kuya made his marriage proposal to Ate. Of course, with love, joy and peace on her heart, she said yes! Remember? When Kuya gave his letter to Te Che during the PSALM Training in Cebu, it was exactly the same date when he asked the hand of Ate for marriage, it was April 5. Nine years after, God answered Kuya's heart's desire on the right time, God's perfect time and through His exceptional ways.

After they got engaged, Kuya went to schooling again in Cebu and he made it on the top three list. He also went to training somewhere in Luzon. Now he is 1Lt/Engr. already. And just last Dec. 20, 2013, he was from Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to receive his Golden Cross award from the Armed Forces of the Philippines headed by Pres. Noynoy Aquino. Truly the prayers of our family and Ate Che's prayer contributed a lot to Kuya's success in his career. Ingon ni Te Che kay Kuya kay if wala pa na-stop ila communication during PMA days niya basin na Top 1 pa daw siya. xD

Anyway, it's just a picture of how blessings and favors come along their way and I do believe, there will be more to come in the future. Obedience to God's message to them is one of their secrets. 

So then, last December 2012, our family and Ate Che's family gathered and planned for their wedding celebration. Last December 21, 2013, it really came into reality!

Do you also remember? Kuya's desire to be her prayer partner during the PSALM Morning Devotional is finally answered. Not at that time but starting on the day of their wedding and for the rest of their lives. Not just a prayer partner at that moment but a lifetime prayer partner. When God designs the two to be one, indeed He will do it. He even used many instruments like Ate Em, Ate Donna, I, and others just because it's part of His plan. It's not co-incidences but He already planned everything ahead of time.

Now, as you read this story, it's neither Kuya and Ate Che are being highlighted and glorified nor even me, but it's our Lord and Saviour alone!

And as I end this, it's not saying that it's the end of their love story already. They are just on their half way. There will be more chapters to be written. For it's just only the start of the more exciting parts of the book yet it could be the toughest part. Let's continue praying for the two of them. I know in the near future, the two of them will multiply. They will, of course, have their own family.

Therefore I say, Congratulations to Kuya and Ate Che!


To Kuya, thank you for everything. I won't be what I am now without your support and guidance spiritually, emotionally, and even financially.

To Ate Che, now I know why your name is so significant in my memory. Praise God, you're now officially part of the family!

Best wishes to both of you & To God be all the glory!!!