A Letter 26 years late....

This letter was written and read in Greenbelt 3, in  a restaurant full of people.  36 long stemmed pink roses accompanied a pair of rings fabricated for the occasion.  This letter contains a message, a plea, a declaration of a man's feelings for someone that he never had a chance to do so in his youth.  Raoul finishes his mission.  He tells her.  He finally got it over with.  Raoul can only wish but he does not expect anything in return.  He gave his heart.

Ina, was overwhelmed.  She did not know what to make of it.  Ina knows that this is no joke.  She was flattered and felt she is not worthy.

To Raoul Ina, you are his world and like the song goes "If he could reach the stars, he would pull one down for you....."


Raoul and Ina's identities are known only to a few.  It is better that way.  The story of life continues for all of us.

Ina,

Since I met you 26 years ago, life was never the same for me.  As a youthful junior bro, I put off any concerted effort to woo you for there was a long cue for your heart.  I was young, careless, car-less and yes I was afraid. Afraid of rejection, afraid of myself, afraid to face reality.

Since 1987 you were my princess.   

Many nights, I dreamt of you, like an angel fallen from heaven and I, a mere mortal often listening to the lyrics of  a pubescent pre-"Livin' La Vida Loca" Ricky Martin singing with Menudo “If you’re not here” as I lay in bed.

Over time, many nights I cried wells of tears that dried up through the sands of time.  
Angst, regret even pain prevail my thoughts when I reminisce our younger years.  Longing for you to be here, by my side for you are the music and I am the dancer in the song that is called LIFE.

You on the other hand remain timeless growing even more beautiful as the days pass.  Truly, an angel you are, like a diamond shining star, so radiant, even more so beautiful from the inside as well.  Timeless.

Now, despite all odds, despite the embarrassment, despite my fear, Here, I am pouring my heart out.  It is about time I got it off my bursting heart.  It is time that I be a man and face my fear head on like that tinik (bone) of Bangus (Milkfish) I get stuck in my throat eating Sinigang sa Bayabas.  This is the toothpick, this is the cure.    Like Richard Marx sang in the ‘80s “I am right here waiting for you”.... It is my destiny.

Though I should have done this long before, Ina, I now kneel before you not as a princess but a Queen.  From the deepest caverns of my heart I ask that you be my Queen and I, your servant to spend our remaining years together.  

I plead for your love with this ring.  I beseech your kind heart to consider what I bring to you-the hard, awful but sincere truth of my feelings.  

Ina, I worship the ground you walk on.  You are the heaven that I need, Taytay needs a Queen.   You are my world, my song, my destiny.   

You are the one for me Ina since 1987, My heart cannot accept nobody, nobody but – you. 

Mahal kita Ina, mahal kita. 

Raoul