Davide, wife agree: “There is forever”

CEBU, Philippines - “Love is very hard to define, but for me love is God’s gift for all of us. I think every human has a capacity to love another one,” so said Cebu Governor Hilario “Jun-Jun” Davide III.

The incumbent Cebu governor has always been known as a serious, brave and competent leader. Behind that tough, widespread persona, however, is a passionate and loving husband to his wife and a total believer of “forever.”

Davide, together with his wife Jobella G. Angan, walked the press through their love story and the idea of their marriage that’s mostly left unknown to many.

The two of them gave each of their own perception of what love is and how it meant to love someone.

“Love is a commitment to each other, maybe it’s not for everybody but nasuwertehan lang gyud siguro mi kay it’s been 29 years na this July, and we’re still together.  I think deep inside each other, bisa?g sige’g lalis or unsa pa na dinha, we know for a fact that we are committed to each other that we can’t live without each other,” the two agreed.

“Everyone has the ability to love, and it is just our choice to nurture it by giving it to someone else, by loving another.” The Governor added.

Jun-Jun shared that just like any other couples, they normally celebrate Valentine’s Day by going out for a date or having dinner outside, but nothing too fancy or out of the ordinary.

“We were classmate sa UP high, that’s where we first met, during lunch break to siya, nanguyab siya nako, pero ‘puppy love’ pa ‘to siya, nothing too serious. It was in college then nga mura’g nagseryoso na gyud mi,” Jobella said.

“Mataha gyud ko niya, akong first impression. Kay tagalog man siya ato.  And physically she was really sexy, ganahan gyud ko sa iyang legs at that time,” Jun-Jun said.

He said that it was five months after that Jobella got pregnant of their first child Patricia Janelli Davide that they have decided to get married at the St. Therese’s Church, in Cebu City.

When asked about the different traits that they’ve found attractive, the coupled laugh together as they answered.

“He’s very humble and loyal. Even sauna pa gyud nga nag-uyab mi.  He has been faithful to me, until now he remains humble and soft-spoken.  He’s a good father sa among mga anak. Mao tingali wa pa gyu’y naminyo sa among mga anak, kay nagita pa gyud sila’g pareha ni Jun-Jun.  But I think lisod gyud mangita og pares nga sama niya ka loyal and humble,” Jobella said.

“She is a strong woman and assertive si Jobel.  Mao nang naa ra juy balance ba. Siya juy strong sa pamilya, sa pagpadako sa mga bata,  siya man gani treasurer sa balay,” Jun-Jun said

Craziest thing you’ve done for love?

The governor responded with a laugh, when asked that question.

“I don’t know if marrying her was crazy,” he said.

The royal couple of the province boasts that they have not done anything crazy for love, at least on their own judgment and perception but they never failed to show their care and passion to one another for years.

“There was this one time I arrived from an out-of-town vacation, nya wa siya nakauban, ingon siya naa pa siya sa Cebu. But when I arrived in Manila, tua siya didto nag-atang, iya diay ko gi-surprise,” Jobella recalled.

Do you believe in “forever”?

Mr. and Mrs. Davide couldn’t hide their expressions as they admitted that they’ve expected the question all along.

But they simply drifted through some realizations as they answered that a person would really believe that there’s a love that’s forever if a person vows for marriage.

“When you promise a vow to someone in the altar, I think that’s forever,” the governor said.

“I think when you found the “one,” you would always miss each other. Like every now and then, mingawon ra man gihapon ko niya, mag gunitay gihapon mi?g kamot matulog.  And we still text each other ‘I love you, I love you more.’  Usahay ‘I love you most’ pa kun mag-gara-gara,” Jobella added.

However, the couple admitted that it was never a perfect marriage.

Like any other couples, they agreed that they too have their casual indifferences and misunderstanding.

“Especially katong ni-decide siya nga mag-public servant, it was so hard for all of us.  Because actually, me and my children, none of us agreed nga mosulod siya sa politika when the very first time he ran as city councilor on 2004,” she said.

“But we’d still have to support, kay basin kita nuon mapasanginlan,” Jobella added.

“Wala man jud siguro’y perfect couple, perfect marriage.  We also have our misunderstandings, but we always try to patch things up,” Governor Davide said.

“Sundays lang gyud akong ginapangayo niya, nga at least man lang naa jud mi adlaw nga for the family ra gyud.  So mao nang kun di gyud madala kay naa jud siya’y appointments nga di ma-compromise, muoban dyud ko niya if it’s Sunday” she said.

Valentines message

When asked for a message, Gov. Davide turned to his wife and said, “I love you forever. Kay forever man gyud kaha ang love.”

Then he shifted jokingly as he added “Karon nga naa na’y signal jammers sa CPDRC, I hope nga ma enjoy sa mga inmates ang Valentine’s day, makauban nila ilang mga loved ones,” he added.

But he eventually disclosed that as for them, the most essential ingredient in a relationship is love and respect.

“Ingredients jud sa relationship is love. And treasure each day that you’re together, kay you’ll never know unsa’y mahitabo. I’m just thankful lang gyud ni God for blessing this relationship and to Jobella for all her sacrifices, and sa iyang understanding.  I know nga it was a challenge also for her me being a public servant,” Governor Davide said.

“I think you couldn’t judge other relationships, but it’s important that you make each other laugh. Be committed to each other and respect each other.” Jobella added. —/GAN (FREEMAN)