Our First Date 25 Years Ago: Chino Hills, CA

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I was a pretty mean pool player back then, but I did NOT win one game on our first date!

I'd find out later she basically grew up on a billiard table. Still -- I was very distracted! 😄

July 23, 1999: I had flown down to SoCal since Tess, her mom, and Bebot were staying with her big sister Mary Ann in Chino Hills, CA. I drove to the house in the afternoon. Tess was still working in LA with Mary Ann. At the house, it was only Mama Helen, Bebot, MJ and Josh. 

It was Bebot's 11th birthday (and the day of her return flight back to the Philippines). It was also the death anniversary of my Lola Rosita. Those two anniversaries on July 23 would help decide whom I would marry.

The photo below is actually from November 1999 in Quezon City (we were already married and hanging out with Ray Abenojar). Was it Timog?

I usually take photos on 'first dates' just in case. I was just really "distracted" that night and did not take a photo. LMAO.

In any case, our first date was a bar with a billiard tables close to Mary Ann and Jon Cabungcal's house in Chino Hills.

The rest as they say is history. More to the story on July 28.

Happy anniversary in heaven, Atet! 🥰



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