The MMK Experience

 

It was supposed to be just another blog. But God had something else in mind.

It all started with a blog that I wrote on August 1, 2011. It was the anniversary of Noel’s wedding proposal. It was the day I said yes. I published my blog and Noel tagged people to read my blog. Noel’s friend Joan Habana was one of the tagged friends. We were surprised one day when she told Noel that she passed the blog to MMK. I just shrugged. I thought it was just another blog.

Weeks later, I received a call from Alex Martin. She interviewed me about our love story. She was very conversant that I didn’t feel awkward talking to her on the phone though I haven’t met her yet. I didn’t even notice that we already talked for three hours. The next month Alex interviewed Noel. Then the month after that, she interviewed Noel and me together. After a few more months, we heard no news from the MMK team so we said, “Baka hindi na tuloy.”

Then we received another call. “Tuloy na!” Weeks before the taping for MMK, we were informed about the scene about my parents. We were very worried about their reaction. We prayed that if it’s God’s will that this episode push through, may my parents say yes to the scene in the episode. Noel anxiously called my mom and miraculously, she said yes. Then we prayed that my dad will say yes. And he did. Alex was very happy when we informed her about my parents’ consent. From this moment forward, everything was fast. We signed the contract, reviewed the script and the taping started in no time.

We wanted to go to the taping but we’re afraid that we’re not welcome. What happened was the opposite of what we expected. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was kind. The crew, the wardrobe people, the actors, the producer, the director. All of them welcomed us. Direk Raz de la Torre also happened to be a friend of our friend Athena Imperial. Small world! After talking to Sam Milby and Jessy Mendiola and Hiyasmin Neri (my friend since college), we left the location. Direk Raz and Jessy tweeted us to visit on the next day’s shoot.

We brought Indios with us on next day’s shoot.  We witnessed how hardworking the MMK team is. But they didn’t diminish their smiles and hospitality. We chatted with Direk Raz about what we found out about him – a former law student who pursued his passion for film. Wow! At dinnertime, we were surprised that Sam and Jessy talked to us and they were just real. We talked about simple things normal people talk about. It’s my first time to have dinner with big stars like them. They’re very humble. We’re so blessed to get to know them. We stayed until dawn the next day because we waited for Indios’ last scene. We witnessed the magic of TV filmmaking. Man! That is hard work. 😀

We went home the next day and when we finally had decent sleep, Noel and I talked about the MMK experience. It was at first awkward to have two Nonos and two Joeis in one place and much more to see your life being played in front of you. But on top of it all, it is a privilege.

To have your love story written by God is already a gift; to see it played on TV, priceless.

What a blessing it is to have your life dramatized on TV.

What’s uncanny is that Joan Habana read my journal and she got goosebumps because years before I wrote: ‘Our love story will be told to millions.’

Wow. Who could’ve known that what my young heart wrote will happen?

And who could’ve known it will happen through MMK?

Only God did.

Thank you, Lord.

To You be the glory. 😀