IT WAS like a scene out of a movie.

As 482 police trainees marched during their recognition rites at the PNP Regional Training Center in Barangay Jugan, Consolacion on Thursday, Feb. 28, it appeared that one of the graduates had fainted.

Police Patrolman Rojan Caromayan, 27, was sprawled in the middle of the parade grounds, prompting his long-time partner Christine Lechido, 26, to rush to his side.

Caromayan then sat up, got on one knee, pulled out a ring and asked Lechido to marry him.

Lechido tearfully said “yes” and embraced him, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Lechido said she met Caromayan five years ago in San Fernando town, Cebu, when she was studying to become a teacher. Caromayan worked as a security guard. They were both renting rooms in the same compound in Barangay Pitalo when they started dating.

After a month, they decided to move in together. Two years later, Lechido got pregnant and gave birth to a son, whom they named Justin Cale, now two years old. They also have a daughter namted Jamaira.

She said she did not expect Caromayan’s proposal.

“He’s not a showy guy, so I didn’t expect this. That’s why I cried because we already have kids. Who would have thought he would propose like that?” she said in Cebuano.

She said Caromayan was a good partner and father.

Caromayan had help from the class president in planning the proposal. He said he wanted to show his sincerity and commitment to Lechido, which is why he decided to do it in front of his batchmates.

He promised to be faithful and prove that not all policemen had affairs. He also said he did not want his kids to grow up with an absentee father.

Caromayan was named battalion commander of the Maidlap class of 2019. The Maidlap Class of 2019 is composed of 102 women and 380 men. (MEA)