Ang magtiayong Val Sandiego ug Ofelia Zozobrado-Sandiego naila nga Cebuano dance partners ug choreographers nga maoy founder sa nabantog nga Sandiego Dance Company. Nasayod sad ta kon unsa kahugot sa ilang debosyon sa Senyor Sto. Niño.
Apan sa unang higayon sa interbyu sa “SuperKa” sa Superbalita gipaambit sa magtiayong Sandiego kon diin nagsugod ang tanan: circa 1982 kadto taliwa sa kasikatan sa kantang “You” ni Basil Valdez dihang nahimo ning soundtrack sa ilang 'love story to forever.'
“I saw her first at USC campus kuyog sa among common friend. Morag love at first sight kay sukad ko nagsuroysuroy sa campus kadto pa ko kita og sama ka pretty nga innocent looking. Hahaha! She was 16 and I was 18,” ni Val sa iyang pagbalik-lantaw sa unang pagkakita niya ni Ofelia, kinsa naila sa angga nga Boging.
“Val saw me while I was waiting for a jeep ride with my friend. We were introduced once but I cannot recall his face. He was so mysterious. He sent me roses everyday. Naintriga ko kay I didn’t see him in school. I even suggested to my friend nga tingbon lang unta niya og hatag ang roses every Wednesday so I can offer the flowers to our Mother of Perpetual Help at our chapel in Banawa (now known as the Alliance of Two Hearts),” nagkatawang nagkanayon si Boging.
Matod ni Val nga iyang padad-an og rosas kada-adlaw si Ofelia for three months pinaagi sa tabang sa iyang silingan nga si Ciedelle Nadela.
“Aside from that, the major struggle was to go to the Basilica Del Santo Niño every 4-5 am to ask Santo Niño to help me nga sugton ko niya. I even kneeled walking towards the altar for that intention,” butyag ni Val.
“I courted her for three months. Pero dili ana kasayon. Sa isla sa Lugon, now popularly known as Malapascua, Agnes Monteclar’s family invited me with the Sandiego Dance Troupe for their town fiesta. Ofelia was also there but first night pa lang basted dayon ko. But wala ko pasagdi sa Santo Niño kay sa third night sa pag-uli namo I went up the bus first and left her kay naglagot na kaayo ko. Hahaha.... but to my surprise she sat right beside me. Maayo gani walay naglingkod. Wow! The trip back to the city took us 3 hours. The rest was history. That was a heaven on earth for me during that time. Our relationship was put into final contract sa opening sa Slabadu Music Lounge on May 16, 1982, owned by the Nadela’s, our neighbor.”
Nakasal sila Dec. 31, 1989 sa Guadalupe Parish Church nga gikonselebrar ni Msgr. Rudy Villanueva. “Dec. 31 is very significant to us, the Sandiego’s, because my dad and mom and three of my brothers were also married on the same date.”
Gitugahan sila og upat ka mga anak nga silang Angelica Luz, Andrea Lauren, Andrei Lester ug Anna Louisa. “They are all grown-up na. No apo yet but in God’s time we will soon have,” ni Ofelia.
Kon unsay sikreto sa malungtaron nga kaminyuon, ang tambag ni Ofelia, “try to settle disagreements before the day ends.”
Dugang usab ni Val: “It’s important that you’re the best of friends and to always put Christ at the center of your relationship.”
Karong Valentine’s Day mao ang 59th birthday ni Val apan matod niya nga sa tradisyon nilang mga Filipino-Chinese sagad dili ni iselebrar ug mas gusto nila ning tawgon og “going 60.”
“We usually celebrate his birthday with family and friends but this year might be different because of the pandemic. Our plan? Secret lang usa kay amo pa i-surprise si Val,” ni Boging nga nagsaulog sa iyang ika-57 niadtong Enero 13.
Ang ilang Valentine message sa usa’g usa?
“Val, I wouldn’t have learned what real love is until I met you. I feel so blessed that God gave me YOU. I love you and always will. Happy Valentine’s Day, my Love.”
Mensahe usab ni Val, “I want to spend my lifetime with you and I love you just the way you are. Thank you for the unconditional love you have given me and salamat kaayo for raising our children the best ever. Cheers to our love and friendship!!! God bless us. Happy Valentine’s Day!!!”