Yuri and Joey: Love in a special way

LOVING EACH OTHER IN A SPECIAL WAY: Yuri and Joey commemorate their 1st wedding anniversary last July 20 in Sydney, Australia. They share common dreams edged by love and commitment. Let's see how they uniquely strengthen their love for each other. (Contributed photo)
LOVING EACH OTHER IN A SPECIAL WAY: Yuri and Joey commemorate their 1st wedding anniversary last July 20 in Sydney, Australia. They share common dreams edged by love and commitment. Let's see how they uniquely strengthen their love for each other. (Contributed photo)

WHO said that love is only for the opposite sex?

Or that only those who can procreate have the right to fall in love, get married, and enjoy being together?

Modern times have steered love to permeate souls that can share genuine love, knocking the odds of society's dictum, particularly in the Philippine communities, that only two individuals of the opposite sex can rightfully live together, developing a relationship consecrated by marriage -- in a Church or civil rites.

This special love that I am sharing with the readers can somehow serve as an inspiration, especially for those who are experiencing the same unique and special kind of love.

The couple Yuri and Joey are Negrenses who currently live overseas. The couple has nurtured their special bond for 12 years already.

They got married on July 20, 2020, at Macmahon's Point in Sydney after Yuri conveyed a marriage proposal to Joey right at the top of Sydney's Harbour Bridge on January 14, 2020, an unforgettable moment for the couple.

Of course, Yuri was victorious in getting the "Big Yes" of his darling Joey.

Australia is a country where same-sex marriage is legal, citing the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 is an Act of the Parliament of Australia, which legalizes same-sex marriage in Australia by amending the Marriage Act 1961 to allow marriage between two persons of marriageable age, regardless of their gender.

How did their love story begin?

Joey shares that they met when they were reviewing their International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in 2009 at Excelsior Review Centre, Plaza Mart, Bacolod City. As they see each other oftentimes, their special friendship developed.

When asked what led them to fall in love with each other, Joey shares, "Well, I am a very warm and easy-going person. I knew from very early on that Yuri was different. I got a good feeling from our first conversation and then our first date. He is usually quiet with friends but opened up and showed me his playful side when we are alone together. I could tell he is a good person and that I could trust him. To this day, those feelings have not led me wrong."

"I don’t mean to paint a picture of all rainbows and unicorns in this relationship. As with any other relationship, we have our fair share of disagreements. But when you are compatible, love each other and commit yourselves fully emotionally and spiritually, the bad times are few," Joey added.

When asked how their family and friends support their union, he said, "A hundred percent! Even before our union, both of our families are already supportive of our relationship."

"Living together after being married was not a hard adjustment as we seem to always compromise on difficult things. He would usually do the cooking and I am the one who washes the dishes. We also love our trips to Filipino grocery stores where we can find our Philippine dish cravings together. Also, we always love setting our mutual goals together," he further said.

In this special kind of union of two hearts, Joey shared, "Marriage for us was just a way to seal our love pact together. It’s kind of written confirmation that our love is as valid as any other straight couple and gives us the safety and rights they have. It’s also the biggest promise you can make to someone, that you’ll be there... no matter what is coming our way. what can you show to the world or to married couples who sometimes fail to sustain their commitment to each other?

Contrary to what people may think, marriage takes work. It takes a lifelong commitment in which you are constantly putting your significant other before yourself. Once you start to realize that their happiness is more important than anything else in this world, you start realizing the real meaning of marriage.

Do you believe in the so-called 'Forever'? We do think that love can last forever, but not in the way it’s portrayed in your average RomCom. For me, love is, as Louis de Bernieres writes, 'what is left over when being in love has burned away.' Real love is more than a feeling (although feelings are part of it, of course) –- it is a choice, a commitment. That’s why I think marriage is so important, it’s the public declaration of the commitment rather than the feeling."

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