The first kiss
Worth waiting during wedding day
"MAGICAL moment!," Alex Duatin Leonora smiled when asked about his first kiss with her wife Sheina Marie Llanera Leonora during their wedding ceremony last December 21, 2017 at the Woodridge Clubhouse in Maa, Davao City.
The 39-year-old Alex, a teacher at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Tagum, shared he was looking forward to their first kiss having reserved it for the big day. He asked Sheina to be his girlfriend on February 16, 2013 then proposed to her to be his wife on March 19, 2017 with members of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) Davao as witnesses.
Sheina, 30, accounting head at Rasay Group of Companies, revealed she was scared. So when officiating evangelist Ronald Mendres declared them husband and wife told Alex, "You may now kiss the bride", it took them about three attempts to make the kiss count. At first, Sheina pulled away but with much prodding and encouragement from everybody else, the newlyweds at last pulled it off.
"Nahadlok ko at first kay di ko kabalo unsa nang kiss. First time nako jud to ba (I was fearful at first `coz I didn't know anything about kissing. It was my first time)," Sheina laughed.
Keeping their relationship pure for almost five years before they got married was a tall order, Alex said, but it took deep conviction about purity and reverence and love for God to overcome the challenges and temptations they faced.
"God made the difference in our relationship, waiting for the right time to have our first kiss was worth it. It really takes conviction to do that," Alex, who hails from Surallah, said, adding that he loves and respects Sheina so he was willing to wait.
He thanked the church for helping them and reminding them through God's Word that the goal of their relationship is to glorify God. Focusing on the goal, according to Alex, helped him face temptations in a victorious way.
Sheina, born in Tagum City, meanwhile, said: "At this age, I can say that it is still possible to keep one's dating relationship pure through God. Almost five years.. grabe ang temptation. But the more I appreciated God's design of marriage and I am so grateful for His protection of our purity all these years. I understood that our marriage is not only because we love each other but also because God made it possible for us."
She thanked God and the church for their guidance all throughout their relationship from dating to engagement and to their wedding until now. Discipling and counseling trough the Bible continue to help them nurture their new journey as a married couple.