Finding the ideal gift amidst the whirlwind of wedding preparations is no easy feat, yet it’s one task that’s filled with heartfelt intentions. For Diana Marie Mendoza-Zabala, a devoted high school Science teacher, this quest took on a new significance just three days before saying “I do.” to Joemar Zabala, a secondary Social Studies educator.

The perfect partner para sa love

Wedding preparations are usually hectic, and Diana and Joemar weren’t exempted from this experience when they started getting ready for their big day. Their schedules and calendars were so full that Diana almost forgot to buy a special gift for Joemar, a present that was intended to be a part of their vows.

Three days before their special day, Diana revisited the mall where they first crossed paths with a clear idea of what she wanted to give him—a watch that would perfectly symbolize their enduring, timeless love. She scoured the mall and found a variety of options, some more affordable than others, but a particular timepiece caught her attention.

“Noong bumili ako ng gift para sa wedding namin, sa SM Store sa Lucena City ako pumunta. Yung gift na gusto kong ibigay ko sa kanya is relo, pero that time, kapos na kami sa budget. Iniisip ko talaga paano ko ma-a-avail yung relo kung wala naman akong hawak na pera para mabarayan siya ng full payment. Buti na lang tinawag ng sales lady yung sales associate ng HomeCredit at nasabihan niya ako na ‘Sakto, Ma’am, naka-promo kami ngayon, 0% interest.

Bago ko ibigay yung regalo kay Joemar, gumawa ako ng letter para sa kanya; pero sa dulo ng message, sinabi ko na bayad na ang downpayment ng relo, siya na nga lang ang bahala sa installment na three months, pero 0% interest naman,” Diana happily recalled.

(I purchased my wedding gift for Joemar in SM Store Lucena. I really wanted to give him a wristwatch as a gift, but at that time, I didn’t have enough money for it. I was thinking of possible ways to get it, even though I didn’t have enough cash on hand, when the sales lady assisting me called for HomeCredit’s sales associate. The associate then went on to tell me that, as luck would have it, HomeCredit had a 0% interest promo at that time.

Before I gave my gift to Joemar, I wrote him a letter, indicating in the last part that I had already paid for the wristwatch’s downpayment, he just needed to pay for the remaining three-month installment fees, but with no interest).

The lifelong companion in every chapter

And then, it was D-day. As Diana presented Joemar with her gift availed through HomeCredit, videographer Bryant Nanez captured the heartfelt moment, where Diana even presented Joemar with the HomeCredit care card as part of her present, in a sensational same-day-edit video. The sincerity and distinctiveness of the gesture caused the video, which was posted online, to go viral and quickly garner over 41.5K views. The unexpected attention from the public was a delightful surprise for the couple, who were overjoyed to see their wedding inspiring viewers.

“At HomeCredit, we understand the importance of celebrating life’s special moments, especially when it comes to love. As a trusted lifestyle partner, our commitment lies in delivering convenient and fast access to credit, empowering Filipinos to lead the lives they deserve. We are overjoyed to be a part of not just Diana and Joemar’s beautiful love story, but also of the multitude of life stories that we touch through our services,” Sheila Paul, Chief Marketing Officer of HomeCredit Philippines, expressed.

Joemar conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to HomeCredit for consistently serving as a reliable partner throughout the various chapters of his life.

“Kung tao si HomeCredit, lubos kaming magpapasalamat sa kanya dahil noong walang-wala ako, naging malaking tulong ito para sakin. Ngayon na nagsisimula na kami bilang mag-asawa, gusto naming makapagpundar ng mga gamit, at naisip namin na why not i-try namin gamit ang HomeCredit.

Pero hihintayin muna namin na matapos ang existing loan namin dahil ang pagkuha ng loan ay isang proseso na kailangang pagplanuhan kung kailan dapat kunin. Ito ay isang responsibilidad at ang mga nagagamit natin na galing sa hiram ay kailangan nating bayaran dahil napakinabangan na natin ang mga ito, at dahil naging mabait ang mga nagpahiram nito at napakabilis lang din naman ang proseso,” Joemar remarked.

(If HomeCredit were a person, we would thank them profusely because they were there for us when we had close to none. Now that we are starting our married life, we would like to build a home and try to use HomeCredit for it.

However, we would wait first to finish our existing HomeCredit loan, since acquiring loans is a process that needs thorough thinking and planning. Getting loans is a responsibility, and the things that we get to use and enjoy because of it need the right repayments since the creditor was generous enough to let us borrow, and the process of borrowing was also fast and convenient.)

With this touching wedding tale, how did Joemar discover the love of his life, Diana? To unveil the enchanting story that binds them, let’s rewind to the very beginning.

A tale of love at first sight

Diana and Joemar’s charming love story unfolded when fate intervened one day. According to Joemar, the magic began with a love-at-first-sight encounter. Sometime in 2017, while browsing through social media, he stumbled upon Diana’s profile, tagged in a wedding photo shared by mutual friends.

“Social media talaga ang naging way para magkakilala kami nitong aking asawa. [Noong nakita ko siya], sabi ko, why not i-chat ko siya? Noong first time ko siyang na-meet, parang na-love at first sight ako. Na-realize ko agad na magiging asawa ko siya,” Joemar fondly reminisced.

(Social media paved the way for our paths to cross. When I first saw her profile, all I could think of was sending her a chat message. The first time I met her, it felt like love at first sight, and I already knew back then that she would be my future wife.)

Following their initial meeting, their love blossomed, leading them to officially become a couple. During the first two years of their relationship, they chose to keep things lowkey, recognizing Diana’s parents’ protective nature. They discreetly went on dates, always respecting her parents’ wishes, and adhering to her 7 PM curfew, despite both being of legal age.

As a couple, Joemar and Diana share a simple yet meaningful connection, marked by common hobbies, interests, and values. They enjoy exploring different restaurants, savoring new experiences one venue at a time—and being practical about it. This love language formed the foundation of their relationship.

Seven years down the road, Joemar and Diana embraced the next chapter of their love story, deciding to exchange vows and tie the knot in 2023. After their union, Joemar and Diana were abundantly blessed. They acquired a new home and a car, and the blessings continued with the anticipation of a baby on the way.

Learn more about Joemar and Diana’s love story here.

To know more about the latest updates from HomeCredit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.

HomeCredit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).