Elaborate wedding proposals that knocked it out of the park

These days more is more, especially when it comes to wedding proposals. More surprises, more people involved, more choreography and production, and in some cases, definitely more money spent.

From within the aquariums of the Manila Ocean Park to the field of the Philippine Military Academy premises in Baguio, the creativity of these smitten grooms-to-be knows no bounds.

Restaurant hostage-taking



An armed man being chased by the police storms into the Van Gogh is Bipolar restaurant along Maginhawa Street in Sikatuna Village. He takes one customer hostage, as there are sirens sounding outside and the police are yelling. Faced with death, the hostage's final wish is to marry his girlfriend, who was eating dinner along with him before the hullabaloo.

Luckily, the girl must be fond of watching shows depicting horrific situations, as her boyfriend's proposal went like this: “Will you be my partner in case of a zombie apocalypse? May I have the honor to be your husband? Will you marry me?”

Underwater outing



Imagine walking among the fishes, within one of Manila Ocean Park's aquariums with your significant other. Your guide directs you both to kneel. Suddenly, your significant other passes you a wooden box—when you open it, the ring glints at you and the guide flips the DO NOT FEED THE FISH sign around. Now it reads, WILL YOU MARRY ME?

They even prepared a sign that reads YES! on one side and NO. on the other. And behind the aquarium glass, people are bunching their fingers on each hand and bringing them together, signalling for a kiss.

Eastwood flashmob



It's your average flashmob at a high-end mall. The dancers lead the crowd—including the couple in question—out onto the square during LMFAO's “Party Rock Anthem” and rock the shuffle, too. Then they mellow down and partner with each other to Ne-Yo's “Let Me Love You.” And by the time Train's “Marry Me” rolls out, the dancers have separated into two lines, each one swiveling on one knee in the typical proposal position as Karl walks past them and pulls out the jewel box for Cheryl.

Even Cheryle's barkada and some of Karl's relatives were in on it, some of them dancing in the mob.

Broadway musical at the Fort



This couple went for lunch at 2nd's at Fort High Street. Like every good proposal setup, Vida had no idea that everyone in the entire restaurant would burst into song one by one. Some of the waiters would even partner off with the customers and dance atop the chairs. Her parents and friends would be among the singing, dancing crowd, and that even her boyfriend Gino, who had supposedly gone to the bathroom, would emerge singing, and with a ring in a box.

And like Cheryl in the previous video, such was the extent of Vida's cluelessness that she brought out her phone to record the whole thing. Her tears of joy and excited leaping were caught on the production cameras.

Food tour in Binondo



After waiting a few hours for Jella, who was apparently having the “worst day of her life,” Ross took her out for a walking food tour in Binondo. Meanwhile, unknown to her, the front of the Binondo Plaza was filling up with pink balloons. Soon enough, the City of Manila Marching Band was playing all her favorite songs as a procession of people composed of their families and friends made their way to the plaza. The woman, who followed the crowd, is suddenly pushed into the middle of a circle of friends holding bouquets of red roses.

Just as they're done unloading the bouquets in her arms and as she unloads happy tears, Ross walks amid the sparklers and the illustration boards reading SAY YES and proposes.

The 'budget proposal'



Magdalo Party Representative Ashley Acedillo had to coax his fellow lawmakers into his plot, which would take place at his first budget deliberation as a congressman. Meanwhile, girlfriend Maria Paz Victoria Ocampo was stuck in two hours' worth of traffic after a long day of school and was thinking of not going to support her boyfriend, whom she had known a while prior to dating.

The proposal was so successful that she actually zoned out as it was happening. The kilig feeling caught up with her when she saw it on video later on.

The loudest silent drill



Even military men have soft sides, as proven by First Lieutenant Dejonne Maralli of class '97 when he proposed to his girlfriend Dr. Elaine Fortus during one of the Philippine Military Academy's regular silent drills in Baguio.

The marching cadets suddenly formed I <3 U on the field and Fortus was called onto the stage by her hubby-to-be. Ever her friends and fellow doctors were in on the ploy, and were perhaps among those who trilled and cheered in the crowd as Maralli brought out the ring.

A sweet welcome home



Usually, family members are the ones welcoming balikbayan home at the airport. But for Mutya, it was her unknowing family-to-be: her boyfriend Jun, and a bunch of stoic guys wearing t-shirts that bore each of the letters in I LOVE YOU MUTYA. ,

When they finished giving her the roses, Jun showed up and presented her with the ring.

Seeing stars



GMA reporter Mariz Umali had no idea that fellow reporter Raffy Tima was going to be in the latest episode of popular fantaserye “Amaya” when he took her for a private screening of the show's newest episode at the time. But there he was, in a plain shirt and everything, announcing to one and all how much he loved her and the cast cheering behind him.

Raffy, who was sitting beside her on the couch, turned to her, brought out the ring, and proposed.

The proposal was so successful that the first thing she said was, “Bakit hindi mo ako sinama sa shooting ng Amaya?”

Watch out for the egg



This Easter egg hunt in UP Diliman turned out to be anything but ordinary when Ann found an engagement ring in the Easter egg beneath her chair. She received a bouquet of flowers and balloons and was called onstage, where her boyfriend of 17 years, Alex, was waiting to propose to her.

Naturally, the auditorium filled with applause. — Vida Cruz/DVM, GMA News