Despite not having seen other in person, Pinay makes American childhood pen pal her Maid of Honor

A 27-year-old Pinay made her pen pal from the United States her Maid of Honor even if they have not met each other in person. Will her penpal make it to her wedding?

In an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” Sunday, Merrill Martin from Albay shared that she was just eight years old when she joined Compassion International, an international religious organization that helps children from around the world connect with each other.

Since social media wasn’t a thing then, people formed connections through letter-writing.

Through the organization, Merrill found a friend in Marie Buth, who was a high school student based in Massachusetts at that time.

Marie, who is now 35, said: “I was excited to create this new friendship with someone across the world. She seemed very kind-hearted.”

Merrill shared that since she wasn’t that good at constructing sentences in English back then, she’d ask her sister to write it.

In the letters, Marie told Merrill how her letters brightened up her day and there were times that she’d get emotional and cry because Merrill’s letters were very sweet.

“Even though she was afar, I still feel that she was still close,” Marie said.

Aside from receiving letters from Marie, Merrill also received financial aid, which was used for her schooling.

Marie said she was only 17 when she started sponsoring Merrill.

For over six years, Marie and Merrill would write letters to each other, back and forth, until their communication was cut off when Merrill had left the program, since her family could support her studies now.

Marie admitted she was hurt when Merrill’s letters stopped coming. She just received a letter that said that Merrill had left the program.

Going forward

After many years, Merrill finished a degree in hospitality management and found a job.

In 2017, shetook a vacation in Japan where she met Eric, an American. The two fell in love and soon, their petition to be together in America was approved.

When the wedding was finally being arranged, Merrill remembered Marie and wanted her to be her Maid of Honor.

She said, “Kinakabahan ako kasi baka hindi siya maka-attend. Sabi ko sa isip ko parang ayaw kong maglakad kung hindi ko muna mami-meet si Marie (I was nervous because I didn’t know if Marie could make it to the wedding. I told myself that I didn’t want to walk down the aisle without meeting Marie first.”

However, without Merrill’s knowledge, Marie travelled for four hours from Boston to Ohio, and just 15 minutes before Merrill’s wedding, she arrived.

“’Oh my gosh! You are real!’ Talagang niyakap ko talaga siya nang mahigpit (I hugged her),” Merrill said.

During the wedding, Marie spoke. “I never thought this day would come and I know Merrill has been wishing and praying for this day. Dreams really do come true. I’m very happy, I feel blessed to be part of your special day, Merrill. My dear sponsored child, I’m so proud of you that you grew up to be a beautiful woman inside out.”

She added, “Hindi niya nga natanggap iyong pinaka-final letter ko sa kanya.  Sabi ko sumulat ako sa ’yo, umiiyak pa ako. Sabi ko doon sa sulat na, ‘In the future, we will meet each other (Apparently she didn’t receive my last letter. I said in the letter, ‘In the future, we will meet each other).’”

Finally seeing Marie in person on her wedding day, Merrill shared that she was like on cloud nine.

“Gusto kong umiyak (I wanted to cry),” Merrill said. “Parang panaginip lang kasi yung wish ko na gusto siyang makita, magkakatotoo na (It felt like a dream because my wish of finally being able to see her came true).”

Marie said she finally decided to go because “I knew it would mean a lot to her if I came to the wedding, not just as a guest but as her Maid of Honor. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Marie shared that they’ve been in constant communication and even kept in touch almost on a daily basis.

“Salamat na kahit hindi ko siya kadugo, tinulungan niya ako nang buong puso (Thank you because even if she wasn’t my relative, she still helped me out wholeheartedly),” Merrill said.

“Sa pagtanda namin, if ever na wala pa rin siyang family, gusto ko ako ’yung mag-aalaga sa kanya. Parang sa ganung paraan, mapapasalamatan ko siya. Meaningful sa akin nu’ng mga sulat niya and gusto kong ipakita sa magiging anak ko na may ka-pen pal ako. (When we grow older and if she doesn’t have her own family, I want to be the one to take care of her. In that way, I could thank her. Her letters meant a lot to me and I want to show it to my future children.)” – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News