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Lifestyle

Here’s how Hidilyn Diaz and Julius Naranjo’s love story started


After coming home with the country's first ever Olympic gold medal, Hidilyn Diaz announced that she and her boyfriend and coach Julius Naranjo finally got engaged!

In a "Tunay na Buhay" episode, the two narrated how their love story unfolded.

According to half-Filipino, half-Japanese Julius, he was based in Guam when he met Hidilyn.

"When I first met Hidilyn I didn't know, I really didn't know that she was a silver medalist. She was a fellow Filipino that I can meet 'cause I'm from Guam and I'm half-Filipino. I just thought it was great to meet Filipinos from the Philippines at a competition abroad," he said.

Soon, the two got together and started dating. Hidilyn said Julius was already her boyfriend when he became her coach because a coach resigned before the 2016 Olympics.

"So ayun pumasok siya. Sabi niya ako mag-coach. Sabi ko magaling ka ba?" Hidilyn said.

[So he joined the team. He said he'll be my coach. I asked, are you good?]

Hidilyn also said it took time to earn her trust, especially because she was an athlete.

"Kahit sabihin na exercise science major siya, naging coach siya, hindi ako basta-basta naniniwala kahit boyfriend 'yan. Hindi pwede ganoon. 'Yung trust, it takes time," the gold medalist said.

[Even if he's an exercise science major, he's been a coach, I don't just trust people, even if he's my boyfriend. It can't be like that. Trust takes time.]

The weightlifting champion also said their relationship wasn't a walk in the park, and Julius himself admitted it wasn't normal.

"Alam ko mahirap sa kanya. Nahirapan siya. Sobrang nahirapan siya, Masyado akong focus sa ginagawa ko eh. 'Pag weightlifting, 'pag focus ako sa Olympics, sobrang focus ako sa ginagawa ko," Hidilyn said.

"Sabi nga niya hindi normal relasyon natin. Syempre coach and athlete. Kailangan i-set aside pagiging boyfriend niya," she said.

[I know it's hard for him. I’m too focused on what I’m doing. When it's weightlifting, when it’s the Olympics, I'm really focused on what I'm doing. He himself said our relationship isn't normal. We're coach and athlete. He has to set aside being my boyfriend.]

"Minsan sobra akong stubborn as an athlete and girlfriend. Siguro swerte ako doon na 'yun 'yung binigay sa ’kin ni God na ’tong taong makakaintindi at tutulungan ako."

[Sometimes I'm very stubborn as an athlete and girlfriend. I guess I'm lucky that God gave me this person who will understand and help me.]

The two proved their devotion to each other when Julius decided to stay in Manila instead of going back to Guam.

"Mas humaba 'yung hair ko noong 2018 noong sinabi niya kasi, 'nagplaplano na ako pumunta ng China. Magtra-training sa China.' Bigla na lang, 'di, magsta-stay ako dito sa Manila,'" Hidilyn said.

[I was really flattered in 2018 when he said, 'I'm planning to go to China. I'm training in China.' But then he said, 'no, I'm staying here in Manila.'”]

She added that she scolded him for staying because he had a good life in Guam, but he stood his ground.

"She's very beautiful. She caught my attention, couldn't stop smiling. Whether she's in workout clothes or in a beautiful dress, she's still beautiful. It doesn't change. It's still the same feeling," said Julius.

During the episode, Hidilyn expressed her desire to get married in a church, but at the end of the day, she said any kind of wedding would do.

"Basta magpakasal okay na ako (as long as I get married, I'm okay)," she jokingly added. 

On Saturday, Hidilyn revealed that Julius popped the big question and she didn't hesitate to say yes.

Hidilyn and Julius are both leaving the country to go back to a training facility in Malaysia and gear up for the IWF World Championship set to unfurl on Dec. 7 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News

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