Cristine Reyes says she met Gio Tingson in a marriage booth during their elementary days

Cristine Reyes and her fiancé Gio Tingson have the cutest backstory.

On "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" on Tuesday, the actress revealed that they first met at an Ateneo Grade School fair, where Cristine's school was invited to be among the guests. She recalled that she was in Grade 6 while Gio was in Grade 7.

"I got pulled sa marriage booth," Cristine said. "Hindi siya 'yung groom, siya 'yung pari."

"Nahihiya ako, Tito Boy. So after nung kasal-kasalan, umalis ako agad kasi nahihiya ako eh. Eh 'yun 'yung first encounter ko with boys. All-girls school po ako eh," Cristine said.

Cristine said that Gio looked for her and asked for her number. She gave it but under the name Agent Orange, as she was wearing an orange shirt.

"Nung grade school, nung bata pa kami, lagi kaming telebabad. Four hours, five hours telebabad. But he never really asked me kung gusto niya 'ko maging girlfriend," Cristine said. "Ako naman, OK, sige magkaibigan tayo."

Cristine's friend also gave Gio a picture of their barkada, which he kept for 26 years.

Through the years, Cristine and Gio stayed connected as they knew each other's friends. However, Cristine said they always had "tension."

"Hi, hello. May constant ano eh, may mutual silent attraction," she said. "Everybody knows it naman. My friends and friends niya, alam din naman na may parang tension sa 'ming dalawa. But we don't really parang engage. Kasi may individual life kami noon eh, may sarili siyang partner no'n, ako rin."

Then when they were both single, Gio asked Cristine if they could talk.

"We were always seeing each other right after campaigns," Cristine said, adding that they were both in different parties.

Cristine said they seriously started to date in 2025.

"Tinanong na niya 'ko, finally, after 26 years," she said.

"Lahat ng stages ng buhay namin, nagtatagpo kami, tapos until the very end, kami pa rin pala hanggang sa huli," Cristine added.

Cristine announced her engagement to Gio on May 20.

Cristine was previously married to professional MMA fighter Ali Khatibi in 2016. They have a daughter, Amarah, born in 2015.

In February 2024, Cristine confirmed on "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" that her marriage to Ali had already been annulled. —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA News