Filipina-Emirati couple finds lasting love after a rough start

Finding love at first sight is often portrayed as an almost perfect tale. But for Filipina-Emirati couple Aizel Lois Borongan and Khalid Al Jaber, their love was tested and strengthened after a rough start.

In an episode of GMA Pinoy TV’s “Finding Mahal,” Aizel and Khalid recalled how fate brought them together at a restaurant.

“It was just a very simple day where I was having coffee,” Aizel said.

“My plan is just to grab my favorite double cheeseburger, one sandwich, one meal and then just go home,” Khalid added.

What began as an ordinary day took an unexpected turn when Khalid mustered the courage to approach Aizel and introduce himself.

“When I just crossed over and I saw her, I don't know, there was something that just attracted me to her. So I just said, okay, let me take an action and go and talk to her,” Khalid said.

“So I just went and said, ‘Hi, how are you? My name is Khalid,' and she said, ‘Hi,’ and she was looking at me like, Okay, what's going on? Love at first sight, actually,” he added.

Rough start

Their relationship, however, did not begin smoothly. Aizel and Khalid had to navigate their differing lifestyles, particularly Khalid’s struggles with drinking and partying.

“He was a drunk man before; like, literally every day, he's drinking. So that's his life,” Aizel said.

“And I just party, drink every day, and all vices. And I wasn't thinking about my health, and I wasn't thinking about the future. I wasn't thinking about anything. I just want to live the day, sleep, wake up tomorrow, and do the same thing. Like it's a daily routine for me,” Khalid recalled.

Aizel said Khalid displayed “all the red flags,” but she also believed he could change.

“He has all the red flags. This man, he is a lost soul. He might just need someone to motivate him,” Aizel said.

“I will not forget that line. She told me that I don't imagine myself with a drunk man… She changed my life,” Khalid said.

“Slowly, he changed. And actually, one day, he decided to lessen his alcohol intake,” Aizel added.

As their relationship deepened and trust grew, Khalid eventually decided to propose.

With Aizel asleep beside him and his phone recording on Facebook Live, Khalid popped the question.

“I said, 'Okay,' I said, 'guys, I have a surprise for you… And she doesn't know she was sleeping like deadly. And then I wake her up. ‘Mahal, mahal.’ And she just woke up like she wasn't aware what really was going on,” Khalid recalled.

“I checked after that. And that's when I realized, oh my God… he proposed to me on Live!” Aizel said.

Building a life together

Now raising their daughter, Amira, Aizel and Khalid said they are grateful for the unwavering support they give each other as parents.

“Now that we have our own child, he exceeded my expectations. He's very hands-on to Amira. He is really very supportive and my partner in everything,” Aizel said.

Despite coming from different cultures, Aizel said their differences have never stood in the way of building their family. Instead, they hope to pass both cultures on to their daughter.

“We want Amira to have both cultures, able to learn both languages, Arabic and Tagalog. Because at the end of the day, it is part of who she is. We would love her to enjoy two cultures,” Aizel explained.

For Aizel and Khalid, finding their “mahal” means choosing the person with whom they want to spend the rest of their lives.

“Thank you for everything. Thank you for being a good provider. Protector of our family. Thank you for the love, the care, for being a good husband and for being a good, hands-on father to Amira. I love you,” Aizel told her husband.

“Thank you also as well for entering my life [and] changing me for what I am today. And for bringing a blessing to our life, which is Amira. And I will love you forever,” Khalid responded. — VBL, GMA News