Proposal in Paris, wedding in Rome for this Pinoy same-sex couple

For many, Paris is the city of love. But for Filipino couple Marc Jason Bautista and John Alex Melencio, it is where they decided that Rome will be the place for them to start of their forever.

Bautista and Melencio will be the first Filipino same-sex couple to be wed in the capital city of Italy. It will be held on November 26 at the Complesso Vignola Mattei.

The civil union was decided upon after Bautista proposed to Melencio in front of the Eiffel Tower while on vacation.

"We had been talking about getting married prior to that proposal for we really wanted to keep each other in our lifetime and to be together in the long run," Bautista told GMA News Online.

A modern rom-com

Bautista, an OFW in Rome for the past eight years, met Melencio, a nurse, in a club while the latter was spending a European holiday with friends.

What would normally stay as a casual acquaintanceship turned into a crisis-forged friendship as Melencio would lose his UK residence permit, forcing him to stay in Rome for more than 10 days.

"I helped him and assisted him in so many ways including visa application so that he can go back to England," Bautista said.

Like many modern rom-coms, the friendship turned to a romance that almost ended when Melencio flew back to the UK.

"At first, we wanted to cease the feelings that we acquired when we were together. But before he flew back to UK, we decided to continue what we started and to love each other in spite of the long distance," Bautista recalled.

Their long-distance relationship continued even after Melencio flew back home as Bautista was surprised him by welcoming him at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon the former's return.

In the weeks that Bautista spent with Melencio and his family, the couple decided to make things official. Then there was the proposal in Paris.

The wedding plan

Once they decided to get married, the pair asked for their parents' blessings despite their reservations.

Bautista explained, "They do understand that it’s for our happiness and it’s for the sake of our genuine love for each other."

To make their union happen, the two sought certificates of no marriage or singleness from the Embassy of the Philippines in Rome for submission to Rome's registry office.

After two months, they got the call for their first of two appointments for the civil union.

"They stated the gist of the civil union law and asked us to book for a date for our ceremony which will be considered as the second appointment that will conclude the whole process of our civil union," Bautista said.

As he is a resident of Rome, Bautista only paid €150 for their certificate.

Let the world know

Bautista advised same-sex couples to let the world know about their plans for marriage if they ever decide to tie the knot.

"When you really love each other and you are serious about settling down together, don’t be afraid to let the world know because at the end of the day, true love will make you happy and it will allow the people around you to understand and to respect both of you as long as you are not doing any harm to others," he said.

He added that while it's not necessary to get married for a partnership to last a lifetime, the union strengthened his partnership with Melencio and will give them the legal rights they "deserve in this world."

The couple plans to live in the UK after the ceremony. —KBK, GMA News