A hiker's definition: The  meet before the actual trek.

Translation: How we were leading our lives before getting together 

Nenet. I graduated with a nursing degree and a masters in public health from the Adventist University of the Philippines in Cavite. In 2002, I was in the middle of preparing required documents for my employee-based immigration. I was savoring singlehood bliss. I was telling myself that leaving a boyfriend in the Philippines is not an option. Definitely, I was not looking for love.  I did not know I was walking straight towards it. 

Edwin. I am the street-wise, business-minded guy, the sort who junked an office job and traded it for my own business. I tended to it on weekdays and was off to a hike during weekends.  That was THE life. Then I decided to go back to school and take up nursing.  In 2002,  I joined a hike to Cristobal where I would find my treasure.

A hiker's definition: The Filipino version of trailhead. The trail starts here.

Translation: Getting to know each other.

Nenet: I was hiking to Cristobal with my bestfriends. There was another group hiking too, we didn't know them but it was a good place to make new friends. Of course, flash flirty smiles too if someone caught my eye. After all, what did being single mean?

Edwin: Hmmm!!! I saw that smile.  I always knew you were attracted to me first!

Nenet and Edwin: A flirty smile, the courteous gentleman on the hike. Next thing, we're hiking buddies. On to Pulag and Tapulao.

A hiker's definition: Take five minutes to rest.

Translation: Five minutes to say hi on the phone, all five fingers used to text those messages (joke! hehehe!), 500 pesos for prepaid cards... In short,  spending time with each other more and more.

A hiker's definition: A peak passed on the way to Mt. Pulag's summit.  Imposing enough, breathtaking itself, only surpassed by Pulag's grandeur.

Translation: Our civil wedding

Nenet and Edwin: August 15, 2003, high noon at Tagaytay, surrounded by our families and a handful of friends, we take our marriage vows. The judge herself is moved to tears as we gaze into each other's eyes and promise each other, "...In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do us part."

The Peak

Seven Summits