Two Hearts, One Journey:
From a Sari-Sari Store to the Aisle
Meg & Jherell Alagon
Who would have thought that, on an ordinary day inside Town and Country Subdivision, a simple errand would alter the course of a girl’s life? Meg was headed to a sari-sari store near her uncle’s house, expecting nothing more than a quick snack run. But fate, as it turns out, chooses no place and has impeccable timing.
He was there with his bike, by sheer chance, visiting his aunt who lived just a few blocks away. She didn’t pay much attention to him at the time; in her words, he was “just another unfamiliar face.” But for him, something shifted the moment he saw her. “It was love at first sight,” he would later tell her. That one simple errand marked the beginning of a story that would change both Meg and Jherrel’s lives for the better.
That was 11 years ago.
Love, in their case, didn’t arrive with fireworks or sweeping declarations. It settled in slowly, almost like the breeze that hums through late afternoons in sleepy subdivisions such as Town and Country. His uncle, a friend of her mother’s, would often come by and join the neighborhood circle, those typical Filipino gatherings of chairs on driveways, gossiping or what we now call “Marites-sing” over banana-q and other Pinoy snacks, with laughter lasting until sunset. Through these informal neighborhood assemblies, their paths began to cross more frequently.
“Looking back, it feels like the universe had its own gentle way of bringing us closer, turning a simple trip to the store into the beginning of a beautiful love”, says Meg, recalling that period in her life with extra fondness.
Love, Tested by Distance
Their first year as boyfriend and girlfriend was everything it was supposed to be exciting, joyful, bright with promise. But soon reality stepped in. Jherell graduated from college and began shore-based training for his Maritime career. Meg remained in college, preparing for her own dream of working abroad. Then came the sea. Then came Dubai. Then came thousands of miles between them.
But here’s the thing about love that lasts, it adapts. They learned to stay up late for video calls, to celebrate birthdays apart, to soothe each other through pixelated screens. Their relationship didn’t just survive long-distance; it grew in it. “Distance has never been a barrier,” Meg says. “Because our commitment has always been constant.”
In time, their connection became less about proximity and more about purpose. “We think alike, grow together, and support one another at every level,” Meg adds. She and Jherell didn’t just fall in love; they decided to build something.
A Proposal Not for Instagram, but for Forever
The proposal wasn’t Instagram or TikTok-worthy and thank God for that. It was genuine and intimate. It occurred just before Meg would depart for Dubai again. Jherell gave her a promise ring, not as a mere piece of jewelry, but as a declaration. That no matter how many oceans separated them, the vow would hold. That someday, they’d close the distance for good. “The promise ring represents our dedication and the hope that we will reach our future goals together”, Meg shares.
And they both did.
Planning a Wedding Across Continents
Planning a wedding is already challenging in itself. Now imagine planning one from two different countries, that borders on the impossible. But Meg and Jherell, fueled by their desire to spend their lives together, managed to pull it off, though not without difficulty. To make it work, they enlisted the help of a wedding coordinator in the Philippines. What followed was a chaotic ballet of flight cancellations, rescheduled dates, and extended leaves.
As the big day drew near, Jherell was scheduled to fly home two weeks ahead of Meg, but his flight was postponed. Then it was postponed again. Meg had to extend her stay in the Philippines just to make their new wedding date work. “What was supposed to be a one-month stay turned into two,” she recalls. “Thankfully, my company approved the extension.”
When Jherell finally arrived, everything began to fall into place. Their chosen church, San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish Talisay City Negros Occidental. became the stage for their vows. The reception venue, though not their first choice and selected only because of the peak season, was just 15 minutes away and turned out to be even more perfect than they had imagined.
The theme? Sage green. A tribute to their shared love for nature. A color that spoke of calm, harmony, and fresh beginnings. “To us, sage green symbolizes peace and harmony, qualities we’ve found in each other,” says Meg.
The Day That Changed Everything
Weddings are always emotional. But when you've spent over a decade growing up together, apart, and in tandem, every moment feels monumental.
For Meg, it was walking down the aisle with both parents, a rare moment of pure clarity and love. For Jherell, it was the ecstatic culmination of a long wait, standing there with his parents, watching the church doors open, and realizing that the woman walking toward him was the one he’d waited for all along.
From Lovers to Lifelong Partners
Now married, their vows stretch far beyond that ceremony. Meg calls Jherell “incredibly loving, caring, understanding, and patient.” Their vows weren’t just ceremonial, they were lived truths, shaped by distance and devotion. In letters written to each other after the ceremony, they expressed it best.
“To my beloved husband,” Meg wrote, “God didn’t just bless me with a partner; He gave me a best friend, someone who listens, accepts me wholeheartedly, and loves me despite my flaws….I will always be your number one cheerleader.”
And from Jherell:
“You are my home, my peace, and the most beautiful journey I’ve ever known... I promise to keep choosing you, today, tomorrow, and for all the days we’re given.”
Meg and Jherell’s shared dreams has since expanded, especially of having children, successful careers, traveling the world and just about spending tomorrows together. But the foundation is already solid. It’s there in the promise ring. In the missed flights. In the distance they conquered. In the sari-sari store run that turned into everything.
And in the solid belief that sometimes, the best kind of love is the kind that doesn’t announce itself, but it’s the kind of love that shows up, day after day, even across oceans.
The couple would want to thank their awesome wedding suppliers listed below:
Planning Coordinator: La Fabulosa
Photo & Video Coverage: Jim Journey
Hair & Makeup Artist: Rico Sison
Flowers, Décor & Invitations: La Fabulosa and Decorations
Bridal Gown, Groom’s Suit, Bride’s Robe & Entourage Attire: La Fabulosa Gowns
and Suits
Host: Host Ceazar Ian
Reception Venue: Richmond Inn Hotel
