Still in love: Marriages that have stood the test of time
There’s more to making a marriage last than a pair of rings and a piece of paper. It goes beyond the quirky meet-cute, the thrilling dates, the unique proposal, the perfect wedding.
What stories that end with “And they lived happily ever after” seldom tell us is that relationships take work. But at least it’s work you do with someone you love, someone you chose, and someone who chose to love you back.
For these loving couples, “forever” doesn’t just happen—they make it happen.
National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, married to Emmy for 39 years
For married couples, I subscribe to the saying “happy wife, happy life.” Very simple, but sometimes complicated. No relationship is perfect. No family is perfect. It shouldn’t be very difficult if a man remembers that he promised to take care of his wife and make her happy—“in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”
During the exciting wooing stage, you did your best to make her happy, did things that made her smile, said things that made her blush, and brought her flowers and presents—no matter how simple—that brightened up her day.
True, those days are way past and gone. Children come and grow up and leave. We adjust. There are many challenges that face family life. We face them. We adjust. Along the way, there are bitter words exchanged. We pause. We adjust. There could be feelings of neglect and there will be tampuhan. We rectify. We adjust. We have problems with funds. We review, we fix it, we work on it, and decide and rank as to which is important. We adjust. There are the usual family problems with the children growing up and itching to be independent. We recognize. We adjust. No matter how difficult, we have to pause and adjust.
For any couple who promised to work on their relationship from day one, they will be together till death do them part. It needs a lot of patience and understanding from each couple. Acceptance and tolerance is also a must for a relationship to stay strong. Every day is a work in progress and if you stay grounded in the present, it will surely bring you to a stable future.
SSI Group chair Donnie Tantoco, married to Crickette for 36 years
We met for the first time in 1983. I was her blind date for her high school prom. We got along really well but she had a boyfriend and I had a girlfriend.
We were both stuck in New York City during the summer of 1986. I was working as a sales associate in Bloomingdale’s and she was a senior sales associate in Ann Taylor. That’s when we started dating each other, in 1986. I proposed marriage in November of 1986, and we got married in Hong Kong in 1988.
I think knowing each other’s nonnegotiables helps us have a long-lasting relationship. I actually can’t tell you what Crickette’s are, but I recognize it when I see it and I make sure no one—especially myself—violates it.
It helps to know each other’s signature emotion. Crickette’s is anger, so when she gets angry I almost always do not get affected. To me, that’s just her default emotion, and it’s better and healthier for her to express it than suppress it.
I think we have never lost our curiosity—and also fascination—for one another. I am so curious about her, and I never feel like I already know her so well. I want to be that person in her life that she can say is her greatest constant, that longs to know her better than anyone in the world. I trust her totally because I know that even when she is being so strong-willed and adamant, at the end of the day she loves me more than I love myself.
Soprano Gerphil Flores-Libanan, married to Brad for five years
It’s about mutual respect, open communication, and unwavering support for each other’s dreams and goals. It’s about growing together and finding joy in the little moments.
Writer and expo organizer Marbee Shing Go, married to Berg for 22 years
For us, it’s all about acknowledging and supporting each other’s quirks. “Grow Old with You” was the song we chose for our wedding 22 years ago, and it perfectly encapsulates our journey together. Beyond the playful banter over the remote control—which I’m grateful he lets me hold—it’s about embracing the little moments that make us unique. Like when we spontaneously donned matching raincoats for a fun photo in unpredictable weather, even if we aren’t really into OOTDs, just because. Those shared laughs and unwavering support for each other’s “crazies” are what truly strengthen our bond.
Makeup artist Denise Ochoa, married to Dominic for 17 years
Dominic and I believe in communication, kindness, acceptance, and shared laughter as some anchors of a great relationship. We respect each other’s individuality but still try to make it a point to grow together. Love evolves, and so should the relationship.
It’s about the little things, like sharing coffee in the morning, supporting each other’s dreams, and staying best friends at every stage of life. Our relationship isn’t perfect but it’s the best that we can ever have.
Commitment is key, and keeping God at the core strengthens everything we do.
Fashion advocate and art patron Maritess Pineda, married to Jesus for 56 years
The secret is: Win a few, lose a few. If this time you don’t get it, maybe the next time you’ll be the one to get it. Don’t be stubborn about something. Choose what you will fight for. Because if it’s not worth fighting for, just let it go. I always ask myself if I would have said yes to him long ago even if this happens. Whatever state I am in, I would have said yes to him long ago. Then I let go of what the obstacles. I already said yes, so make the most out of it. But see where you can win it, and where you will lose it, just let it go.
Chemist, tablescape artist, and philanthropist Pinky Tobiano, married to Juancho Robles for 10 years
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about love, it’s that it takes effort, but it’s worth it. Here are the three biggest things that have helped us:
1. Keep talking and really listen. One thing we always remind each other is that good communication makes everything easier. We talk openly, share our thoughts, and most importantly, we listen—not just to reply, but to truly understand. Whenever something’s bothering us, we address it with love instead of letting it pile up.
2. Keep the spark alive. Just because we’ve been together for a while doesn’t mean we stop making an effort. We still go on dates, we still surprise each other, and we still make time to laugh and have fun. Love grows when you keep doing the little things that made you fall in love in the first place.
3. Choose each other every day. Love isn’t just about feelings—it’s a choice we make daily. Even on the hard days, we choose to be patient, to be kind, and to keep showing up for each other. Respect, trust, and support are what keep us strong.
Final thought: At the end of the day, love lasts when you work at it together. It’s not about never having problems—it’s about facing them as a team and always choosing each other. —WITH A REPORT FROM PAM PASTOR
