About Loving the Distance

INDAY'S STORY

Inday I. Nagintay

My name is Inday I. Nagintay and I've never been a believer of long distance relationships (LDR)…N-E-V-E-R. I believed that LDRs are doomed to utter failure.

So how come I've suddenly flipped to the other side and started to love the distance?

The gazillions of sob stories I've seen on media: movies, TV (yes, these are not always fiction! Look at Maalaala Mo Kaya and their OFW stories…SERIOUSLY!) plus books AND the tragic cheezums (yes, when there's smoke there is fire…most of the time!) heard from relatives and friends and friends of friends of friends have helped build a pretty solid foundation that LDRs would never work.

And worst of all, what further cemented this belief system making it damn S-O-L-I-D, is that the tragedy of a failed LDR happened to a couple I admired soooooooooooo much…This couple was my parents.

Let's not get into the gory details but it pretty much traumatized me. The distance damaged my parents' relationship and much more our family. I was so bitter and cynical about LDRs…until, by some stroke of twisted fate, IT happened to ME.

Around a year fresh out of my LDR trauma, the love of my life, Dodong D. Cierto, was offered a greener than green opportunity in the Middle East. An offer he couldn't resist. (E sampalin ka ba naman ng dollars? Madaming dollars compared to the measely salary he was getting!!!) And so he left to find gold in the desert, while leaving me here in the Philippines.

It was and still is a challenge, but after 366 days (as of June 29…Our site was hacked – BOO! so we are reposting.) of being separated by time (may time difference) and distance (4,297 miles to be exact!), Dodong and I have survived unscathed. Our relationship and love (if even quantifiable) is stronger than ever!

PENELOPE'S STORY

Penelope

My name is Penelope and I'm a big fan of long distance relationships (LDRs).  Thanks to the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, and those Sweet Dreams books I devoured when I was 12. Lovers pining away and beautifully written letters are so romantic, aren't they?

The thing is, I never really expected to find myself in an LDR. Its one of those things that you'd rather ooh and ahh over from afar but not be in one  yourself. To make matters even more complicated, the person I fell in love with isn't even Filipino.

How did this long distance, multi-cultural situation ever fall into my hands?

Pad Thai and I were involved in global advocacy work. Though we belonged to different organizations, we often saw each other in a lot of meetings and workshops. We became good friends and- before you can say Bradgelina- we fell in love. The thing is, Pad Thai is based in his native Bangkok while I live in Manila. What would Angelina Jolie do?

I don't know.

But, as for me, I decided to give the LDR a shot. It didn't make sense to let go of this wonderful person and the kind of love we shared just because our cities were a three-hour flight away from each other.

The LDR is difficult but it has also been a very positive force in our relationship. Its like a litmus test. Had our commitment and love not been as strong, then the LDR would have reduced our partnership to dust. What happened was that we've been together for one year and a half (and counting), with things blooming for the better.

WHY ARE WE BLOGGING ABOUT OUR LDRs?

Our ultimate goal is to empower couples like us! Couples who are in the same situation we are, sharing a meaningful relationship with someone hundreds or even thousands of miles away from us. We are here to:

• Give you more stuff to do since you've suddenly found out you have more time to spare since your better half is far, far away
• Share tips and tricks we have learned and picked up from our own experiences on how to work on your relationship through the distance
• And more importantly, cheer you on through this challenging time of your life

If our relationships worked for the better, what is stopping you form enjoying the same? The distance is not a bane, but truly a blessing.

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay and Penelope

P.S. Feel free to get in touch with US via email: us@lovingthedistance.com