Love at first letter: Couple finds romance through handwritten notes

Adelina and Ponching attest that writing love letters is one way to find a love that lasts. Photo courtesy of Moanah Manalang/Facebook. Graphics: Kathy Baugbog/INQUIRER.net trainee

They say handwritten love letters will never go out of style because they convey a uniqueness that text messages alone cannot express.

Unlike emojis sent from digital texts, love letters deliver the personal emotions of a writer, as shown in every stroke of their pen. They read through the mixed-up words whenever the writer gets too excited or is keen to choose the most beautiful words when the writer is in love.

For Adelina, 92, there is nothing more romantic than receiving a love letter solely written for her, believing that there are not enough text messages that can match what handwritten letters can give.

It was 1952 in Tondo, Manila, when Ponching, Adelina’s lover, began writing letters to her that sparked the love of a lifetime.

She appreciates not simply the words in the letter but the heartfelt feeling and pure intention that accompany them.

“Even when I was just reading the letter, I knew he was really talking to me. I could feel his emotions because it was like I was the one in front of him while he was writing,” Adelina said.

Ponching built adoration toward the young lady he did not know the name upon seeing her pass by in front of his house every time she was asked to do an errand.

Curious to know who the girl was, the young man asked another neighbor, who turned out to be Adelina’s sibling.

‘Ang iyong lingkod’

Sept. 28, 1952. Ponching’s first letter to “Dely” (Adelina) contains his intention to get to know the young lady. Photos courtesy of Moanah Manalang/Facebook

“Dely, nalalaman kong sa mga sumasandaling ito ay labis at labis ang iyong pagtataka kung bakit kita nilihaman, at masasabi mo tuloy sa akin na ako’y lubhang napakapangahas, hindi ba?”

“Ngunit bago mo ako hatulan ay bayaan mong isulat ko sa iyo ang buong katotohanan. Marahil ay hindi pa masusungkit ng iyong isipan na sa tuwing magdaraan ka sa harapan namin ay napapansin mong sa iyo nakapako ang aking paningin.”

“Gayon pa man, nang mga sumasandaling yoon ay pinagpipilitan kong mapaglaban ang simbuyo ng aking sarili pagkat naaalangan akong ipahiwatig sa iyo nang harapan ang damdamin ng aking puso dala ng aming kahirapan, ngunit ngayon ay hindi na kaya ng aking sarili na mapaglabanan pa ang tunay na tibukin ng aking puso.”

“Ang pag-ibig kong ito ang inihahandog ko sa iyong mga yapak kung magiging karapat-dapat ang isang katulad ko.”

Ponching wrote a total of three letters, which were received by different people before reaching Adelina. Her sister read the first letter while her aunt read the second. Finally, the young man had the courage to personally give her the third.

Before formally courting her, Ponching wrote Adelina his second letter to express his admiration for the young lady and respectfully ask for her family’s permission before he officially visited their house to court his beloved.

‘Laging naghihintay’

Oct. 23, 1952. In his second letter, Ponching seeks permission from Adelina to visit her at their house and formally court her. Photos courtesy of Moanah Manalang/Facebook

“Yayamanin din lamang pumasakamay mo na ang una kong liham, ay mabatid mo ang nilalaman ay bayaan mo munang sa sandaling ito ay iyong pananahimik, ay isusulat ko sa iyo ang kagalakang nangungumapaw sa aking puso, pagkat hindi ka nagmaramot ng pagtunghay sa aking liham, at hindi lamang ang pagtunghay mo sa aking liham ang nagbigay kagalakan sa aking puso kundi ang pagtatapat mo sa iyong mga tiyahin tungkol sa aking layunin sa iyo.”

“Dely, noong una pa lamang ay talagang binuo ko na sa aking sarili ang magsadya sa inyong tahanan, at doon ko sasabihin sa iyo ang talagang nanialoob ko.”

“Ngunit huwag mong akalin na sa pamamagitan lamang ng liham na ito masasabi ko ang tibukin ng aking puso… Kaya’t kung magiging maluwag para sa iyo ang araw ng Sabado o Linggo, ay magsasadya ako diyan sa iyong tahanan sa ganap na ikapito ng gabi 7:00PM at tuloy hihingi ako ng pahintulot sa iyong mga itinuturing na mga magulang kung ang isang katulad ko ay maaaring makapagsadya sa inyong tahanan.”

Doing the traditional Filipino courting, Adelina’s suitor also had to go through the eye of a needle.

When Adelina’s uncle discovered she had a suitor, he asked Ponching to visit their house and drink with him. Little did he know, it was going to be his first challenge as the young lady’s lover.

When he arrived, he was surprised to be greeted with two boxes of beers. Adelina’s uncle challenged him to see if the young man would tend to cause a fight when he was drunk.

The uncle was then impressed when Ponching just fell asleep after their drinking session. He knew at that time that he passed the first round to Adelina’s heart.

From that day on, the young man started pursuing her beloved in their house, proving he was worthy of her trust and love.

But making their relationship official happened out of the blue. Adelina shared that she gave Ponching her sweetest “yes” when she least expected, only with the feeling that the time was just right.

Before Ponching left their house to go to work, the young lady chased after him and finally uttered the words the young man had been waiting for, the two words that would lock in their warm feelings: “Mahal kita.” (I love you)

Since then, their love grew from the pieces of paper and turned words of affirmation into reality. 

‘Laging nagmamahal’

Nov. 21, 1952. Ponching expresses his happiness in his third letter when Adelina finally reciprocates his love and assures her of his genuine trust. Photos courtesy of Moanah Manalang/Facebook

“Bagama’t iilang araw pa lamang ang namamagitan sa ating hindi pagkikita ay pinagsumikapan ko ng gumawa ng kahit kapirasong liham para sa ito upang sa gayon ay huwag ka namang lubhang mainip sa paghihintay sa aking pagdating. Alam kong nananabik ka rin sa pagniniig natin tulad ng aking pananabik, unang una ay bago pa lamang nagkakaunawaan ang ating mga puso.”

“Hindi ko malaman kung anong kaligayahan ang sumapuso nang sabihin mo sa akin na minamahal mo rin ako tulad ng pagmamahal kong iniyulab sa iyo kaya’t ang masasabi ko sa iyo ay igawad mo sa akin ang lubusan mong pagtitiwala ng sa gayon ay huwag mamagitan sa atin ang ano mang alitan. Halimbawa hindi ako makapunta diyan sa araw ng Sabado o Miyerkules dahilan ng aking pagtatrabaho, alam mo namang kung hindi ako magsumikap ay hindi kami kakain.”

“Mahal ko, noong gabing nanggaling ako diyan sa inyo ay hindi ko mawari kung ako’y nangarap lamang pagkat hindi ko akalain na ang gabing yaon ang gabi ng aking kaligayahan, kaya’t pagsapit ko ng bahay namin ay ibinalita ko kaagad sa aking mga kapatid, ay sila naman ay hindi tumututol sa ating pag-iibigan.”

“Kaya’t umaaasa akong ipapanatag mo sana, Mahal ko, ang iyong kalooban ng sa gayon ay laging manatiling maligaya ang ating pagmamahalan. Nasabi ko sa iyo ang bagay na ito upang ipakilala ko sa iyo ang katapatan at kalinisan ng aking layunin sa iyo, at gayon din naman sa kapakanan ng ating hinaharap upang laging manatiling mapanatag ang ating kalooban.”

Ponching patiently courted Adelina for over six months and tied the knot two months later. Their love has given them seven children.

72 years later, the feelings of love Ponching left through his letters are still alive in Adelina’s heart and mind. Although her memories may sometimes fail, she knew Ponching’s letters would always remind her of how beautiful their love was in the 1950s.

Adelina believes that the love letters of his late husband are priceless treasures of their past that should be remembered to not lose sight of. — Rachelle Anne Mirasol, INQUIRER trainee