For her friends she is Sara, ang Munting Prinsesa and him Cedie, ang Munting Prinsipe.
Their love started deeper than most people had. They started as childhood friends, and often they criticized each other but has always ended with understanding and mutual respect.
Until one day in January 2021, the best friends agreed for a ceremony to seal that best relationship ever and be officially with each other.
Tracker Lim, the name that usually rings a bell among elite circles of Davao region and even in Mindanao, finally wed his best friend since childhood Claudine Diana Bautista, which caught everyone flat-footed.
On February 20, 2021, the best friends were declared couple in an elegantly prepared civil ceremony joined by their parents only and officiated by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
It was then when a more than three decade friendship was sealed with a wedding vow as they were declared Mr. and Mrs. Lim, also known as Jose Lim IV and DUMPER Party-list Representative Claudine Diana Bautista.
In a Facebook post, Mrs. Lim narrated, he met Mr. Lim when they were 5-year old as schoolmates. She hated him for bullying her as a chubby toddler but she elaborated as saying, “I wasn’t insulted by being called fat but by the thought of you- who was also a fat kid, calling me fat”.
When they were 13, Mr. Lim stood beside her every flag raising at the Ateneo, and she hated it since he was always next to her because their classrooms were beside each other.
One Monday, she lost her bracelet and he picked it up, wore it and kept it for months and finally agreed to return it in exchange for her house’s phone number.
When they were 15, he cooked her carbonara for “merienda”, she described the taste as awful, but he tried and even used his mother’s silverware, a fork, cut it and made the top part into a ring, and engraved “TRAX” on it. “You slipped it on my finger and told me then that one day we will marry.” They laughed about it and treated it as a joke.
All those years were filled with hellos and goodbyes as she also studied overseas. But they met again when she was 20 years old, “I remember you were lying on my lap while we were catching up on life. We talked about fulfilling our personal goals and dreams in life and where we would be in the future. I remember you telling me that if by 30 and we were both single, we will have to marry each other. 30 came and I was in a relationship”.
They met again on his 32nd birthday and both still were single.
During that time, they agreed that at age 35 if they remain single, they will marry each other. She turned 35 last December and on January 2021, they met again. She describes it saying, “you came back to see me, said that all roads always lead you back to me and that I’ve always been your comfort”.
On their wedding day, she posted Tracker’s vow started with- “Diana, D, I have known you since we were five. We always had a special bond, no one really understood us”.
“The last three years that we met was on my 32nd birthday. Now it’s another three years again. We spent time talking about family and what I wanted in life. I gave a straight answer and I stood up, kissed you on your forehead and told you I’ll see you in three years. I don’t know why, but that was the most painful goodbye I had to make, and no one else, because I didn’t know if I would be back in three years. So I had to choose between living the life I have right now, doing what I love and being who I am that no one knows and understands but you. God has a way of leading me back to you, I’m glad it wasn’t three years. It was only three days. Diana, I love more than anything in this world. I’m sorry it took me too long to realize that. I promise to take care of you, to love you, support you in your career, to be a good houseband, taga-hugas og platito ug tagabantay ug mga bata… washing saucers and babysitting)”
She ended their vow saying, “We made a silly pact 20 years ago and despite all the years that passed, today, we will fulfil that pact. Our story is something people read from story books or watch from movies. And I cannot be more thankful to Father God for bringing you home to me. From here onwards, know that you are my home and I am your home”.
On the afternoon of February 20, 2021, the childhood best friends sealed their love. This time, there will be no goodbyes to come, they promised.—Editha Z. Caduaya
