It might come as a surprise to know that you can go from working together to being engaged without even being in a relationship. But this is exactly what happened between beloved celebrity couple Aga and Charlene Gonzales Muhlach. In an interview on Magandang Buhay, the veteran actor recounted how he proposed to Charlene when they were working on the sitcom Oki Doki Doc.
“We left for Singapore. We had taping for ‘Oki Doki Doc’ but a week before that, I spoke to my mom. Sabi ko sa mom ko, ‘Mama, mag-aasawa na yata ako.’ Alam mo sabi ng nanay ko? ‘Sino si Charlene?’ ‘Yun pala, nakikita pala nila sa taping ‘yung alaga ko kay Charlene or kapag napag-uusapan si Charlene, kung paano daw ako magsalita,” he fondly recalled.
(We left for Singapore. We had taping for ‘Oki Doki Doc’ but a week before that, I spoke to my mom. I told my mom, ‘Mom, I think I’m getting married.” You know what my mom said? ‘To whom? Charlene?’ Apparently they noticed how caring I was towards Charlene during tapings or how I speak about her when she comes up in conversation.)
photo: Balita facebook page
Charlene said Yes because she saw the ‘real him’
“So we went to Singapore for taping. She was feeling something. Pinaparamdam ko na rin sa kanya na there’s something. And then I just proposed to her, walang singsing. If she said no, then doon ko siya liligawan. Sabi ko, ‘Will you marry me?’ And she said, ‘Yes.’ Naiyak ako,” he recalls.
(So we went to Singapore for taping. She was feeling something. I was making her feel there was something. And then I just proposed to her, without a ring. If she said no, then that’s when I would start courting and pursuing her. So I asked, ‘Will you marry me?’ And she said. ‘Yes.’ I cried.)
Though he was confident enough to propose to her even if she wasn’t his girlfriend, he was still surprised when she agreed to marry him.
Once they were married, they were finally able to talk about their sudden, whirlwind engagement. Aga recalls Charlene explaining how she saw something in him, even though he had a reputation of being a sort of ‘ladies man’ in the past, she saw something in him; she saw the ‘real him.’
“Kumbaga kahit babaero daw ako noon, she saw the goodness in me dahil hindi ako nagpapa-impress sa kanya. She’s always seen the real me.”
(In other words, even if I was seen as a womanizer before, she saw the goodness in me because I wasn’t trying too hard to impress her. She’s always seen the real me.)
photo: Atasha and Andres Muhlach Facebook fan page
Aga reveals the secret to a long lasting and happy marriage
What’s their secret? Constant communication is key.
“Maraming hindi nakakaalam nito. Kaya ako late lumalabas ng bahay parati because when we wake up every day since we got married, we will need three to four hours of talking every day. Not a single day na walang ganun talaga. That’s something that works for us. I am glad that it is like that,” he gushed.
(A lot of people don’t know this. The reason why I always leave the house late is because when we wake up every day since we got married, we will need three to four hours of talking every day. Not a single day passes without that. That’s something that works for us. I am glad that it is like that.)
Aga lovingly gave all the credit to his wife, who has helped him a lot over the 16 years that they’ve been married.
“Ibibigay ko lahat ng puri sa babae talaga,” he emphasized. “Sinasabing kami ang stronger sex, kaming male. But really, nakaangkla kami sa asawa namin. Ako kay Charlene, my wife keeps me sane.”
(I really give all the praise to her. They say the stronger sex are males. But really, we are anchored in our wives’ (strength). I am to Charlene. My wife keeps me sane.)
Aga and Charlene tied the knot back in May 2001 and have two adorable kids–16-year-old twins Atasha and Andres.
source: ABS-CBN news
LOOK: The talented Muhlach twins are growing up fast