It is believed that finding genuine and lasting relationships in showbiz is hard and impossible because of how complicated and demanding it can be. But there have been celebrity couples who are able to shatter this myth as they prove that it isn’t a hopeless place to find love.

Among them is happily married musical couple KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde, whose relationship since they were dating and now that they’ve been Mr. and Mrs. for four years is deeply admired by many. And in their guesting together in “Kuan on One” hosted by their fellow Bisaya celebrity Melai Cantiveros, they enthusiastically reminisced about their beautiful journey from being friends to becoming spouses, which arguably got many of us kilig and inspired.

After the short kumustahan and asking them about the one thing they’re proud of about their respective hometowns, KZ hailing from Digos City, Davao del Sur, and TJ coming from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Kuantie Melai proceeded on quizzing them on how they were able to figure out that their relationship already changed from friendship to romance almost a decade ago.

According to them, it was in 2013 when they met for the very first time through Concert King Martin Nievera, who used to be one of the mentor-judges of “X-Factor Philippines,” which was won by KZ in 2012. However, it wasn’t a case of love at first sight for them since they both admitted not being each other’s types, with KZ only seeing TJ as a brother and even used to call him “kuya.”

That eventually changed when they developed feelings for each other and he expressed, one day, his intention to court her, which she didn’t immediately believe in because she assumed that he was just making fun of her. He was able to finally convince her that she was serious after asking permission from her parents and their guy friends.

While many have probably assumed that their relationship has always been smooth-sailing, the couple disclosed that they actually had to overcome many things for their love, including getting the blessing of her strict parents. Being the eldest child, KZ recalled how her parents really tested TJ, yet he was still able to win them over in the end. “I don’t think we would’ve gotten to this point if we hadn’t been tested during the beginning of our relationship,” she stated in Bisaya.

When asked what made them fall in love with one another, KZ said that aside from the fact that they share the same faith, it’s also a big thing for her that TJ loves, respects, and values his parents very much because she’s the same towards her own. She was able to witness it for the first time when she found out through a direct message in the early days of their relationship that his mom still calls him “baby” even though he’s already a full-fledged adult.

TJ, on the other hand, also admired how KZ doesn’t only love her own parents, but his as well. He got to see it when they traveled to Japan in 2023 alongside their parents, who are already able to form a strong bond with each other, and when the two of them decided to arrange a second wedding ceremony for their third anniversary last year for both their families to be able to witness their union after not being able to attend their nuptials in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions. But instead of reiterating their vows for each other, the couple decided to deliver their promises to one another’s parents.

Thus, both of them are grateful to not encounter any problem with their in-laws, probably because their parents have the same faith and they were raised by them in the same manner. They’re just very supportive and kind to them, especially now that they’re married.

The couple then recounted how TJ brought his entire family from Cagayan de Oro to Digos City just to ask for their permission to court her, as if he was already asking her hand for marriage. They also narrated how TJ told them his plan of proposing to her on his 30^th birthday in 2019, and how KZ found out about that supposed secret surprise after her dad subconsciously mentioned it to her.

Despite learning about it, KZ apparently didn’t bring it up, yet she already sensed that he would do it on his birthday as he suddenly told her that he wanted to throw a celebration, which was so unusual of him since he’s the type who prefers to mark his special day intimately. Since she wasn’t completely certain that he would propose to her on his birthday, she came up with the idea of being the one to pop the question to him as she didn’t want to pass up the perfect moment to profess her love for him in front of the people who matter to them. And in December 2019, their back-to-back proposal happened, which everyone didn’t really expect.

Melai then proceeded to ask them about their most favorite thing about being married, with TJ saying that it would be living with her under the same roof. He related in Bisaya, “When we were still dating, I had to take her home. Now, she’s just right there. Whenever I want to see her, I can find her easily in the bedroom or in the living room.”

For KZ, meanwhile, it would be growing even closer to their families, especially with their parents. While married couples usually tend to drift a bit from their parents, she’s grateful that TJ would always remind her to call her parents before each day ends.

They then talked about their dynamics at home, with TJ imparting that they actually have their own times apart. Since both of them are singers, there is, of course, always singing in their house, and it’s TJ who usually initiates it, which KZ couldn’t help but join him. They also help each other out in the process of creating each other’s songs.

As Melai quizzed TJ about his most popular song at the moment, which is “Palagi,” he disclosed that he wrote it really for her. According to him, aside from directly telling how he feels toward her, he’s also able to communicate his feelings for her through music.

The couple went on to recount the grand surprise that TJ prepared for him on May 29, 2023, which was exactly the 10^th anniversary of the first time that they’d met. He came up with the idea of writing a song for her and sang it in front of her during the candlelit dinner date that he prepared for the two of them, with the help of their friends and talent agency. Apart from simply being his way of celebrating one of the most special moments in their relationship, it’s also his way of showing to her that even after all this time, he’s still there.

In regard to her reaction towards her husband’s throngs of admirers, KZ quipped that her mindset now is just to let everyone get excited about him. But kidding aside, she absolutely appreciates all the support that “Palagi” and TJ continue to receive. Not a lot of people may know it, but it’s actually her who personally does his makeup, fixes his hair, styles him, and irons his clothes whenever he has gigs and she’s not busy.

When asked for their advice to friends who have become lovers and are still confused about their situation, the couple affirmed that “friendship is a great foundation.” TJ expounded this by relaying what his grandmother used to tell him that when two people in a relationship get older and both romance and beauty fade, what they’ll have left is their friendship. KZ seconded it by uttering that it also gives us time to really get to know someone – their values and directions in life – since you’re about to share the rest of your life with him/her.

“So, if you’re just friends now, enjoy it because there’s so much to discover. It’s another fun journey on its own,” the Asia’s Soul Supreme remarked.

In the “Dakong Problema” segment, Melai had TJ and KZ play “Magminyo Challenge” or “Married Couple Challenge” as a way to gauge their compatibility or how much they know about one another.

Through this fun and exciting game, we’re able to find out that KZ is the most jealous, the noisiest at home, and the one who makes the first move during love time between them. With regard to their most favorite part of each other’s body, KZ said that it would be her husband’s lips for her, while TJ revealed that it would be his wife’s tantalizing eyes.

This episode of “Kuan On One” capped off with the “Ultimate Yawyaw” segment, wherein the host and the couple shared their takeaway from the lengthy, lighthearted yet insightful conversation they just had.

For KZ, her adult and marriage life have made her appreciate more her mother and her parenting style toward her and her siblings when they were growing up. “Now that I’m older, I’m grateful to my mother. I realized that I wouldn’t have been ready for the world if my mother didn’t scold me often, if she didn’t prepare me,” she conveyed in Bisaya.

Of course, the episode didn’t end without TJ singing a bit of “Palagi” and the couple sharing their most favorite Visayan words. For TJ, it would be “tinguha,” which means to “desire something,” while it’s “katahom” for KZ, which means “beauty.”