Flonique Guimary

Michael V. recalls how he first met his wife Carolina Bunagan

Article (news)

E. Kristhoff Cagape

Push Team

<p>Michael V., also known as Bitoy, shared how his love story with his wife, Carolina Bunagan, began.</p><p>In an interview with Bernadette Sembrano in her latest YouTube vlog, Bitoy recalled that they first met as college students, brought together through school activities.</p><p>&quot;Ano kami, kapareho kami ng school,&quot; he shared. &quot;Tapos kapagka may projects sila, plays ganyan, kailangan nila ng actors, kami kinukuha nila. Doon kami nagkakilala.&quot;</p><p>Bitoy earned his degree in Mass Communication from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.</p><p>The couple has now been married for 30 years through civil union, and 27 years since their church wedding.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9sHHuZvVnD/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2386275.9%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9sHHuZvVnD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-0" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9sHHuZvVnD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9sHHuZvVnD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Michael V. 🇵🇭 (@michaelbitoy)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>In the same interview, Carolina described Bitoy as a thoughtful husband.</p><p>&quot;Ang sabi nga ng mga anak ko ang love language niya, he showers you with gifts. Siguro having come from where we did, pareho kaming humble beginnings naman — laki siyang tenement, ako laking Tondo eh — so we grew up with bare necessities ba,&quot; Carolina said.</p><p>On her message for her husband, Carolina offered a simple but loving reminder: &quot;Just keep doing what makes you happy kasi kapag masaya ka mas makakapagsaya ka eh.&quot;</p><p>Back in February 2023, Bitoy and Carolina marked their 25th wedding anniversary of their church wedding with a renewal of vows.</p><p>In April of the same year, the couple celebrated the 29th anniversary of their civil wedding.</p><p>To mark the occasion, Bitoy took to Instagram to reflect on their journey as a couple, sharing an honest and heartfelt message about the ups and downs of their relationship.</p><p>&quot;Kagaya ng ibang couples, hindi naman kami perfect ni Carolina. Nagtatampuhan din kami, nag-aaway din kami… hindi naman kasi joke ‘yung 29 years na pagsasama! At hindi naman kami mga santo! There are times na pasaway din kami pareho! 😤&quot; he shared candidly.</p><p>Despite the challenges, Bitoy emphasized that love and effort have kept their relationship strong.</p><p>&quot;Pero what’s important is that we find a way to make our relationship work. We fight for each other because we truly love each other. ‘Yun naman talaga ang gagawin mo e: ‘pag mahal mo, ipaglalaban mo,&quot; he said.</p><p>He added that communication and emotional honesty have been key to their lasting bond.</p><p>&quot;Oo, at times, mag-iiyakan talaga kayo and it’s a good thing! Minsan kasi, kailangan mo talagang i-express ‘yung totoong nararamdaman mo sa partner mo. Kung kaya n’yong gawin ‘yon, siguradong magtatagal kayo. After naman ng lungkot, natural na bumabalik ang saya. Minsan dumodoble pa! With love &amp; laughter, #MayForever talaga!&quot; he remarked.</p>

<p>Michael V. shared how his love story with his wife, Carolina Bunagan, started. </p>