Daven Tamayo

Zeinab Harake ‘not believer of marriage’ before meeting Ray Parks Jr.

Article (news)

MJ Felipe

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750150466436viber_image_2025-06-17_16-43-54-112.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Zeinab and Ray Parks Jr. Photo by MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News</div>Newlyweds Zeinab Harake and Ray Parks Jr. still have that wedding glow, two weeks after their wedding. Speaking to ABS-CBN News, the couple shared they’re still on a high after their grand wedding last June 1.&quot;‘Yung reaction ko sa video, ikakasal na ba talaga ako? Parang nananginip ako, totoo ba to?’&quot; said Harake, who clarified that she didn’t experience cold feet. “Hindi naman, more in talaga na-surprise lang din ako.”Parks added: “Ayun na nga official na, legal na.”Preparations for the big day took eight months. Harake was completely hands-on with every bit of detail -- from the venue, to the flowers, to the reception, food and other important details. When it comes to the guests, they only invited 140 people and set some strict house rules.“Sabi ko no phone, wala ring plus one. Gusto ko movie feels, lahat ng gusto ko na-execute naman namin.”They tapped top-tier event videographer Jason Magbanua to capture their wedding day. “Sabi ko pa kay Jason, gusto ko ng 10 cameraman. Binigay naman niya!” said Harake.While both of them are hands-on with the wedding checklist, she candidly shared, “Usapan namin 50/50 kami, pero naging 70/30.”“Pinagkakatiwalaan niya ako kasi craft ko siya di ba. Ako din &#x27;yung focused sa edit, hands-on talaga. Pero when it comes to financial, siya! &#x27;Yun ang ambag niya!” the bride said.Parks didn’t complain and concurred, “Support financially and emotionally. Happy wife, happy life... Kasi gift niya talaga &#x27;yun creativeness.”But years back, Harake was not a fan nor a believer of weddings and marriages. “Dahil na rin siguro kasi ayokong suggestion siya ng mga tao sa paligid ko, &#x27;yung marriage. Kasi for me feeling siya ng dalawang tao. Okay, we’re ready.” she said. A red flag that Parks noticed, four months into their girlfriend-boyfriend relationship. “Sabi ko ‘do you believe in marriage?’, tapos &#x27;yun nga sabi mo hindi ka naniniwala, so sabi ko ‘ano pang ginagawa natin dito?’”That straightforward question hit her hard in the heart.“Nag-change dahil sa kanya,” she said. “Nung nakikita ko nag-chu-church kami tapos sinasabihan kami ng pastor na guidance niya, sana dumating &#x27;yung time na proper &#x27;yung pagsasama niya.”After the wedding, nothing much has changed. Still the same, but Harake said she is much more confident now when she’s out and about in public with Parks.

Newlyweds Zeinab and Ray Parks Jr. still have that wedding glow, two weeks after their wedding.

Newlyweds Zeinab and Ray Parks Jr. still have that wedding glow, two weeks after their wedding.