Arzen Rose Dulzura

Ryan Bang, fiancée Paola Huyong recall their “firsts,” memorable first trip to South Korea together

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738026070959Ryan Bang, fiancée Paola Huyong recall their “firsts,” memorable first trip to South Korea together-.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/> After making us kilig with the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/1/14/ryan-bang-fianc-e-paola-huyong-reminisce-on-how-their-kilig-love-story-started-2245" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">story of their friendship and courtship</a> in his previous vlog, “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">It’s Showtime</a>” host Ryan Bang and his beloved non-showbiz fiancée Paola Huyong went on to further endear us as they enthusiastically imparted the continuation of their blissful love story in the latest vlog uploaded on his YouTube channel.</div>They began by recalling some of their “firsts” together—their first time to attend church service, their first date that took place at a restaurant in Antipolo City, the first concerts and movie they watched, and their first time to attend a movie premiere night. They also reminisced on their first-ever international travel together, which was in South Korea in June 2024 with her younger sister, Karyl; that was also when Paola met Ryan’s parents for the first time.<div> </div><div><iframe width="1263" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LSynQhIRTrk" title="Sharing our Engagement Journey at Siesta Horchata Cafe | Ryan Bang" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div>Paola recounted how completely nervous she was prior to it, but her jitters eventually vanished away upon meeting Ryan’s mother and father, whom she described as kind and funny, respectively. Ryan shared that he actually felt the same since it was the first time for his parents to be together after getting separated many years ago. Making that happen was initially impossible since both his parents were not down with the idea of them sharing the same table and having a meal together, but they finally agreed to do it on Ryan and Paola’s last day in South Korea.Thus, Ryan was grateful to Paola not only because she agreed to come with him to meet his parents and for him to be able to spend time with his parents while they were there, but she also prayed with him for that reunion to transpire. Paola divulged that before their flight to Korea, her older sister, Joy, advised her to try having dinner with his mother and father since it was Ryan’s ultimate wish. Having no idea how she would do it or make it happen, Paola simply prayed and put her trust in God—and it amazingly worked!The “It’s Showtime” host suddenly got emotional as he spoke about how that dinner with his parents was Paola’s “best gift” for him so far, as well as how it was “a dream come true” for him, since it was something that he had been looking forward to ever since he was a kid and his parents separated. And it finally happened, with the presence of Paola making the moment extra special.Even though they’ve been together since June 2023, it can be recalled that it was during the Hong Kong trip of the “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">It’s Showtime</a>” family in October 2023 when Ryan “hard launched” Paola, as she appeared in some of the photos and videos they uploaded on social media. His main reason for not making their relationship “Instagram official” immediately was that he was worried for her.“Siyempre, ikaw, hindi ka showbiz e. Hangga’t hindi pa tayo engaged at hindi ka pa sure sa akin, [well] ako sure ako eh, ayaw kong ikalat ang picture mo to protect your privacy,” he told Paola, which she really appreciated.  He then mentioned his first-ever birthday gift for her as her boyfriend, which was securing tickets for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” in Tokyo, Japan in April 2024 and attending with her even though he was not a fan. As she expressed her gratitude for that sweet gesture, he uttered, “What can I not do for you?”Ryan went on to take us back to his journey of preparing for his wedding proposal to Paola, which began on the day of her first-ever runway show in November 2023—just a few months after they became officially together. He initially relayed his plan to propose to Paola with her older sister, Joy, to whom she’s closest the most, then to her older brother, Paolo—to which she was totally oblivious about.When quizzed by Paola how he knew that she was the one he wanted to marry, Ryan said that he just knew it, especially after their trip to South Korea to meet his parents. Meanwhile, he seemingly gained the courage to pop the question to her after both of them had already established their respective businesses, with her being able to fulfill her dream of having her own horchata café. Besides, the meeting of their parents is considered a huge, important thing in Korean culture and tradition, so it apparently affirmed his belief that he is indeed “the one.”After the meeting of their parents, Ryan suddenly had the urge to ask Paola’s parents, as well as the rest of their family, that he wanted to marry their daughter at their house. However, that was almost derailed after the security guard of the subdivision where her family resides contacted Paola to report that Ryan was at their place, which prompted her to call him to confirm. Ryan was able to hide it, thanks to his acting skills that he developed through Star Magic workshops and the kind cooperation of her parents and the security guard. “Personally, I didn’t even tell Ryan to do it. But for me, that’s a non-negotiable [that] you have to talk to my parents in my parents’ house. I’m so happy kasi he did that, even if I didn’t tell him to,” Paola remarked.  Ryan then went on to share that his conversation with her parents lasted for five hours, through which he was able to further find out how much her parents love her genuinely. Upon hearing his plans for her and the life they’re going to share together, her mom and dad said “yes” to his marriage proposal.Fast-forward to 2024, he finally carried out his plan of proposing to her on their first anniversary by buying the engagement ring and conniving with Paola’s brother, Paolo, by persuading him to celebrate his birthday at her horchata café and have it Mexican-themed. They even had a little fight prior to that after he refused to use his for a game they had to play during a birthday party since his suppliers for the party were chatting him at the time.On the night of his proposal, Paola recounted that she only had an inkling of what was about to unfold after a montage of their one-year love journey was shown. Thus, he initially assumed that he would give her the ring through the letter he handed to her, only to be dismayed that it contained tickets to Dua Lipa’s Manila concert.Just when she thought that the event was already over after her sister called it a night and she and Ryan would only have to deliver a closing spiel for his vlog promoting her business, she got the greatest shock of her life. As she turned away from the camera after speaking, she saw everyone gathered in one place, with Ryan on one knee in front of her and holding the box containing the shiny ring.When asked by Ryan if she liked her proposal, Paola exclaimed, “Super!” Then she continued, “It was also in my dream place, my happy place. That’s something surreal. And ako naman, ang important din talaga sa akin is my family. Even if my friends weren’t there [as long as] my family was there, it’s really perfect na for me.”

Watch as Ryan Bang and his beloved fiancée, Paola Huyong, share their endearing journey from being an official couple to becoming engaged in his latest vlog.

Watch as Ryan Bang and his beloved fiancée, Paola Huyong, share their endearing journey from being an official couple to becoming engaged in his latest vlog.