Tonichi and I met in October of 2000 at this bar in Makati called Underground. Yes, I know people would say you should never date guys you meet in a bar... but whatever to that saying! I arrived with my best friend Marga while Tonichi arrived with his brother Duke. Marga and Nich are actually cousins so she was the one who introduced the two of us. I thought he was cute, but I was only 17 and he was already 23! I had just graduated from high school while Nich had just graduated from college! I thought, woah. He's way too old for me! He probably thinks I'm still a kid! But that night, Nich kept trying to talk to me and I thought he was just trying to be nice. Then he busts the corniest line ever: "Do you have a cell number?" I said, "Uh, yeah" (trying to be coy), "you can get it from Marga." Then he responds, "No that was just a survey." I will never forget that response!!! I didn't know if I should feel embarrased or think he was cocky or he was just plain weird! I didn't learn until later on that he is the ultimate joker ever. And yes, he did text me that night when I got home. We went on our first date the very next day. The rest is HISTORY!