Page 30 - Vol3-8

CIAMARA

Love Story

t began 10 years ago. Ian had just returned to reached out to Ciamara on Facebook and the two began
LA from living in New York, where he had chatting, only for Ian to find out later that Ciamara
been working for L’Oreal, running Marketing thought he was someone else!
for the Garner Hair Color brand. Ciamara had Not to waste time, Ian stopped by the restaurant that
Ibeen living in the US for just a year. The two very same Friday night, and walked in through a crowd
were introduced by a mutual friend, Bianca, however, of ‘questioning’ Pilipino faces wondering who the new
both were focused on personal work ambitions and white guy was. He saw and heard Ciamara on stage
had commitments that made meeting each other and approached her after she had finished singing a
inconvenient, much less getting to know each other. song in a foreign language (Tagalog). Ciamara sat with
Fast forward to 2017, Teresa was now one of the Ian a few minutes and they had a brief conversation
owners, and operator of Kapistahan Grill. It was a amidst the sound of various karaoke singers voices
popular dining venue for the Philippine community in in the background. He managed to find a break in
Los Angeles. She was the reigning Miss Filipinotown the singing to ask if she was interested in meeting for
USA. Producing concerts and actively managing events brunch the next Sunday. She accepted his invitation
all over SoCal. With work consuming her every waking and the very same weekend the two visited the bright
moment there was neither time nor place to cultivate a and cheerful Marina Cafe overlooking the boats in
serious relationship. Ian on the other hand was reaping Marina Del Rey. After brunch Ian drove Ciamara to
success in the beauty marketing field. the historic Venice Canals, where they walked with his
They tried to create space for relationships, Australian Shepherd puppy towards the beach. There
but, sadly they were both not very successful. they were stopped by a woman who commented “you
Simultaneously, and sadly, Ian was recently recovering two look like a beautiful LA couple”, perhaps drawing
from a rare form of brain cancer. He spent much of the on Ciamara’s beauty and Ian’s fashion sense. The two
recent few years in rehab, relearning to walk, run, ski continued to date over the next few months. Ian was
and play soccer again. soon called to be in Hong Kong for business, but
Then, one Friday night, Ian had been talking to instead of going solo, he invited Ciamara along, who in
Bianca, their mutual friend, and she suggested he reach turn suggested they meet in Manila & visit her home in
out to Ciamara once more. She was single, according Dumaguete. What Ian didn’t know was that her family
to Bianca and interested to meet someone special with in Dumaguete lived on the top of a Volcano in the
the intent to possibly settle down and build a family. Ian province of Valencia. The two hiked up the mountain to

30 manilaupmagazine.com