Have you ever risked it all for love? And by risking it all, I do not mean merely making the first move but rather giving up everything you know for a chance at that huge, Nora Ephron-kind of love.
Today’s digital dating age doesn’t leave a lot of room for taking risks, in fact we rarely hear about people who have risked it all for love. All the swiping left and right has kept our hearts wrapped in a bubble — we have mastered the art of ghosting and every other lingo created by today’s teenagers all in the hopes of not getting hurt again.
Ironically, this dating culture has produced more broken hearts than happy ones which makes me wonder if the new one is the better way at all. This is the reason why my friend Monica Alvarez’s love story has made me curious enough to write an article about it.
Monica was born to a tight knit family in the Philippines. Armed with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Asia and the Pacific, she had what one would call an ideal life in the Philippines.
“After working for San Miguel Corporation and Summit Media, I started working running our family business which is a catering and canteen concessionaire business. I handled sales, marketing and operations. Looking back, I truly had the best life in Manila, life was so good — everything was laid out and planned for me,” she begins.
However, a few years ago, she decided to take a leap of faith and move to Los Angeles.
“It was love that made me leave the comforts of home and move to Los Angeles. The moment I met Greg, my fiancé, I knew I had to give it a shot and drop everything I had in Manila otherwise we wouldn’t have worked out. I knew long distance would be challenging and I knew that if I didn’t go for it, I will never find someone who is as kindhearted and genuine as he is.”
The move was difficult for Monica who was extremely close to her family especially her parents.
“The move was scary, emotional, and hard for me. I was the one taking care of our business, assisting my parents with everything, guiding my siblings, and was basically the lifeline of the family. I cried for several weeks when I got to Los Angeles because of the reality that this was already my life. I literally had to go into the world of the unknown. All I held on to was the fact that I was giving love a chance — it was the first time I prioritized love over my career,” she relates.
And the risk paid off, not only is Monica getting married to the love of her life this month, but she has also established a business in Los Angeles with the help of Gregory.
Monica started Platinum Events Planning and Management, an events company that creates wonderful events such as weddings, personal celebrations, and corporate milestones.
When asked what made her pursue this, she responds, “I was born and raised in a family of entrepreneurs and experienced the luxury having your own business provided you. My goal is to help and make people happy. Through my event planning skills, I want to create memorable events for people, making their dreams a reality.”
Her business has served many happy brides and has proven that with determination and hard work, you can truly succeed in anything. It also proves that when you listen and follow your heart, the rest will take care of itself.
To know more about Platinum Events Planning and Management, you may visit them on Facebook.
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www.carlabiancaravanes.com
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