Shamcey & Lloyd’s romance started with phone calls

Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup and Filipino-Chinese businessman boyfriend Lloyd Lee will tie the knot on Dec. 29 this year after being together for two years.

The two first met during Shamcey’s 25th birthday/victory party in May 2011. Lloyd accompanied his cousin, Carol Ty, also a Bb. Pilipinas contestant to the party. Their first meeting was followed by frequent phone calls and special dates. Lloyd’s determination to win Shamcey’s heart finally paid off when she formally gave her much-awaited “yes” to him on June 16, 2011.

Exactly two years as a couple, Shamcey and Lloyd had their Chinese ceremonial engagement last June 16 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City. The engagement is called Ting Hun, a ceremony that is made a few months before the wedding and attended by the couple’s families. In Chinese culture, the ceremony symbolizes that both families formally accepts their new son or daughter-in-law into their family. 

Lloyd’s family entered the venue bringing with them symbolic gifts which they gave to Shamcey’s family. They were met by Shamcey’s parents. Later, the bride-to-be entered together with a chosen role model from the family, someone whose married life they want to emulate. Shamcey walked backwards toward Lloyd because according to Chinese tradition, doing this means driving away negative energy that may hinder the relationship of the future bride and groom. Other important rituals were also done during the Chinese ceremonial engagement.

Their Chinese engagement was witnessed by family members and close friends like beauty queens Venus Raj, Janine Tugonon and Ariella Arida.

 I had an exclusive interview with Shamcey and Lloyd on The Buzz where they shared their love story. Lloyd watched the Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant of 2011 with his mom at the Araneta Coliseum and Shamcey initially caught his eye when she was onstage. “I asked my mom, ‘Mommy, ang ganda talaga ng girl na iyon. Kung iyon ang magiging girlfriend ko, papayag ka ba?’ Sabi ng mommy ko, ‘Naku, magagalit yata si Daddy sa iyo kasi beauty queen, public figure.’ Kasi kapag Chinese mas gusto nila low-key, private.” With Shamcey on stage as one of the contestants was Carol, Lloyd’s cousin.

A month after the pageant, the two met at Shamcey’s party. Lloyd was quiet while Shamcey was busy entertaining her guests. It was Lloyd’s cousin, Carol, who played Cupid to the future lovebirds. She told Shamcey, “Look, that’s my cousin. I-date mo! Patay na patay sa iyo iyan! I-date mo na!”

Lloyd asked for her number but she didn’t give it to him instantly. Shamcey explained, “Sabi ko, parang masyado namang presko ito. First time nating magkita tapos hingi agad number. ‘Oh, Carol has my number!’ sabi kong ganoon.”

Shamcey checked Carol’s Facebook and looked for Lloyd’s account. When she opened it, it contained an album titled Shamcey’s 25th birthday. “Iyon ang naging way to message him. Parang ‘Hi, where did you get the pictures? Nauna ka pa sa akin, saan mo nakuha?’ He was asking for my number. Sabi ko, ‘No, Facebook muna tayo!’ The next day, Facebook pa rin kami. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘I had to go. I have to go to the gym. Sabi niya, ‘Can I get your number?’ Sabi ko, ‘Give me na lang your number and I’ll text you.’ So he gave me his number tapos Wednesday night, hindi ko na tiniis, tinext ko siya.”

For their first date, Shamcey and Lloyd watched the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It was a 3D movie but Lloyd kept on removing his 3D glasses. Lloyd explained, “Sabi ko, mas maganda pa iyong katabi ko kesa pinapanood ko.”

In one of their conversations, Lloyd asked Shamcey why she doesn’t have a boyfriend yet. “Sabi ko, gusto ko kapag nagka-boyfriend ako, iyon na ang magiging asawa ko kaya ayoko munang mag-commit,” explained Shamcey. She thought Lloyd would be a distraction to her dreams so she texted him that maybe they shouldn’t see each other. Lloyd called her up and tried to explain that he was willing to wait for her. They agreed not to communicate for one week but it was hard for both of them so they ended up communicating the next day.

It was June 12, 2011 when Shamcey finally told Lloyd that she loved him. Four days later, they became an official couple. Shamcey once gave Lloyd a sketch for his birthday. She drew his portrait while talking to him over the phone for five hours. Lloyd had it framed. It was the same portrait that he brought to her house when he asked Shamcey to be his girlfriend.  

Earlier in their relationship, Lloyd gave Shamcey a promise ring as sign of his love and commitment. This also served as their engagement ring.

“What is your prayer?” I asked. Lloyd said, “Sana walang mag-change sa amin. Sana we keep on fighting for our relationship.” Shamcey enthused, “Not everyone who gets married gets the person he/she wants to be with for the rest of his/her life. Sana He would guide us every step of the way. He can use us to show to people (that) there can still be love in marriage. That love can endure.”

“What do you promise each other?” and Lloyd replied, “I promise to put Shamcey first in our relationship. Siyempre she will always be my everything,” Lloyd replied. On her part, Shamcey shared, “I will never leave you. I want to go with this life, with this journey, with you as my partner.”