My matchmaker story

Thirty-seven years ago, I successfully played cupid to my cousin Nina Daza and my college friend Louie Puyat. Some details are fuzzy now since my matchmaker story happened close to 40 years ago, but here goes.

Louie is the older brother of my batchmate in UP Diliman, Raymond, and though the two brothers are just a few years apart in age, they are almost as different as night and day. Raymond is an extrovert and the life of the party, always well-dressed and well-groomed. Back then, he was always joking around and teasing me constantly, especially when he was in the company of his barkada, Monpe Laudico and the late Joey Teopaco.

One weekend during our college days, I somehow found myself on a date with Louie. He was the perfect date: Good-looking, well-bred, generous and friendly, but kind of on the shy side. Because no sparks were sparked that night, there was no follow-up date. But we became friends who engaged in small talk whenever we saw each other on campus.

Louie and Nina Puyat celebrating their 35th wedding last Sept. 8 at the St. Michael the Archangel in BGC with Fr. Fidel D. Orendain, SDB officiating the Mass.

One day, I asked Louie if I could set him up with my cousin, Nina Daza. Nina had just graduated from Cornell University and came home from the USA to help run Au Bon Vivant, the French restaurant owned by her mom Nora Daza. And so, we went on a triple date on July 4, 1986. It was me and my then-boyfriend Manuel Lim, Mons Romulo and her then-boyfriend Amand Sese, and Louie and Nina.

Billie Puyat Murga with husband Vince.

Louie remembers that when we went on that triple date in Hard Rock Café, he forgot to bring cash so he used his credit card and collected the cash from Manuel and Amand. Louie found Nina cute and attractive then but admitted he got “torpe.” According to Louie and Nina, no sparks were generated that night between them either. Still, Louie must have really liked Nina after that triple date, because a couple more group dates followed soon after, which then led to a walk down the altar two years later.

Raymond Puyat, younger brother of Louie and this columnist’s college batchmate at UP Diliman, with wife Aina.

Luckily, they both agreed to go on that blind date, and to say that they hit it off is an understatement because last Friday, Sept. 8, Louie and Nina celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a Mass and dinner reception. They will be the first to admit that there were and are many challenges along the way, for there is no such thing as a perfect marriage. But maybe it helps that though Louie is Opus Dei and Nina is a devout Catholic, both are devotees of the Virgin Mary. That’s why their wedding anniversary is Sept. 8, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Unfortunately, work didn’t allow me to attend the Mass officiated by another cousin, Fr. Fidel D. Orendain, SDB, so I asked Fr. Fidel to share his homily with me. What resonated most was when he said that there are some things that ought to be kept the way God wants them to be --- sacred. Louie and Nina are living testaments of this, reminding us that despite the frailty and struggles of our human condition, living God’s truth by loving, forgiving and staying together are not only attainable but profoundly worthwhile. As husband and wife, Louie and Nina are beacons of hope who demonstrate their ability to confront life’s challenges hand-in-hand, nurturing each other’s growth with unwavering trust in God’s faithfulness every day.

Louie and Nina are blessed with four children: Gio, who is married to Abby; Billie, who is married to Vince Mayuga; and Joseph and Mario. They also have an adorable granddaughter, Charlie, from Billie and Vince, with hopefully more “apos” to come.

The 35th anniversary celebration was attended by 50 of their closest friends and family. Nina chose the venue for the reception, Gallery by Chele, and painstakingly chose the menu as well. And though I missed the Mass, I made it to the dinner reception. For starters, we had lobster croquetas (crispy bechamel-based croquettes), jamon alioli pintox (jamon, egg, and ciabatta bread), gambas al ajillo (prawns, garlic and chili), pulpo ala Gallega (octopus, paprika mashed potato, black ink oil) and boquerones (marinated in olive oil and sour bread). Since I was seated at the table with my cousins Fr. Fidel, Risa Nepomuceno and Ged Valenzuela — who are all allergic to seafood — there was more to eat for those of us who didn’t have such restrictions, namely cousin Tony Daza, Ged’s wife Anto Valenzuela, and me.

By the time the main course arrived — paella Valenciana and a choice of carilleras al vino tinto (beef cheeks with mashed potato and broccoli) or sea bass — I was full! It was my first time to dine at Gallery by Chele, and I understand now why it has been getting such good reviews among discriminating diners. Unfortunately, Chef Chele was in Spain, so I did not have the opportunity to meet him. And not only was the food delicious, the service was also impeccable! When I realized that I had forgotten to take photos of the first few appetizers at our table, I asked the head waiter if he could show me the food before it was served to the other tables, and he readily obliged.

After dinner, the children of Louie and Nina had a video presentation that was voiced by Louie and Nina themselves. It chronicled their journey from the time they began dating, and showed how their family has grown from just two in 1988 to nine in 2023…and counting!

And when it was time to say goodbye, Nina gifted her guests with a storybook entitled The Forlorn Rice Cooker, which she authored. It is the story of a worn-and-weary rice cooker that complains about doing the same old boring task every day until a caring friend is able to shift the rice cooker’s perspective and make it look at things differently. This is Nina’s follow-up children’s book to her Ang Alamat ng Lumpiang Shanghai. Although The Forlorn Rice Cooker was originally meant to be an e-book on Amazon Kindle, she had a few copies printed for this special occasion. And because it has been getting good feedback since, she is trying to convince her publisher (Louie) to print more hard copies.

Happy 35th anniversary, Louie and Nina! Congratulations on reaching this remarkable milestone, and do continue being such inspiring models of God’s profound and enduring love!