Boyet and Queenie’s ‘springtime’ romance
March 23, 2003 | 12:00am
Spring has come again for House Majority Leader Neptali "Boyet" Gonzalez Jr., and the congressman is – if you could ever call a man this – a man in full bloom. If you knew just how furious the storm Boyet had weathered before blessed spring came his way, you’d be the first to be happy for him.
Boyet had been happily married to the former Josephine Francisco for 21 years (his childhood friend, she had also been his girlfriend for 10 years) with whom he has a daughter, Christine, now 21. Boyet stood by Josephine’s side during her good health and then through her eight-year battle with kidney disease.
"She had a transplant in l997 but deteriorated in 2000," Boyet recalls, sadness in his eyes. "She was on dialysis for seven months because (her body) rejected the transplant. We saw her suffer especially during the last three months."
Though Boyet was deeply affected by his wife’s death, knowing she was finally free of suffering helped him come to terms with her demise. But within six months of her passing, Boyet received yet another blow – his father, the much-loved and respected former Senate President Neptali Gonzalez, also died. Bunsong Tatay (as his three older sisters call him) suddenly felt all alone.
He may have lost his wife and his father, but Boyet had no inkling whatsoever that the dark clouds would soon – very soon, in fact – part and shower him not with rain but a flood of sunshine. He did not know it then, but that was what happened when, in between those tragedies, Alexandria "Queenie" Pahati – as if by destiny’s cue – stepped into his life.
"Early on in my marriage to Josephine," Boyet remembers, "she would often say – and I never thought it would happen – ‘Mauuna ako sa iyong mamamatay. ‘Pag namatay ba ako, mag-aasawa ka ba uli?’ (I replied), ‘Hindi na!’ But deep inside, I really didn’t know; I never gave it a thought. One week after my wife died, my daughter even asked me if I’d marry again because my sisters-in-law were asking. I said, ‘That’s an unfair question because your mommy just died and I don’t have a girlfriend. But if I meet a woman whom I will love, why not’?"
Queenie, the only child of Isabel and Ernesto Pahati, was then a 24-year-old Journalism graduate of UP. After her first job as a PR assistant in an advertising firm, she moved to ABC-5, which assigned her to cover Congress.
"The first time I saw her was during the special session for the power reform bill in May 2001," Boyet vividly recalls. "The other reporters are my close friends. Mahilig kasi akong magpakain sa office ng merienda. The first time Queenie went to my office, there were other reporters and three or four other congressmen. After the interview she was the first to leave. When she left, I asked, ‘Uy, sino yung batang yun’?"
Though he did find her attractive, Boyet says theirs wasn’t love at first sight. Queenie agrees. "Since Boyet was Majority Leader," she explains, "lagi siyang pinupuntahan. We were close but professional." The only reason she had his cell phone number, Queenie adds "was purely professional because I had to keep up with the (Congress) beat."
Boyet’s merienda "tradition" for reporters continued – but with a twist. He shares that as time went on, "Napapadalas na ang pa-merienda ko. Then, nagluluto na ako ng kalderetang baka!" The reason? His growing attraction for Queenie.
"I looked forward to seeing her in our meriendas. I’d text the other reporters, ‘Merienda tayo!’ (And they’d text), ‘Yehey! Saan?’ (And I’d text back), ‘Depende – ’pag kasama si Q (that’s how I called Queenie), okay, pero pag hindi, dyan na lang sa turo-turo sa palengke sa Commonwealth!"
For all the meriendas, Queenie says that at the time, "Hindi pa ako nakakahalata." Boyet admits his approach was "circuitous" but the reason for it, he sheepishly admits, is "Medyo may pagka-torpe ako talaga. Hindi ako sanay manligaw. Hindi lalampas sa isang kamay ko yung mga niligawan ko sa buong buhay ko! My wife was my first girlfriend. But when I like somebody, that’s it; hindi ako yung type na hahanap-hanap."
Boyet used texting to great advantage, revealing his feelings to Queenie hint by little hint. He recalls his first attempt: "We had a seminar in Mimosa and someone told me Queenie had low blood (pressure). I texted her, ‘I heard you have low blood. I should have cooked ginisang ampalaya or liver for you.’ She replied, ‘You don’t have to cook for me.’ I texted back, ‘I’d like to cook for you for the rest of my life’." Boyet adds with a laugh, "Texting is God’s gift to torpe guys like me!"
The texting continued until, Boyet relates, "In September my father was rushed back to Makati Med after a general check-up because of heart failure. Nanginginig ang katawan ko when I was asked to go to the ICU. Wala naman akong matawagan at that time. I texted Queenie, ‘Can I call you?’ and she replied, ‘You can call me anytime.’ That’s when we became closer."
"When his dad died," Queenie relates, "I got to know a lot about Boyet." Just as Queenie helped comfort Boyet, so did he give her advice when she asked for it.
"After my dad’s death, naguusap na kami sa phone until such time na nararamdaman mo na – hindi ka makatulog pag di siya nag-text; pag gising mo kinabukasan, gusto mo nag-text sa iyo."
Though Queenie had a boyfriend at that time, their relationship, she says, "was on the rocks." She was initially hesitant about Boyet because she didn’t want to give him a chance if there was none. She admits their age gap (Boyet is now 49) and the fact that he was a congressman prevented her from entertaining the thought of the two of them being more than friends.
"I want a private life," Queenie elaborates. "I’m used to a normal life with friends and family so why would I complicate my life?" This was why it took a while before she agreed to eat out – alone – with Boyet. Twice Boyet had had dinner prepared in a hotel function room complete with flowers, wine, music and Queenie’s favorite food – although she didn’t know the extent of his preparations. But her postponements disheartened Boyet to the point that he felt his was a lost cause.
Boyet visited Queenie in her home instead – something Queenie’s traditional mom preferred. Queenie explains, "My mom (belongs to) the old school; ayaw niya yung nag-mi -meet lang sa labas. Gusto niya sa bahay."
"The first time I met her mom," Boyet recalls, "she asked me, ‘Where is this leading you?’ Queenie – parang on cue – left us so we were alone. She asked me ‘Why so soon? Won’t you wait for the babang luksa (the first anniversary of your wife’s death)’? I told her mom, ‘Kung maghihintay ako ng one year, sa ganda at bata ng anak n’yo, somebody might come along and she could be in love with somebody else. My wife and I were sweethearts for 10 years. This time around – I hope you understand – I cannot wait 10 years. I will be 57 by then’!"
Queenie was convinced Boyet was sincere, and in time, so were her parents.
He fell for Queenie, Boyet says, because she is "maganda, mabait, bungisngisera, tawa nang tawa." For her part, Queenie loves it that Boyet is "down-to-earth, cariñoso. Madali siyang mahalin. He loved my family and they loved him, too."
The courtship culminated in an ecumenical wedding at a Malate evangelical church (Boyet is Protestant, Queenie, Catholic) in December last year with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as one of the principal sponsors. The reception for about 800 guests was held at the Manila Hotel. The couple then enjoyed a 10 day-honeymoon in Hawaii.
The Gonzalezes have just moved to a home in Wack Wack where they live with Cristine who enjoys watching movies or playing computer games with Queenie. Boyet is pleased that the two women in his life get along well.
Queenie is busy these days with the house’s renovations and keeping Boyet’s things "orderly and organized."
She shares, "I’m still adjusting to his way of life. I still don’t have projects (as a congressional spouse) in mind. Boyet is orienting me little by little and I follow him. Boyet knows I am a private person. He said, ‘One thing I’ll guarantee is we’ll have private times’."
Boyet affirms, "Even with my first wife, I tried to maintain a certain privacy."
Queenie is grateful that Boyet’s friends – like him, all older than she is – have gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable in their company. And Boyet is grateful that his late wife’s family have also been understanding. His sister-in-law Annie Lambert even assured him, "I saw how you took care of my sister, Boyet. You deserve to be happy."
Queenie still plans to continue her broadcasting career and also to pursue masteral studies which Boyet, who finished AB Political Science in FEU and Law in Ateneo de Manila, approves of. Both also want to have two kids "as soon as possible."
Boyet is "blooming," indeed – he has lost 15 lbs., has firmed up his muscles, changed his hairdo and has become more playful. His eyes, smile and laughter are giveaways – the man is in love and glad to be so. Queenie, too, is noticeably happy, and you can see this in the sparkle in her eyes.
"I was really blessed," Boyet muses. "I never thought na mag-aasawa uli ako. God decides for you–but in His own time. His time for me was sooner than I expected. At this point I can’t ask for anything more."
Asked what the couple enjoy doing together, Boyet replies, "Giving each other a neck or back rub, traveling, eating–the usual things na ginagawa...."
"Ng mga magka-ka-age!" Queenie chimes in, at which the couple break into uproarious laughter.
For Boyet and Queenie Gonzalez, springtime sure is great.
E-mail the author at: annmondo@yahoo.com
Boyet had been happily married to the former Josephine Francisco for 21 years (his childhood friend, she had also been his girlfriend for 10 years) with whom he has a daughter, Christine, now 21. Boyet stood by Josephine’s side during her good health and then through her eight-year battle with kidney disease.
"She had a transplant in l997 but deteriorated in 2000," Boyet recalls, sadness in his eyes. "She was on dialysis for seven months because (her body) rejected the transplant. We saw her suffer especially during the last three months."
Though Boyet was deeply affected by his wife’s death, knowing she was finally free of suffering helped him come to terms with her demise. But within six months of her passing, Boyet received yet another blow – his father, the much-loved and respected former Senate President Neptali Gonzalez, also died. Bunsong Tatay (as his three older sisters call him) suddenly felt all alone.
He may have lost his wife and his father, but Boyet had no inkling whatsoever that the dark clouds would soon – very soon, in fact – part and shower him not with rain but a flood of sunshine. He did not know it then, but that was what happened when, in between those tragedies, Alexandria "Queenie" Pahati – as if by destiny’s cue – stepped into his life.
"Early on in my marriage to Josephine," Boyet remembers, "she would often say – and I never thought it would happen – ‘Mauuna ako sa iyong mamamatay. ‘Pag namatay ba ako, mag-aasawa ka ba uli?’ (I replied), ‘Hindi na!’ But deep inside, I really didn’t know; I never gave it a thought. One week after my wife died, my daughter even asked me if I’d marry again because my sisters-in-law were asking. I said, ‘That’s an unfair question because your mommy just died and I don’t have a girlfriend. But if I meet a woman whom I will love, why not’?"
Queenie, the only child of Isabel and Ernesto Pahati, was then a 24-year-old Journalism graduate of UP. After her first job as a PR assistant in an advertising firm, she moved to ABC-5, which assigned her to cover Congress.
"The first time I saw her was during the special session for the power reform bill in May 2001," Boyet vividly recalls. "The other reporters are my close friends. Mahilig kasi akong magpakain sa office ng merienda. The first time Queenie went to my office, there were other reporters and three or four other congressmen. After the interview she was the first to leave. When she left, I asked, ‘Uy, sino yung batang yun’?"
Though he did find her attractive, Boyet says theirs wasn’t love at first sight. Queenie agrees. "Since Boyet was Majority Leader," she explains, "lagi siyang pinupuntahan. We were close but professional." The only reason she had his cell phone number, Queenie adds "was purely professional because I had to keep up with the (Congress) beat."
Boyet’s merienda "tradition" for reporters continued – but with a twist. He shares that as time went on, "Napapadalas na ang pa-merienda ko. Then, nagluluto na ako ng kalderetang baka!" The reason? His growing attraction for Queenie.
"I looked forward to seeing her in our meriendas. I’d text the other reporters, ‘Merienda tayo!’ (And they’d text), ‘Yehey! Saan?’ (And I’d text back), ‘Depende – ’pag kasama si Q (that’s how I called Queenie), okay, pero pag hindi, dyan na lang sa turo-turo sa palengke sa Commonwealth!"
For all the meriendas, Queenie says that at the time, "Hindi pa ako nakakahalata." Boyet admits his approach was "circuitous" but the reason for it, he sheepishly admits, is "Medyo may pagka-torpe ako talaga. Hindi ako sanay manligaw. Hindi lalampas sa isang kamay ko yung mga niligawan ko sa buong buhay ko! My wife was my first girlfriend. But when I like somebody, that’s it; hindi ako yung type na hahanap-hanap."
Boyet used texting to great advantage, revealing his feelings to Queenie hint by little hint. He recalls his first attempt: "We had a seminar in Mimosa and someone told me Queenie had low blood (pressure). I texted her, ‘I heard you have low blood. I should have cooked ginisang ampalaya or liver for you.’ She replied, ‘You don’t have to cook for me.’ I texted back, ‘I’d like to cook for you for the rest of my life’." Boyet adds with a laugh, "Texting is God’s gift to torpe guys like me!"
The texting continued until, Boyet relates, "In September my father was rushed back to Makati Med after a general check-up because of heart failure. Nanginginig ang katawan ko when I was asked to go to the ICU. Wala naman akong matawagan at that time. I texted Queenie, ‘Can I call you?’ and she replied, ‘You can call me anytime.’ That’s when we became closer."
"When his dad died," Queenie relates, "I got to know a lot about Boyet." Just as Queenie helped comfort Boyet, so did he give her advice when she asked for it.
"After my dad’s death, naguusap na kami sa phone until such time na nararamdaman mo na – hindi ka makatulog pag di siya nag-text; pag gising mo kinabukasan, gusto mo nag-text sa iyo."
Though Queenie had a boyfriend at that time, their relationship, she says, "was on the rocks." She was initially hesitant about Boyet because she didn’t want to give him a chance if there was none. She admits their age gap (Boyet is now 49) and the fact that he was a congressman prevented her from entertaining the thought of the two of them being more than friends.
"I want a private life," Queenie elaborates. "I’m used to a normal life with friends and family so why would I complicate my life?" This was why it took a while before she agreed to eat out – alone – with Boyet. Twice Boyet had had dinner prepared in a hotel function room complete with flowers, wine, music and Queenie’s favorite food – although she didn’t know the extent of his preparations. But her postponements disheartened Boyet to the point that he felt his was a lost cause.
Boyet visited Queenie in her home instead – something Queenie’s traditional mom preferred. Queenie explains, "My mom (belongs to) the old school; ayaw niya yung nag-mi -meet lang sa labas. Gusto niya sa bahay."
"The first time I met her mom," Boyet recalls, "she asked me, ‘Where is this leading you?’ Queenie – parang on cue – left us so we were alone. She asked me ‘Why so soon? Won’t you wait for the babang luksa (the first anniversary of your wife’s death)’? I told her mom, ‘Kung maghihintay ako ng one year, sa ganda at bata ng anak n’yo, somebody might come along and she could be in love with somebody else. My wife and I were sweethearts for 10 years. This time around – I hope you understand – I cannot wait 10 years. I will be 57 by then’!"
Queenie was convinced Boyet was sincere, and in time, so were her parents.
He fell for Queenie, Boyet says, because she is "maganda, mabait, bungisngisera, tawa nang tawa." For her part, Queenie loves it that Boyet is "down-to-earth, cariñoso. Madali siyang mahalin. He loved my family and they loved him, too."
The courtship culminated in an ecumenical wedding at a Malate evangelical church (Boyet is Protestant, Queenie, Catholic) in December last year with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as one of the principal sponsors. The reception for about 800 guests was held at the Manila Hotel. The couple then enjoyed a 10 day-honeymoon in Hawaii.
The Gonzalezes have just moved to a home in Wack Wack where they live with Cristine who enjoys watching movies or playing computer games with Queenie. Boyet is pleased that the two women in his life get along well.
Queenie is busy these days with the house’s renovations and keeping Boyet’s things "orderly and organized."
She shares, "I’m still adjusting to his way of life. I still don’t have projects (as a congressional spouse) in mind. Boyet is orienting me little by little and I follow him. Boyet knows I am a private person. He said, ‘One thing I’ll guarantee is we’ll have private times’."
Boyet affirms, "Even with my first wife, I tried to maintain a certain privacy."
Queenie is grateful that Boyet’s friends – like him, all older than she is – have gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable in their company. And Boyet is grateful that his late wife’s family have also been understanding. His sister-in-law Annie Lambert even assured him, "I saw how you took care of my sister, Boyet. You deserve to be happy."
Queenie still plans to continue her broadcasting career and also to pursue masteral studies which Boyet, who finished AB Political Science in FEU and Law in Ateneo de Manila, approves of. Both also want to have two kids "as soon as possible."
Boyet is "blooming," indeed – he has lost 15 lbs., has firmed up his muscles, changed his hairdo and has become more playful. His eyes, smile and laughter are giveaways – the man is in love and glad to be so. Queenie, too, is noticeably happy, and you can see this in the sparkle in her eyes.
"I was really blessed," Boyet muses. "I never thought na mag-aasawa uli ako. God decides for you–but in His own time. His time for me was sooner than I expected. At this point I can’t ask for anything more."
Asked what the couple enjoy doing together, Boyet replies, "Giving each other a neck or back rub, traveling, eating–the usual things na ginagawa...."
"Ng mga magka-ka-age!" Queenie chimes in, at which the couple break into uproarious laughter.
For Boyet and Queenie Gonzalez, springtime sure is great.
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