Do you have an Ermita dating story?
A sweet prenuptial photoshoot recently went viral for celebrating this Manila district, which many agree is irresistible to fall in love with. Their prenup photos give a glimpse of what it’s like to spend a day in Ermita with your significant other. We have to admit — a day in this historic district can be romantic enough to push a couple toward marriage!
When Juan Lorenzo, professionally known as content creator and live streamer Uncle Ju, decided to marry his entrepreneur fiance Kristin Noelle last March 2022, they made sure to include an important character for their prenup photos: the district of Ermita. For a lot of people, Ermita is a trove of many stories and memories; Uncle Ju and Kristin can certainly relate. Its streets were the eyes and its walls were the ears of their love story.
Behind the scenes of the Ermita prenup shoot
Lorenzo and Noelle first met, almost a decade ago, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where they started their careers as culture and arts workers. When they would meet, Ermita was their halfway point, as Kristin was still a student at the University of the Philippines Manila. They would go on dates scouring the inside shops found within the district, resting on the pavement when they got tired from walking, and when they got peckish, they would snack on nilagang mani or nilagang mais.
Also read: Going On The First Date: 8 Places In Mania To Break The Ice
Ramen and refuge in Malate
Whenever they wanted to talk about the adversities or disappointments in their careers, they would always find themselves slurping ramen broth to comfort them. Erra’s Vest Ramen has been a staple for foreigners who want an affordable treat while drinking beer. It is also famous as a stopover for people who want to cure inebriation, thanks to their broth. For Uncle Ju and Kristin, this is where they started to build and share their path to the future.
Also read: Couples Who Fell in Love While Travelling
Pares carts for the resilient hearts
For days when payday is still a bit far away, the couple usually bonded over the deliciously filling and affordable pares, one of the more versatile street food delicacies and is found all over Ermita. They’d be satisfied with any pares stall, but for a warm dinner by the sea, they prefer the cart in Rajah Sulayman Park.
The sun sets with us
We can’t leave the spectacular view of world-class sunsets out of their story, either. Both their workplaces are just a few steps away from Harbour Square. Conveniently situated in Manila Bay and inside the CCP Complex, the restaurants and bars make it a great place to hang out to have coffee, celebrate the simple work week’s end or have a party after a successful project. Harbor Square is where Uncle Ju and Kristin’s friends witnessed just how in love this couple is with each other.
Also read: Meet Ivan and Kim, The Couple Behind the Viral ‘Mala-Teleseryeng’ Pre-Nup Shoot
With the help of Relentless Fire Photo Stories, Uncle Ju is grateful that his and Kristin’s stories were told creatively and with precision. Now that they officially tied the knot, Uncle Ju tells TripZilla Philippines that most of the photos and videos that he produced and shot are for future generations, hoping to use them as references and inspiration to pursue their endeavours. He also says that they will always remind him of what they went through as a couple; a reminder of how far they’ve come.
