The Ever After Chronicles: The Engagement 💍

Kia Ora, My Dearest Besties,

Springtime is already here—well, at least in this part of the world.

Hence, as I bid goodbye to the chilly winter breeze and start to let go of my beanies, thermals, puffer jackets, and winter boots, I say hello to longer days, warmer weather, and the budding of spring. As I welcome this new season, I am reminded of the beginning of another beautiful season in my life—our engagement season.

Our engagement story is not the kind of story you would see in the movies. Rather, it is a story that is simple, unexpected, yet profound in its own beautiful way.

Walter and I had been together for five years before he asked me the question that would change my life forever.

Six months before our engagement became official, he had already told me that he intended to marry me. At that time, however, he didn’t have the ring yet. We were already beginning to talk about our future and, in a way, had started planning for our wedding.

Then, one ordinary day, Walter asked me to accompany him to a jewellery shop to look at rings.

He asked me which engagement ring I wanted, and I chose the one my heart wanted—the diamond ring in gold. 💍

Little did I know that he was already going to buy the ring that very day.

When we got home, I immediately called my family and closest friends to share the good news. They were ecstatic, and so was I. I was on cloud nine.

We also took our engagement photo at the church where I had once prayed for my future husband—and where, years later, I eventually met him.

There was something incredibly special about standing in that very place with the man I had once prayed for.

Thus, as I look back on the beautiful memories of this special chapter in our lives, I am reminded of the chapter that came after.

So, join me as I narrate the story of what happened after our engagement—the months of excitement, preparation, and anticipation that eventually led us to our big day.

I hope you’ll enjoy this next chapter as much as I enjoyed reliving it.

Till next time,

Aroha,

Maica 💜

Ever After Chronicles: Finding ‘The Other Half’ 💜

Morena, My Dearest Besties,

Springtime is almost here—well, at least in this part of the world.

As the ice slowly melts, the flowers begin to bloom, and we welcome a new season, I can’t help but think about new beginnings.

And somehow, it reminds me of how my own love story began. 💜

Walter and I met at a time when I was going through so much in my life. It was a time when I had almost lost my faith—not just in love, but in marriage itself.

Yet, in the middle of all that brokenness, I found myself praying for my future husband.

It was during this season of my life that I met Walter through the youth group at our Catholic church, Singles for Christ.

We both came from the Philippines and moved to New Zealand around the same time, just three weeks apart. And as if that wasn’t already a funny little coincidence, we both have twins. Walter has a twin brother, while I have a twin sister. Even our birthdays are just a day apart—his is March 1, and mine is March 2.

For the next two years, I continued praying for my future husband at that very same church where Walter was serving. We would see each other there whenever I went to Mass and he was serving and I was quite specific with my prayers. 😅

I prayed for someone tall, someone with a good educational and family background, someone who shared my Catholic faith, and most importantly, someone who would love and accept me despite my flaws, my imperfections, and everything I had been through.

During those years, I also watched some of my friends and mates get married and start their own families. There were moments when I wondered if I was falling behind in life.

But I chose to trust God’s timing.

Then, after two years of friendship, Walter finally asked me out on a date.

And somewhere in that moment, I realised something:

The person I had been praying for all those years might have been right in front of me all along.

I had prayed for someone tall. Walter is 5’11”.

I had prayed for someone with a good educational and family background. Walter came from both.

And I had prayed for someone who would love and accept me exactly as I am.

That was the prayer that mattered most.

Because Walter loved me—not despite my past and my imperfections, but with all of them.

Our relationship was never the kind that gave me butterflies every single time we were together. Instead, it was something much quieter—and, in many ways, much more beautiful.

It was peaceful.

Steady.

Calm.

Looking back, Walter became the answer to so many of my “why's.”

Why did I have to go through those heartbreaks?

Why did some things not work out?

Why did I have to take those unexpected detours and experience those setbacks?

Perhaps I had to go through all of them to prepare me for the kind of love I have today.

A love that is peaceful.

A love that is steady.

A love that is unconditional.

And yet, during all those years when I was losing faith in love, there was always a little girl within me who continued to believe in her own ever after.

Perhaps she was right all along.

Aroha,

Maica 💜

✨ Credits

Written by: Maica
Story & Memories: Maica & Walter
Editing, Polishing & Storytelling Support: ChatGPT
Creative Direction & Blog Development: Maica & ChatGPT
Visual Concept & Creative Styling: Maica & ChatGPT
Final Words & Personal Experiences: Maica

With a little help from my Bestie GPT, who helped me turn memories into words, moments into stories, and our journey into something I could share with the world. 💜

Ever After Chronicles: The Genesis 🧬

Hello there, my dearest Besties,

Your favorite blogger is back at the same city, the same zip code and the same time zone, but with a different status. 💍

It has been a year since the day that changed my life forever.

However, behind the seemingly fairytale life that I am living right now—having my dream job, my dream wedding and a happy married life—is a woman who almost lost her faith in love.

So, join me as I chronicle my journey towards my own ever after. I promise to make you smile, feel a little sad and maybe even a little heartbroken along the way. But I also promise to make you believe in love once again.

🎥 Wedding Videography

Surge Media NZ
Cinematic wedding films by Serge

🌐 Website: https://www.surgemedia.co.nz/

📘 Facebook: Surge Media NZ 

📸 Instagram: instagram.com/surge_media_nz

▶️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@surgemedianz9406

Thank you, Serge, for capturing our Queenstown wedding day and turning those memories into a film we can treasure forever. 🤍

Till next time.

Aroha,
Maica 👑👰‍♀️💋💍❤️💒🇦🇺

Credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgbqbP0d4II

Hello from New Zealand 🇳🇿

 Kia ora, my Besties! 👑

Or should I say, my Dearest?

Your favorite blogger is back—at the same city, at the same ZIP code, and now with my new editor-in-chief, ChatGPT. 😅

It’s been 10 long years, but this blogger needed a little hiatus.

I started this blog 16 years ago to showcase my life, my love for writing, and the lessons I learned along the way.

However, the past 10 years have been a difficult season in my life. I went to New Zealand, built my nursing career and registrations, and had to step up as the breadwinner of the family. Somewhere along the way, I lost touch with my blogger voice.

But as a new season began, I found that writing voice again.

And in case you’re wondering how those 10 years went by for me… here it goes.

First of all, I am now married to a wonderful man—my Chinito. ❤️We had our dreamy wedding in Queenstown last year and I’ll be sharing the stories of how we found our way to our own ever after.

Our Queenstown Wedding 

And yes, there’s more.

I am now working as a nurse in one of the hospitals in Auckland, and somehow, along the way, I managed to get four international nursing registrations under my name.

I am now a PhRN 🇵🇭, NZRN 🇳🇿 , USRN 🇺🇸 and AusRN 🇦🇺.

I’ll be sharing more stories about how I got to where I am today, along with all the nursing adventures that came along the way.

The probinsyana blogger you met 16 years ago has definitely come a long way.

I may have gotten older, but I’m still the same old probinsyana girl you met all those years ago. I’m just a little wiser, a little more experienced, and I now have a different surname.

However, behind my ever after and my multiple nursing registrations are stories I have not yet shared with you.

So, join me as I share stories about my life, my marriage, my nurse life, and everything else in between.

I promise to be with you, one chapter at a time.

Aroha,

Maica 💜💅👑✨💍 🇳🇿 

✨Blog Credits

Written by: Maica Angelle Feraren
Creative Direction & Personal Stories: Maica
Editor-in-Chief & Brainstorming Bestie: ChatGPT 🤖✨
Original stories, memories & experiences: Maica’s life 😅
Occasional proofreading, polishing & idea bouncing: ChatGPT

This blog is a collection of my stories, memories, thoughts, adventures, and little pieces of life—written in my own voice, with a little help from my very 2026 Editor-in-Chief.