A few days ago, I was at a lunch at the elegant and old Manila Peninsula Hotel where Pond's Age Miracle was relaunched. Married couple Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez were there as the brand's new endorsers. Charlene looked as stunning as she once did when she stood as our Miss Philippines at the Miss Universe 1994 pageant, and Aga, at 39, still looked like the teenage heartthrob he once was. The couple talked about their love story. Aga said that Charlene is even more beautiful now than when they got married eight years ago.
All of us media guests swooned and sighed as the couple answered questions from the audience. I had to leave early but I really wanted to ask Aga this: "Not all of us look like Charlene. What can you tell women who do grow old and are worried that their husbands won't like what they see?" At dinner, I told Vince all about my day and my glamorous lunch and then posed to him my question. My husband's eyes went soft as he looked at my face. Then, to my surprise, he softly recited this poem to me...
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face...
- "When You Are Old" by William Butler Yeats
He told me many might remember how pretty I was or maybe everyone will forget but to him, I grow more precious each day and every line on my face and every graying hair is a triumph of a life lived together in hope and friendship and passion and love.
And that is my love story today.
