And Winner of the Metrophoto Wedding Giveaway is…

It’s barely a week before Christmas and we at Metrophoto is very delighted to announce the winner of our Wedding Giveaway Contest in such seemingly appropriate time. Yay!

After hundreds of entries, hundreds of days of deliberation, voting, and counting, and thousands of comments in this website, we are happy to announce that the winner of the completely FREE wedding photography package from Metrophoto is Jem and Cheese. =) Their long distance struggle and sacrifice touched a lot of people and garnered more than 600 votes.

Pipo and Chaz came in second with over 500 votes. And as a gift we will give them a free engagement session shoot. =)

Scroll down to read the inspiring entry from Jem and Cheese and to check out the stories of our finalists and votes, click here.

Again we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported this endeavor and to everyone who has supported Metrophoto’s unparalleled success. The best is yet to come no matter who try to make us fade into the night. hahaha! We are here not only to stay but to stay awesome.

3. Jem and Cheese

Who would have thought that long distance relationship with someone you met online won’t work? I did! I never believed in long distance relationship until I met my man. He was in California with his parents when my college friend, who happens to be his childhood friend, introduced him to me. Since the first day we met until today, we never missed a day without talking with each other. On February 24, 2008, we became officially each other’s “minE”. Few days before March 24 (our first month together), he called me up insisting that we change our anniversary date to 27. He said that 27 would be great since we were both born on the 27th. Finally, I gave in. On March 27, I was chatting with him when our office guard called me up to receive a package. It was a two dozens of red roses plus Ferrero (my favorite) from him! He ordered it online and have it delivered to my office. He then told me the real reason why he insisted on changing our anniversary, because there was no delivery on March 24 because it’s Holy Week and he really wanted to surprise me.

Two months later, he signed up for an unlimited call to the Philippines. He would call me up when he wakes up in the morning. Then he would talk with me while having shower, eating breakfast and driving to school. He would put down the phone once he reaches the doorstep of his classroom. He would also call me during their 15-minute break and lunch break. All the time he was not in school or at work he was talking with me. At night (my night and his night), we pray together thanking God for our blessings. We always asks him to guide us and help us overcome future challenges. Our love grew stronger every time we talk and share our experiences.

We had our first dates online. He would send me some pictures of flowers and bears. There was this one time when we bought Pringles and Rootbeer and watched the same movie as if we’re together. Most of the time we eat in front of our computers so that we feel that we’re together. There were days that we go strolling. He would tell me the places he’s been going and I would check how it looks like in Google Map. Sometimes, we spray each other’s perfume in our pillows just so we feel like we’re together. This made us feel so close yet so far.

On September 27 the same year, it was the night of my birthday when he called me up. My brother grabbed the phone and asked everybody to keep quiet so that they could listen to what he would say. Then he proposed to me, I was shocked to see my engagement ring on top of my birthday cake! They have planned it so well.

After almost a year of being together, he went home to finally meet me. We celebrated our first and second anniversary together. Until now, we are still in love with each other and will always be. We made HIM the center of our relationship and that is the most important thing in every relationship. Right now, we are already planning for our Wedding day. It will take more than a year before we could take pictures again together. So I believe that we deserve to have the best photographer to take pictures of our most memorable day TOGETHER!