&
Junna
Our Story
Ronnel Barashari
Junna Kudo
"We love because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19"
Our Love Story
Connected Through Friends
Back in first year college, Junna studied at STI Santa Rosa and made friends there. After a year in Bulacan, she returned to STI, where her old friends had made new ones—including Ronnel. They started hanging out in groups and shared occasional jokes, but never really talked one-on-one. On July 18, 2016, Ronnel was invited to one of Junna’s best friend’s surprise birthday party. That’s when he added her on Facebook… but they never chatted (yet!). 😄
The First Chat
During the 2nd semester enrollment, Ronnel and Junna happened to sit next to each other while waiting in line. That unexpected moment gave them the chance to finally talk. After the enrollment, Ronnel gathered the courage to message Junna on Messenger—and from there, their conversations just kept flowing. They still can’t remember why none of their other friends were around that day, but looking back, they knew—it was God’s perfect timing. 💬✨
The Graduation Ball Coat Moment
At their graduation ball, Junna started to feel cold after drinking iced tea but didn’t have a jacket with her. Her close friends couldn’t lend theirs since their coats were part of their outfits. That’s when her best friend, Pot, asked Ronnel if he could lend his coat to Junna. He did—and it became another quiet but meaningful moment of God’s perfect timing. 💙
Playful Nicknames and Quiet Realizations
They worked at the same company—same position, same dreams. Before that, they had gone through job hunting together, encouraging each other through rejections and interviews until they finally landed jobs. This is when they grew even closer and started calling each other by their playful nicknames: “Buts” (short for “bone,” because he was skinny) and “Nget” (short for “panget”). But honestly, Ronnel couldn’t think of a real tease—because Junna always confidently said, “I’m beautiful!” 😄 During this time, Ronnel quietly began to see something more in Junna. She was simple, down-to-earth, and knew how to manage things at home. He started thinking… she’s wife material That playful friendship was the beginning of something special.
A Little Flower
Junna and Ronnel went with their group of friends to Batangas to celebrate the birthday of Junna's best friend's mom. They stayed for two days and enjoyed the simple celebration together. On the second day, while walking around Parang, they saw a small, cute flower. Ronnel picked it and gave it to Junna. She felt kilig, took a photo with it, and even made it her profile picture. They were still just friends back then—but little moments like this planted seeds of something deeper.
Just the Two of Them
One of their close college friends, who had also been working with them, decided to resign. From that moment on, it was just the two of them—sharing meals together at Jollibee, Chowking, WGM, and other favorite spots. These simple moments became special. Without even realizing it, they were growing closer with each meal, each story, and each shared laugh. On weekends, Junna loved watching I Can See Your Voice. She would always invite Ronnel to join her, and they'd place playful bets on who would be chosen—and whether that person could actually sing or not. Come Tuesday, they'd relive those moments in the office, laughing about who guessed right and who got it hilariously wrong.
The First Date
She needed a friend to accompany her to the Japanese Embassy for her passport, but no one else was available—only Ronnel. They went together, and afterward, they agreed to go to MOA. They ate at a Japanese restaurant, walked by the seaside, and shared a chocolate shake, joking around. She said she didn't want to be called babe as a call sign in a relationship, since one of the shake sizes was named babe. That day felt like their first date.
The Gift Left Untouched
It was the day they knew they would soon be apart—Junna was going to Japan. Ronnel had bought a gift for Junna back in January 2017, but he was too shy (torpe) to give it to her. Even when the day came for her to leave, he still felt shy and kept the gift to himself. He felt sad inside, knowing this might be the last time they'd see each other for a while.
Unspoken Goodbyes
It was the time when they finally confessed their feelings for each other. But Junna felt they weren't ready yet, so she asked to stop the regular chatting. It was a heartbreaking moment for both of them. Still, they quietly stayed connected—sharing My Day posts on Messenger, just to keep updated on each other's lives from afar.
Reconnecting Through Games
A month later, Junna and their friends—including Ronnel—decided to play Mobile Legends together. During the game, Ronnel took the chance to talk to Junna again through the in-game chat. They slowly started reconnecting. When Junna later asked him to stop chatting once more, Ronnel gently insisted… and told her he truly wanted to pursue her.
Meeting the Family
Even though Junna was in Japan, Ronnel had the courage to meet her family during a simple family reunion in the Philippines. Being an introvert, this wasn't easy for him, but he managed to talk and make a good impression on Junna's family. It was a meaningful step that showed how serious he was about their relationship and how God was guiding him.
I Love You (But He Didn't Get It 😅)
After months of Ronnel patiently pursuing her, Junna finally gave her answer by saying, I love you. But… Ronnel didn't get it right away! 😅 (Originally, Junna planned to say it on November 7—but it was already 2 AM when she finally said it, so it officially became November 8.) That moment marked the beginning of their relationship—and God's beautiful plan unfolding. Fun fact: They started getting close in November 2016, and exactly two years later, they became a couple.
First Anniversary & A Sweet Surprise
For their first anniversary, Ronnel surprised Junna with the help of the JFAAC Katsutadai Youth. What she thought was just a regular GGM at Fululu turned into a rooftop surprise celebration! Their youth family lovingly planned everything, and the special moment was even captured on video. Junna was deeply grateful for their time, support, and presence. That first year as a couple was filled with learning and adjustments. There were moments of disagreement, but it was also when Junna began to truly see Ronnel's heart—how he would stay quiet, listen, and choose peace. And each time Junna saw him peacefully sleeping after a tough day, her heart softened. The next morning, she would say sorry… and their love grew deeper.
A Surprise Proposal
It was the day Junna returned to the Philippines. They were both so excited and had been praying for this moment. That day, Ronnel proposed to her in front of their family and friends. They had planned a date for March 14th, a Tuesday, and went to MOA — the same place where they felt like it was their first date. Junna thought he might propose there because she noticed him trying a ring on her hand at a store. But to her surprise, they just sat, talked a lot, and enjoyed the date — which she loved very much. Later, when he dropped her off at home, that's when the real proposal plan began. Unbeknownst to Junna, Ronnel had arranged the surprise with the help of her best friend Pot and their families. They have a video of the proposal itself — you can watch it here.