Love wins, ‘ika nga.
Tulad na lamang ng inspiring story nina Pastor Hector Mkansi, 40, at Nonhlanhla Soldaat, 31, tungkol sa kanilang nag-viral na proposal video noong 2019.
November 7 ang eksaktong date ng proposal na naganap sa isang branch ng fast-food chain na Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) sa South Africa.
Bagama’t ilang taon na ang nakalilipas, patuloy na nasi-share ang kanilang inspiring story na testamento sa pangingibabaw ng kanilang pagmamahalan sa kabila ng mga pagsubok.
Inulan ito ng pangungutya, pero bumuhos rin ang biyaya at simpatya mula sa malalaking brands na naging kasangkapan para sa kanilang magarbo at memorable wedding na nangyari noong new year’s eve, December 31, 2019.
Sa 2021 update ng timeslive.co.za, inamin ng tinaguriang KFC couple na “struggling” pa rin ang mga ito financially, ngunit nananatiling masaya at "madly in love" sa isa’t isa.
Hinihintay pa rin daw nila ang ipinangakong honeymoon sa New York na naudlot dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE KFC PROPOSAL
Kahit plinano na ni Hector noon ang kanyang gagawin—kinasabwat ang service crew ng paborito nilang fast-food chain—ni sa hinagap ay hindi niya alam na magiging viral ito.
Sa kanyang panayam sa CNN noong January 2, 2020, ikinuwento ni Hector, “The team at the restaurant was surprised at the request, but they were helpful in creating the big moment.
"We received our meals and when she looked inside, she found the ring and that's when I went down on my knee.”
Lingid sa kaalaman ng magsing-irog, may kapwa parokyano ang kinunan sila ng video at in-upload ang kanilang special moment sa social media.
Pero hindi inaasahang may mangba-bash sa kanila. May ilan pang nagsabi na ang South African men “are so broke” and “have no class.”
Pastor Hector Mkansi proposed to Nonhlanhla Soldaat at a fast-food branch in 2019
Sa kabilang banda, to the rescue ang malalaking brands ng iba’t ibang produkto upang bigyan sila ng “dream wedding.”
Ilang araw matapos mag-viral ang video, in-announce ng KFC sa Twitter (ngayo’y X) na magha-hire ito ng wedding at event planner upang pangasiwaan ang kasal ng dalawa.
Kasunod nito ay nag-commit din ang iba pang malalaking kumpanya para maisakatuparan ang pangarap ni Nonhlanhla na maging feeling princess sa araw ng kanyang kasal.
Nariyan ang McDonald’s, KOO Food, Audi, Lexus, Uber, Puma, at Emerald Jewelry.
Mayroong ding mga ordinaryong mamamayan na na-offer para sa libreng spa treatment at furniture.
Hector-Nonhlanhl LOVE STORY
Sa parehong interview CNN, inamin ni Hector na maliit lamang ang plano niyang event, at hindi siya makapaniwalang naging bongga at magarbo ang kasal sa tulong ng mga hindi kakilala.
Kuwento niya sa CNN, “We are still in disbelief, both of us have to ask each other if this is really happening from time to time.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to God and every single person that has shared in our little love story.”
Nagsimula ang love story nina Hector at Nonhlanhla noong 2010.
Noong 2011 naman siya nagsimulang magbayad ng lobola o dowry para sa pamilya ng dalaga, at 2012 naman nang unang beses silang ikinasal.
“In 2012, we got married in a small traditional ceremony as that was all we could afford at the time…
“We had the ceremony, but I knew this wasn’t what my wife and I wanted."
Ani Hector, hindi iyon ang kanilang dream wedding at hindi nila nabili noon ang singsing na hangad nila.
Kaya bumili siya ng panibagong singsing noong 2019, at nag-propose uli.
And the rest is history. Sobra-sobra pa sa inaasahan ang kinahinatnan ng kanilang kasal.
The unforgettable wedding of Hector Mkansi and Nonhlanhla Soldaat that was sponsored by big companies.
Sa feature ng Orato World nito lamang July, 2023, bakas pa rin kay Nonhlanhla ang pagkamangha sa mga nangyari sa pangalawa nilang kasal.
“All we had to do was show up, and they took care of everything.
“We never really cared about fancy locations or grand, expensive gestures. My experience felt personal, spontaneous, and intimate in our own way."
Sabi naman ni Hector, “We have love and we are in love with each other. We told ourselves that we will grow old together, with or without money."
Ang istorya nila ay akmang-akma pa rin lalo na ngayong love month.