Charlie Dizon and Carlo Aquino surprised many when they became an item.
Charlie, 28, is an award-winning actress whose performances in the movies "Fan Girl" and "Third World Romance" have earned her critical acclaim.
Carlo, 38, is a talented actor who, despite controversies in his romantic life, continues to secure numerous projects.
Read: Romantic life of Carlo Aquino, one intriguing story after another
Their romance flew under the radar, and the couple managed to keep their relationship relatively low-key even after going public.
Even their wedding, held in secret on Sunday, June 9, 2024, would have remained unknown to the public if not for PEP Troika making a query about it the night before the ceremony.
Let's take a look back at Charlie and Carlo's love story and their journey to the altar.
DECEMBER 2022: START OF DATING RUMORS
Signs that Carlo and Charlie were dating surfaced in late December 2022 after the actress posted pictures taken during a holiday dinner with friends.
SOFT LAUNCH ON INSTAGRAM?
In the viral photos, the two looked cozy, with Carlo's hand resting comfortably on Charlie's thigh.
Read: Is Charlie Dizon in relationship with Carlo Aquino?
Charlie's caption on Instagram revealed that the gathering was with her close friends, whom she affectionately called her "sisters from another mother."
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Actress Dimples Romana commented with four heart-eyes emojis, while Jolina Magdangal intriguingly remarked, "Ayun na."
Meanwhile, the post earned mixed reactions from the netizens—with some speculating that the two stars were simply trying to make noise to drum up promo for their upcoming movie Love on a Budget (later renamed to Third World Romance) slated for release in 2023.
SPOTTED IN LA UNION
Four days after Charlie's Instagram post, a local restaurant in the surfing town of La Union posted on Facebook photos of Carlo and Charlie together while seemingly on a holiday.
Read: Carlo Aquino, Charlie Dizon spotted together anew
The caption read, “Carlo Aquino is in the house. It’s nice to see you again."
JANUARY 2023: CARLO AQUINO ADMITS TO DATING CHARLIE DIZON
It didn't take long for Carlo to publicly confirm that he and Charlie were indeed dating.
On January 6, 2023, during a press conference announcing the partnership between Star Magic and the independent film company MavX Productions, Carlo directly addressed the rumor to members of the entertainment press.
"I'm getting to know more about her," Carlo said about the status of his relationship with Charlie.
"Kasi nagkasama rin kami sa U.S. tour for Star Magic, so nakilala ko siya dun.
"Actually, prior to that, magkasama pa kami sa A Soldier's Heart, so yun.
"Mas naging okay kami sa U.S. Until now, nagkikita-kita kami, lumalabas."
Carlo's confirmation followed just a few days after his ex-partner, Trina Candanza, threw a jab at him in an Instagram post marking the new year.
Trina asserted that the actor was "very excited to remove us from his life."
The "us" was pertaining to herself and their then two-year-old daughter, Enola Mithi.
Carlo and Trina dated for three years. They announced their separation in April 2022.
Read: Carlo Aquino, nag-file ng visitation rights sa anak nila ni Trina Candaza
Trina's post earned the sympathy of netizens, who ganged up on Carlo online, accusing the actor of abandoning and neglecting his family.
Talking about Trina's post and its aftermath, Carlo told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "Yung hate and yung bashing na nanggagaling sa labas, yung judgment, hindi mawawala yun.
"Yung mga taong nasa labas ng circle ko, may karapatan sila to their own opinion, yung mga ganyan.
"Pero if it's not coming from my inner circle, na hindi nagmamahal sa akin, hindi ko pinapansin."
FEBRUARY 2023: CARLO AND CHARLIE OFFICIALLY TOGETHER?
On February 8, 2023, Carlo uploaded on Instagram a 49-second video of Charlie while strolling and enjoying the sights of Ginza in Tokyo, Japan.
This marked the first time Carlo featured Charlie on his social-media account.
The video post came with the caption (published as is): "TokYou have my heart."
The exact date when the video was taken was not indicated, but it may have coincided with the time Carlo went to Japan to shoot an international movie produced by the Japanese film company 034 Productions in partnership with local film studio High Roads Creatives.
On March 1, 2023, Carlo posted pictures of him and Charlie facing each other and sharing a tender moment in Nagayama, Japan.
Read: Did Carlo Aquino just confirm his relationship with Charlie Dizon?
Carlo wrote “Love and laugh abundantly" in the caption accompanying his post.
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JULY 2023: CHARLIE DIZON: "Opo, boyfriend ko po."
On July 20, 2023, Charlie put speculations to rest by proudly admitting her relationship with Carlo on national television.
It happened during Charlie's guesting on TV5's morning talk show Gud Morning Kapatid.
Charlie and Pira-Pirasong Paraiso co-star Joseph Marco were shown photos of individuals who hold significant meaning in their lives. One of the pictures flashed on the screen was Carlo's.
“Opo, boyfriend ko po siya," Charlie blurted out without hesitation.
She then said, “Ay, first time ko sinabi sa inyo iyan.”
When probed how they were drawn to each other, Charlie shared, “Paano nag-click? Di ko alam, e, kasi makuwento talaga akong tao.
"Tapos siya yung tahimik, so siguro dun, na-balance.”
AUGUST 2023: CARLO AND CHARLIE'S RELATIONSHIP TURNS SERIOUS
Charlie's admission ultimately made her more comfortable and open about discussing her relationship with Carlo.
The couple shared details about their romance at the press conference for their movie Third World Romance on August 3, 2023.
"Noong una, medyo kinabahan ako," Charlie confessed, talking about her initial reaction upon learning of Carlo's motives to pursue her.
"Kasi parang first time naman na taga-showbiz din. Yung mga ganung bagay.
"So parang natakot ako sa mga tao sa paligid din kung sino yung mga makakakita din sa amin. Medyo kinabahan ako at first.
"Pero kasi before naman, magkaibigan na kami ni Carlo, nagkasama kami sa Soldiers Hearts.
"So parang ayun na lang yung pinagkapitan ko na, 'Hindi, kilala ko ito, kaibigan ko ito.'"
Charlie went on to describe Carlo as "super loving, grabe mag-alaga."
She continued, "Pero ang pinakahinangaan ko sa kanya, yung kapag may gusto siya, gagawin niya talaga, e.
"Kasi ayun yung medyo hindi ako. Yung parang ako natatakot ako na mag-risk, na pag-iisipan muna bago gawin.
"Pero kapag siya... kapag may sinabi siyang gusto niya, talagang gagawin niya lahat ng steps."
JANUARY 2024: CARLO MET CHARLIE's FAMILY IN THE U.S.
In an interview on January 17, 2024, Charlie shared that Carlo had met her family in the U.S. The showbiz couple went to the States to mark the holiday season in December.
"Ay, love na love nila si Carlo!" an ecstatic Charlie told PEP.ph.
"Sobrang saya kasi nandun yung family ko. First time namin nag-Christmas na kumpleto talaga in 12 years, kaya iba itong trip na ito.
"And, of course, kasama ko si Carlo. Sobrang saya na magkakasama lahat in one place lahat ng mahal ko sa buhay."
Carlo, added Charlie, had already met her parents beforehand during the Star Magic U.S. Tour in 2022.
"And there's one time na may U.S. tour si Carlo, pumunta siya mag-isa. Na-meet naman niya," shared Charlie.
There were indications that Carlo and Charlie were thinking of taking their relationship to the next level.
"Pinag-uusapan namin yung future namin together na magkasama kami na magkakapamilya," Carlo candidly said in a previous interview.
"Kasi, di ba, bakit pa kami umabot sa ganito, di ba? Kahit sino naman, ayun siguro yung goal kaya sila nakikipagrelasyon, para may makasama ka [habang buhay]."
Charlie, meanwhile, remarked, "Actually, noong nagsimula pa lang ito lahat sa aming dalawa, parang nakalatag na lahat iyon... nakalatag na yung 'Ano ba ito, i-enter na ba ng relationship, pero ang gusto ko kapag relationship, serious talaga.'"
On September 3, 2023, Charlie greeted Carlo on his birthday by posting on Instagram a photo of them together.
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The following month witnessed the couple grace the ABS-CBN Ball, walking hand-in-hand on the red carpet before the cameras, spectators, and fellow Kapamilya stars.
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JUNE 2024: WEDDING PLANS REVEALED
Engagement rumors hounded Carlo and Charlie since February of this year. The couple though was tight-lipped and refrained from making any announcements.
On June 8, 2024, entertainment reporter and PEP.ph contributor Gorgy Rula overheard Third World Romance director Dwein Baltazar at the 47th Gawad Urian held in De La Salle University, Manila, talking about Carlo and Charlie's wedding the following day.
Charlie was evasive when Gorgy asked her, saying, "Ang masasabi ko lang, best gift siya. Kaya thank you, Lord!”
The actress was referring to her Best Actress victory that evening and did not address the wedding overheard by Gorgy.
Read: Charlie Dizon at Carlo Aquino, nabuking na ikakasal na
Wedding speculations further ignited on June 9, 2024, when a make-up artist shared photos hinting at wedding preparations.
Before their wedding, Carlo shared what seemed to be a prenuptial photo with the actress, accompanied by a caption that hinted at their journey ahead (published as is): "Unti-unti natin gagapangin ang buhay ng nakatawa."
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Charlie reciprocated the sentiment with a simple yet heartfelt "I love you" in the comment section.
On June 9, 2024, Carlo and Charlie officially tied the knot in a wedding ceremony held in a private resort in Silang, Cavite.
Read:
Celebrity guests at Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon's wedding