I'm looking like, “Oh my God. My career? My ring? My career?...”
HOW PATRICIA AND ROB MET (CONTINUED)
ROB (R): So when I went to this thing [Patricia’s show], I didn't know what to expect. I didn't go there to meet her, I just went there. I personally am attracted to other cultures. I dated other cultures--Filipina, Mexican, Latina. I like [the] opposite. I didn't like to date the same as me--blond hair--I was not interested in that, of course, when I met her [I found her] very maganda [beautiful]. And I'm very intrigued by her story.
I didn't like to date the same as me--blond hair--I was not interested in that
I think that's so amazing to be successful, like what she accomplished. Although I didn't really know the full story, just that she's an actress and traveling here [San Diego, CA]. That was very intriguing to me. And I think as we got to know each other, I was very intrigued by the Philippines' culture, and the family. I love that. I absolutely love that. And how it's worked out, I never really thought about that we would come to the Philippines, but it's amazing how it has worked out. I think it was all part of the grand plan.
MOST ROMANTIC MOMENTS TOGETHER
PATRICIA (P): For the first time, someone invited me to the beach--walking to the beach, or in the--what time was that like 8 to 9 a.m.?
R: Yeah, I had to pick her up very early because we're just getting to know each other. And we both had a flight very soon--the next day--and I took her to the beach in La Jolla, San Diego.
I [didn't] kiss him, but I said, “This is my sexy video. Just watch it.”
P: And then that's the time that he tried to kiss me. But I don't like to…
R: So bilis! [I moved fast] because maybe I’d never see [her] again!
P: But at that time...
R: I need to kiss a celebrity!
He wasn’t able to kiss me. That’s probably what intrigued him to pursue me.
P: Pero [But] at that time I said, you know, maybe this is not the right time--yet. Remember before, I made this CD. I don’t know if it was, “Barenaked” or Patricia something. I [didn't] kiss him, but I said, “This is my sexy video. Just watch it.” Hahaha! [claps]
R: Just Google me...
P: Just Google me! Nothing happened, right? He wasn’t able to kiss me. That’s probably what intrigued him to pursue me. In the video, I [am in] them doing workouts. And Rob loves working out!
He proposed to me after 9 months. At that time, that's the height of my career. So at the time when he proposed to me, you know, he knelt down and I was really shaking
R: “Wow. She works out every day!” Hahaha! But really, she doesn't like to work out.
P: We have something in common. This girl. But I only did the workouts for my videos.
THE PROPOSAL
P: That same place he brought me on out first date, of course--that's the place where he proposed to me.
R: Because the beach is my favorite place.
A good part of the story is, we did the long distance for one year because after I proposed, of course, you know, she's in the height of her career.
P: He proposed to me after 9 months. At that time, that's the height of my career. So at the time when he proposed to me, you know, he knelt down and I was really shaking, and he’s saying this--something so sweet. And then suddenly there is a ring, and then I'm looking at the ring, and I'm looking like, “Oh my God. My career? My ring? My career?...” [looks back and forth to her ring and up]
R: So crazy, yeah…
THE BREAK-UP
R: A good part of the story is, we did the long distance for one year because after I proposed, of course, you know, she's in the height of her career. She's so busy, she's going to Japan, and traveling, and doing shows and movies, and making good money. And as each month went by, we started and probably started to weaken our relationship. And I think we saw each other after 6 months, and it was a little strained. It wasn't you know, things are starting to kind of change a bit, because time's going by and it's very hard for her to leave. And now I really know why.
And as each month went by, we started and probably started to weaken our relationship. And I think we saw each other after six months, and it was a little strained.
Back then, I guess I didn't really get it. I remember we broke up. I wasn't sleeping that year. I was very stressed. And of course, that's the biggest decision of your life. And I started to kind of understand the magnitude that she was having to go through. And I finally just was like, “You know, maybe don't come, don't come. It's just circumstances, you just have too much going on there--your family, and then your career. It's going to be OK. We'll be fine. You know, I think you should stay there.”
P: Sorry...
R: It was very, very stressful. And I finally said, “You know, no, I think we should break up.” But then...she comes! Hahaha.
“You know, maybe don't come, don't come. It's just circumstances, you just have too much going on there
P: And then! That’s the time I turn around...
R: But that's not what I was trying to do. I wasn't trying to psychologically play a game to get her. I really was like, “OK, I'm moving on. This is not going to work. It's been a year. She can't come because of her circumstances there.”
P: And then you know what happened. It's like, when he said that, and then I have this box of all the love letters, all this. When I read everything, he really is like Hallmark--the way he made cards for me. It's like, “Wow, this person...it’s like, he's so pure, he's such a loving person.”
And I finally said, “You know, no, I think we should break up.” But then...she comes!
My mom at the time told me, “Gen [Genesis Canlapan is Patricia’s real name], you know, with all your relationships, this man is meant for you. You pray for this man.” When he told me, “Don't come.” But at the time, I followed my heart, I followed my mom, and with God’s direction, I said, “OK, I'm going to go there, I'm going to make him feel like, “OK, I want to be with you.”” But when I arrived there [in San Diego], I was looking for him in the airport--he wasn't there.
R: Because I didn’t know you were going to come.
P: He did not pick me up! So I was there in the airport, waiting. But you know what happened? I still went to San Diego. I stayed with my Auntie Melinda and Romy Casas. I'm so lucky that there's a family who likes to adopt me for as long as I want to stay there.
“OK, I want to be with you.”” But when I arrived there [in San Diego], I was looking for him in the airport--he wasn't there.
R: Because it took time. It wasn't like she just came there and then, OK, everybody lived happily ever after. I was then, at that point, thinking about all the negatives. Before, I'm thinking about all the positives. But then I was just thinking, “No, it's just not going to work. Like, you know, I just don't see it working.” So it took many months, maybe 6, 7 months.
P: Six months, I stayed in America. So while I'm there, I'm trying to look for work for me. I also did some shows. But in those months, I'm really pursuing him. I even give him flowers almost every day. Remember that? Hahaha.
R: Yeah, yeah. But that's not really what I needed. It was just more like that doesn't change the fact that all the stuff you had here--that wasn't what I was looking for.
But in those months, I'm really pursuing him. I even give him flowers almost every day.
P: So what happened is, I still stayed there. And then that's the time that I became closer to God. Because I [was] really praying for this man, and I even ask the whole community, “Can you pray for my fiancee to come back to me?” I really believe that prayer is the most powerful weapon. So at that time, it’s been 6 months, and he didn't seem that into me anymore. And then I just said to God, “OK God, I think I did my part. Maybe it's not meant to be. Because I've been here for 6 months.” I would still talk to him, and I said, “I will just go back to the Philippines.”
R: In short, basically it worked out. Hahaha.
P: Yeah. So when I say, I'm going back to the Philippines that’s the time he said, “Maybe you should just stay here for Christmas? Would you like to go with me to look for a house?" And at first I was, “Why me? You know, I thought, you don’t like me anymore. But why are you asking me to go with you?” So Christmas time, he proposed to me again, in that house.
R: I bought a nice house in San Diego.
“Why me? You know, I thought, you don’t like me anymore. But why are you asking me to go with you?” So Christmas time, he proposed to me again, in that house.
P: He bought a house in San Diego. Yeah. And you know what? It's not easy when he proposed this time. This time he made me pick, “OK, which one do you like? This right hand, or this hand? Or, the box, or my hand?” And then I said, “Huh? Why do I need to pick this?" You know? And then I just think, like, “Oh, maybe it's not always what's in the box is right.” So I picked the closed hand, and when he opened it, the ring [was] there. So I was thinking if I choose the box, it means…?” Hahaha.
R: I don't know, maybe not meant to be. Hahaha. We met in ‘03. All of that was taking place in 2005 and 2006. And we had our first child in 2007. And then our second in 2011, and then we moved here in 2015.
PARENTHOOD
P: The best thing [about parenthood] is, everyday I feel like I'm learning new things from my kids. Even if I'm so tired, but when I see them, they're sleeping in a nice bed, they're eating good food. For me, that's already like, that's my happiness that as a parent, we are providing good memories for our kids.
R: Yeah, our kids are absolutely everything to us.
For me, that's already like, that's my happiness that as a parent, we are providing good memories for our kids.
P: I’m the one who’s always out because I always promote our business [Doc Rob’s Chiropractic]. But Doc Rob, you know, sometimes I feel bad [for him] because he doesn’t go out. I tell him, “You need to find friends!” And he said, “No, [being with] my kids is OK.” Right?
R: Yeah…
DOC ROB’S CHIROPRACTIC
P: Our mission is always, “Why are we doing this? We like to help people to be healthy.” And then the blessings will just come. Every night when we pray, “God, help us. Bless us, so we can be a blessing to other people.”
R: Our businesses are just that's our passion. It's so fulfilling and fun. And we just want to inspire people to live a healthier life. And obviously, we help people feel great through chiropractic--but we really want to inspire them to lead just a more productive, happy life. You know, a chiropractic session is not very long, but we give our hundred percent and our love to every single person.
Doc Rob, you know, sometimes I feel bad [for him] because he doesn’t go out. I tell him, “You need to find friends!” And he said, “No, [being with] my kids is OK.”
There, [in San Diego] I had a successful clinic, but here I help five times more people. I just take care of so many more people. And I guess the biggest difference, in America, unfortunately the chiropractic message it's been changed. It's been diluted. It's not, I guess, as appreciated because of many factors, [like] health insurance. And then there's many different types of message, stories being told. Every chiropractor tells a different story. I really try to preach true chiropractic message. That was my goal coming here [to the Philippines]. And so patients here, when they experience it, they're so appreciative.
P: Yeah, I think that's right.
There, [in San Diego] I had a successful clinic, but here I help five times more people. I just take care of so many more people.
R: And in America, you don't really get that anymore. They've all kind of, “Been there, done that.” And again, they're on to other things. But here they're just like, “Oh, my God, that's the most amazing thing that's ever happened!" And they're just so appreciative.
WHAT THEY LIVE BY
R: I'm just a very motivated person, and I try to instill in my kids to just be the best that you can be, whatever that is. If you're a garbage collector, or if you're a surgeon, or an actor or whatever, or an actress--be the best that you can be. Be a good person, you know. Those types of things.
P: I always hear you say, what you do is how...
“How you do anything is how you do everything.”...If you're a garbage collector, or if you're a surgeon, or an actor or whatever, or an actress--be the best that you can be.
R: “How you do anything is how you do everything.” You know, if you do something 50 percent--you've got to do everything 100 percent. How you make your bed, how you work, how you...You know, everything should be done at 100 percent.
P: I’m always saying this. “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” OK, I’ll take this opportunity to say to my husband how blessed I am [turns to Rob] that you are the father of my kids and, you know, you really provide a lot for our family and. He always surprises me.
R: Of course, I feel the same way. Thank you. Hahaha.