Swept Away: Nurse Proposed to Flight Attendant at NAIA

Armed with a bouquet of calla lily and yellow roses, five members of the Angono National Symphonic Band, and a diamond engagement ring, Filipino nurse Eugene Padua popped the question to his long-time girlfriend Marian Ocampo, a flight attendant, at her workplace - Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The proposal was romantically arranged two days before Valentine’s Day. According to the interview of Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) with Connie Bungag, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) media affairs officer after, Ms. Ocampo arrived aboard Flight OZ-701 from Seoul, South Korea of Asiana Airlines. She was escorted by airport policeman, Lt. Joselito Mutya, to the curbside where Mr. Padua was waiting for her.

As soon as he saw her, Mr. Padua went down on one knee and popped the question while the Symphony Band played “Swept Away” by Christopher Cross, the couple’s theme song. Nearby, friends of the couple unfurled a tarpaulin with the words “Will you marry me?” and a photo montage of the two. With such a romantic gesture form her beloved, who could resist saying yes?

Some of the bystanders were teary-eyed as the events unfold, according to Ms. Bungag. The crowd insinuated the soon to wed couples to kiss.

In the same interview of PDI, Mr. Tirso Serrano, MIAA assistant general manager for corporate development and public affairs, said that this is not the first time someone proposed at the airport. Mr. Serrano shared that a nephew of a former governor proposed to his girlfriend who was arriving at the NAIA Centennial Terminal 2 last September 2008. MIAA General Manager Alfonso Cusi extends his well wishes to the soon to wed couple.

The groom-to-be told reporters after his proposal that they plan to get married next year. Best wishes!

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Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:

Aning, Jerome, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Early Valentine’s Day drama at NAIA. (Posted February 13, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20090213-189060/Early-Valentines-Day-drama-at-NAIA
Re-posted at Asia Journal (Vol. 19 No. 99) February 14 – 17, 2009 issue. (in .PDF format)
http://www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2009_LA/2009_02_14/2009_LA_02_14_A%201.pdf
http://www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2009_LA/2009_02_14/2009_LA_02_14_A%204.pdf

Santos, Rudy, The Philippine Star. Nurse proposes marriage to stewardess at NAIA (Posted February 13, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=439884&publicationSubCategoryId=65

Dacanay, Barbara Mae, GulfNews.com Bureau Chief.Marriage proposal with a difference (Posted February 13, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10285398.html

Mercene, Recto, Business Mirror. Sweet, bitter takes on Valentine’s Posted February 12, 2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10285398.html