Autumn proposal in New York’s Central Park

SHE HAD no makeup on, MJ said; what she had was a hangover. Suddenly, she was crying, “which was so not like me.”

Tis the season of celebrity marriage proposals; the more, the marry-er! The latest celeb sweethearts who got the urge to merge are TV 5 entertainment reporter MJ Marfori and GMA 7 news reporter Oscar Oida. Since I was the first one to write about their romance, the newly engaged couple let me in on their proposal story.

Oscar chose to pop the question to the “apple of his eye” in the Big Apple—New York is MJ’s favorite city.

After five years of blissful togetherness, the cool couple will soon take the plunge. MJ and Oscar are so well-suited for each other despite their 13-year age difference.

It’s time for these reporters to hog the headlines. Congratulations to my good friends! You make me want to believe in marriage all over again.

Oscar’s story

I proposed by saying: “We’ve been together for a long time. And we have bridged our pasts together and crossed the bridges of today together. Now, here at Bow Bridge [I ask], I’d like to cross and build more bridges with you.

“Maria Josefina Romualdez Marfori… MJ, will you marry me? Please say yes and take this ring and never say no to me again.”

Last Oct. 25, MJ thought we were just going to walk around Central Park and do our usual picture- and video-taking.

She did not have any idea that something big was waiting for her at the Bow Bridge (the second-oldest bridge in the park), which I set up with the help of a group of accomplices.

I had a fake balloon sales lady hold white balloons and one red, heart-shaped balloon; a photographer who pretended to be selling roses; and a band composed of a singer, a guitarist and a violinist.

The cue was I would buy the heart balloon and give it to MJ. Then the band would start playing my song for her, “All of Me” by John Legend, which is her favorite song as well.

Then I knelt down and brought out the ring. As the cliché goes, love is the bridge between two hearts. That’s why I chose to propose at Bow Bridge, considered one of the most romantic places in Central Park. Scenes from films like “Manhattan,” “The Way We Were” and “Keeping the Faith” were shot there.

In terms of stability, Bow Bridge is time-tested, just like our love for each other.

I used to think an engagement is merely a formality. But it’s different when you experience it. I was nervous and excited. I didn’t mind the passersby. My focus was on MJ. It was like a dream sequence. She’s not the cheesy type, so when I saw her crying, I fell in love with her all the more. I gave her a white gold, one-carat diamond ring, which is as clear as our love for one another.

MJ’s side:

I had no idea that he was going to propose. We woke up at 9 a.m. for our Central Park stroll. I was still woozy from partying until the wee hours.

When we got to Bow Bridge, his friends, whom he said we were going to meet up with, were nowhere in sight. It was not until Oscar approached the balloon lady that I got a hint… Still, I was in denial! When he got the balloon for me… I felt the chilly weather all the more!

I wasn’t prepared. I had a hangover and no makeup on. The next thing I knew, I was crying (which is so not me) and kept repeating “Oh my God! No way!” and then… everything went blank.

The details were gone by then. All I knew was that he was proposing! I did not even know he had a ring! It was so beautiful! I’m kind of one of the boys but at that time I felt like a lady.

I can’t believe he chose my favorite city! He even had a band plus the proposal paraphernalia and a photographer on standby!

Oscar has always been sweet, the perfect gentleman. When he proposed, I did not mind the PDA (public display of affection). I kissed him after I said “Yes!”

Now that we are engaged, we are planning our wedding, which will be held in two years.

Anne-stoppable

Some netizens are raving about Anne Curtis’ performance in her international film debut, “Blood Ransom.”

The film’s trailer has earned over a million hits on YouTube. The love story-suspense thriller brings Anne a step closer to her dream Hollywood career. She portrays Crystal, a mysterious woman kidnapped by Jeremiah (Alexander Dreymon).

One of the movie’s highlights is a sexy scene where she and Alexander, as lovers on the run, have to French kiss (something Anne had never done in her previous movies). She’s Anne-stoppable!