Meet the couple behind the viral Mt. Pulag engagement
Young couple Nicole Coprada and John Rey Zabella didn’t hire a professional photographer for their 5th-anniversary hike to Mt. Pulag. They didn't have to. As the sun rose over the iconic sea of clouds, a stranger captured a candid photo of their engagement that quickly took over social media.
"We accidentally saw someone propose at the summit. Don't know them. Hopefully the internet does its thing," a poster named Rachelle Ann Cuales shared on a Facebook group.
And so it did.
The post has now over 131,000 likes, 1,200 comments, and 5,600 shares as of writing.
Making the first move
The couple met in 2021. Nicole followed John Rey using Instagram’s suggested friends, but it wasn't until a week later that they started talking.
"Minessage niya ko tungkol sa isang anime series na pinapanood din pala niya," Nicole shared, saying that because they lived in different areas in Quezon Province, they spent a month talking online before finally deciding to meet in person.
"Students palang kami noon, wala pa daw siyang pera pamasahe magiipon muna siya. Eh ako yung unang nagkapera noon, pinuntahan ko siya," Nicole said.
Their relationship flourished because they were both into nature and adventure. They became each other's constant travel partners, exploring their hometown, Quezon Province.
Eventually, they moved to Metro Manila for work—Nicole, 24, working at an automotive company, while John Rey, 25, is a criminology graduate.
"Same kaming adventurous. Parang one call away, ‘puntahan natin ‘to,’ go siya. Tapos siya naman, pag may gusto siyang puntahan, go din ako," Nicole told PhilSTAR L!fe.
For them, the mountains are like their relationship—it requires preparation, effort, and a bit of bravery.
"Mahihirapan ka sa pag akyat pero may goal ka or worth it yung ginagawa mo kasi may makikita kang magandang view," Nicole explained.
At their peak
John Rey had known Nicole was "the one" for a long time. In fact, he had been holding onto a secret for three years.
"Nagsukat-sukat siya ng mga singsing. And then simula po noon, tinandaan ko na po yung sukat ng kanyang daliri para di na ko mahirapan sa pagbili," he admitted.
When Nicole suggested hiking Mt. Pulag to celebrate their 5th anniversary, John Rey saw his opening. After asking Nicole's parents for approval, he decided to push with his plan.
During the early morning trek, he was silently praying for a "clearing," so the view would be perfect. As they reached the summit, John Rey told their group's drone operator that he would be proposing. The drone operator told him to leave it up to him, and when his cue came, John Rey dropped to one knee.
"Akala ko 'go,' yayakapin niya ko tapos mag ki-kiss kami. Yun pala 'go' yung cue niya para lumuhod siya," Nicole said. "Late na nag sink in sakin kasi parang naka luhod na siya kumakaway pa rin ako. Tapos umiyak na ko parang bata."
Early engagement announcement
The couple was surprised to find their private moment trending online before they even posted it themselves. They were planning to post it on their fifth anniversary on Jan. 28, however, friends started sending them a photo taken by a stranger that had gone viral.
"Meron akong mga mutuals sa Facebook na nagsha-share tapos hindi ata nila alam na kami yun kasi hindi kita yung mukha," Nicole shared.
Despite it, they are grateful for the shot that captured their milestone so beautifully.
After John Rey trains with the Bureau of Fire Protection, they will then start to plan for an intimate wedding next year.
As for their next goal? The pair is already eyeing their first international trip together in Taiwan.
"Plan po namin this year, every month may mapuntahan kaming isang lugar or makapag hike kami," Nicole said.
"Gusto namin habang malalakas pa kami, mararating namin yung gusto namin marating kesa pag matanda na," John Rey added.