Zoren Legaspi’s surprise wedding proposal/ceremony for Carmina Villaroel is probably the most kilig celebrity love story of the year. Rarely would you see a guy going to such great lengths in order to formalize their relationship. Zoren was the one who picked Paul Cabral to design Carmina’s gown.

“Dun madami nagtataka. Yung mga doubtful, sabi baka hindi totoo kasi imposibleng ‘di sinukat ni Carmina yung gown niya. Dun kami nahirapan. [Pero naalala ko na] na-impress siya sa cut ng gown niya sa Star Magic Ball. So sabi ko, ang makakagawa lang nito si Paul Cabral. Kung yun (Carmina’s gown for the ball) perfect fit for her, kahit ‘di sukatin ni Carmina [yung gagawing wedding gown ni Paul] 99 percent fit sa kanya,” said Zoren during his guest appearance with Carmina on Kris TV, Monday, November 19.

But what was probably the hardest part for Zoren was the time when he had his talk with their kids Cassy and Mavy. (The twins only learned about the wedding preparations a week before the actual event.) Zoren wasn’t worried about keeping them in the loop about the wedding, but he was worried about telling them for the first time that he and Carmina weren’t married.

“Nalaman nila kabuuan ng plano a week before [the wedding]. Bago yun, sinabi ko history ng buhay ng mommy nila. I had to say it, yung love story ni Carmina dati. [Noon pa kasi] nag-usap kami ni Mina na sasabihin namin sa kanila [na hindi pa talaga kami kasal]. Na we’ll have dinner talaga. Pero naisip ko, ’Ah, kailangan ko sabihin sa kanila bakit kami ikakasal para maintindihan nila.’ Kasi alam nila kasal talaga kami ni Mina.”

Zoren further shared that he was bracing himself for the kids’ reaction when he finally told them that Carmina had a previous marriage. But he was surprised to learn that the kids were aware that Carmina used to be the wife of Bb Gandanghari (formerly known as Rustom Padilla.) “Kinausap ko sila. Ginather ko sila sa master’s bedroom habang nasa banyo siya (Carmina). Kasi magre-rehearse na for the surprise wedding. ‘Dapat kaming dalawa ng mommy niyo ang magsasabi nito pero I have to say it now...’ So I was preparing [for what I was about to say] na parang Coco Martin ang drama. [I was expecting] na may iyakan, ganon. Then I told them, ‘I’m not the first husband of your mommy.’ Sabi ng dalawa, ‘Yeah, we know.’ ‘What do you mean you know?' ‘We know.' ‘E sinong first husband ng mommy mo? 'That dude.' ‘What dude?' ‘The BB.’ Sabi ko, ‘What? Who told you this?’ ‘We watch The Buzz.’ E never namin sinabi yun directly. It felt very good—not because inamin ko sa kanila but the way they handled it. Sabi ko, ‘Wow, walang insecurities itong dalawang ito.’ For them it’s just water under the bridge.”

When Kris asked about how well they’ve raised their children, Carmina gave Zoren credit for being such a good parent to Mavy and Cassy. “Malaking bahagi talaga si Zoren. Lagi ko sinasabi every time na pinupuri nila yung kambal at sinasabi nila na masyadong behave, maganda pagpapalaki… Malaking factor talaga si Zoren kasi siya ang disciplinarian at the same time spoiler. Daddy, kabarkada, kapatid-kumbaga rolled into one. So sabi ko, ‘Honey how do you that?’ Kasi ako, I want to believe na both ako pero I am more of a spoiler yata ako. Maybe because nakikita ko na siya na ang disciplinarian. Ako typical mommy. Hindi ko kaya maging super firm… Tsaka siguro nagku-complement kami sa isa’t isa. Sa bakit ganon ang mga anak ko, malaking factor si Zoren at kung paano ako pinalaki ng magulang ko. Kasi kung ano ka, you just pass it on to your kids.”