Former child star Bugoy Cariño and his partner, volleyball player EJ Laure, are getting married.

The couple got engaged during the 21st birthday celebration of the actor held over the weekend.

In clips shared by Bugoy on Instagram Stories, he said, “Gusto ko lang sabihin at ipagsigawan sa lahat ng mga kaibigan ko na nandito na napaka-importante sa akin, na itong babaeng ito, pakakasalan ko. Itong babaeng ‘to mamahalin ko hanggang dulo. Kaya maraming salamat sa pagpunta niyo.

“EJ, Ennajie Cruz Laure, mahal na mahal kita. Will you marry me?”

There to witness the proposal and celebrate Bugoy on his milestone birthday were his former Hashtags groupmates, including Zeus Collins, Ronnie Alonte, Nikko Natividad, Jimboy Martin, Tom Doromal, and Jon Lucas.

Also present were Loisa Andalio, Jackie Gonzaga, and Francis Magundayao.

Bugoy and EJ already have a daughter named Scarlet, whom they introduced to the public on his 18th birthday back in 2020. According to Rappler, the actor was just 16 when he got EJ — then 21 — pregnant.

In a 2022 interview with journalist Karen Davila for her vlog, Bugoy addressed the criticism surrounding his relationship with EJ.

“Nakikita ko po ‘yung mga sinasabi ng mga tao na dapat kasuhan si EJ, kasi nga minor ako [nung nagkaanak kami]. Hindi naman po sila ‘yung magkakaso eh, dapat ako ‘yung magkakaso kay EJ kasi ako ‘yung minor,” he said.

“Pero pinili ko na [kasi] gusto ko maging masaya na lang. Gusto ko na maging parte ng buhay ko si EJ…. Sobrang mahal ko si EJ,” he added.

READ: Bugoy Cariño on pedophile accusations vs girlfriend: ‘Hindi niyo po alam ang buong story namin’

He, however, admitted that he lost everything when he became a dad at 16.

“Mahirap po kasi sa akin, nawala lahat nang mga gusto kong gawin.… Nagbago po talaga ang buhay ko simula noong naging tatay ako,” he said.

“‘Yun ‘yung time na parang ‘yung career ko is pataas na nang pataas so parang na-confuse ako sa sarili ko. Naisip ko na parang ang aga pala talaga. Nawala lahat sa akin,” he added.

READ: Bugoy Cariño opens up about decision to have child with EJ Laure almost aborted; defends partner against critics

Nevertheless, Bugoy said, “Hindi ako masisisi ng tao. Hindi masisisi si EJ ng mga tao kung bakit hindi namin napigilan ang sarili. Ako po talaga ang may gusto kay EJ. Kaya sabi ko sa kanya, ‘wag mo na pansinin. Pagdating naman ng panahon, wala na ‘yan eh. Magbabago na din isip nila.”

Bugoy first rose to fame when he won the third season of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Kid Quest in 2009. He then became a regular cast member of the now-defunct gag show Goin’ Bulilit. Since then, Bugoy has appeared in several shows in ABS-CBN, including the 2012 series E-boy as its lead star.

In 2017, Bugoy was introduced as part of the boy group Hashtags on the noontime program It’s Showtime.