Ryan Bang is clearly a hopeless romantic when it comes to his fiancee, Paola Huyong.
In his latest vlog, the couple shared the story of their first meeting in May 2023. The “It’s Showtime” host said they met while playing football.
“First time kong nakita, pagpasok ko ng football field, parang nag-so-slowmo ka sakin,” Ryan said.
“Totoo pala ‘yung mga pelikula, alam mo na ‘yung instinct talaga, ‘pag nakita mo ang The One,” he added.
Ryan even told his personal assistant, Joyce, “Parang siya ‘yung magiging girlfriend ko.”
Hilariously, Joyce responded with, “Ang feeling mo naman, sir.”
Although Ryan and Paola met a few more times on the field the following days, they said they weren’t really speaking.
When Ryan saw in Paola’s Instagram that she owned the Siesta Horchata Cafe, he went and bought from the shop.
Eventually, they got to talking, and Ryan asked Paola what her status is. When she said she was single, he was surprised.
Paola, however, was sure about what she wanted: someone who was also a Christian.
“Ang sagot ko po diyan, nasa tiyan palang ako ng nanay ko Christian na ako,” Ryan said, adding that his parents were on the way to Church on a Sunday when her mom went into labor.
Paola said that she wanted her partner to have the same values and foundation as her.
“Now we are in the same line,” Ryan said.
In June 2023, Ryan invited Paola to Vice Ganda’s concert.
That concert became their first date.
Paola was even invited backstage to meet Vice before she was completely ready, a fact which shocked Ryan.
However, Paola admitted that she didn’t think there was anything between them at the time.
“To be honest, I didn’t think na he even likes me, kasi ‘yung feeling with Ryan is very titohan, tropa,” Paola said.
“I really didn’t think that there would be something. Ryan’s very nice and he’s very friendly to everyone,” she added. “Kasi marami naman ding other girls diyan na pretty at saka nasa showbiz.”
This misunderstanding came to a head when they went on a samgyupsal date and Paola told him, “Ryan, you’re such a good friend.”
A shocked Ryan responded with, “Anong pinagsasabi mong good friend, hindi ako pupunta from… Showtime, tapos pipick-upin pa kita dito sa traffic, tapos magiging good friend.”
“Sabi ko, anong friend? Kung friend, ‘di kita puputahan,” Ryan added.
After that was clarified, Paola said she felt “really at peace.”
Ryan then revealed that he came across a “sign.” After his contract signing with GMA Network, which he described as good news, he discovered a building that now holds not just Siesta Horchata Cafe, but also Ryan’s own restaurant, Paldo.
Ryan finally asked Paola to be his girlfriend, and she said yes.
They announced their engagement in June last year.
Aside from hosting “It’s Showtime,” Ryan memorably hosted the Asia Artist Awards in 2023 and Kim Seon Ho’s fan meeting in April. He also appeared in an episode of “Bubble Gang.” —JCB, GMA Integrated News
