MICHELE Gumabao-Panlilio had herself the busiest start to 2025 with the first of her two wedding ceremonies and a championship defense in mind.
Not to mention, Creamline’s qualifying round win over Nxled came just two days since her Catholic wedding rites with her partner of eight years in Aldo Panlilio.
With the knot now finally tied, it all still feels surreal for the newlywed Cool Smasher.
READ: Creamline takes quarterfinals seat with resounding sweep of Nxled
“Feeling ko nga, hindi pa nag-sink in sa akin eh,” she said.
“We have one more in a few weeks. But after so long, we've been together for eight years, I think […] it’s not the finish line but actually the starting line of something new for us," she continued.
“I’m excited and looking forward to a new life that we can start together and a family that we can build also together in a few years. Sana rin talaga we can build a family like kung paano kami pinalaki ng mga magulang namin because of how family is important to us.”
There’s another ceremony on the horizon for the Panlilios in April as part of the couple’s decision to hold separate Catholic and Christian ceremonies, with Gumabao being a Christian and Panlilio a Catholic.
Among the first few people to back her up in a new chapter of her life is her volleyball family in Creamline.
The Cool Smashers threw a surprise for Gumabao on the day before her wedding, with the players donning ‘Gumabao Aldo’ shirts and her jersey number seven.
And so, as she looks ahead to build a family of her own, MG will forever be grateful to always have the love of her Creamline family even at the expense of having to sit out training sessions during her wedding preparations.
“‘Di ko talaga ineexpect yung day na yun na sinurprise nila ko kaya feeling ko sobrang naiyak ako kasi nakakaoverwhelm lahat ng planning, yung schedule, talagang minsan alam nila yun na pagod na pagod na talaga ko," she said.
“Minsan nga, sinasabi nila sakin na kahit di ka na magpractice or di ka na pumunta, sinasabi naman ni coach na kahit wag ka muna pumunta," she added.
“Thankful ako sa kanila because all throughout, I think hindi ko talaga magagawa't lahat if hindi naka-support sa akin yung team ko from our management to coaches and all the players.”
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