Our First Date

Craig and I met in Sydney, Australia for the first time in September 1987. 

I had established my software and services company two years previously and was determined to provide the best banking software from the US, UK and Australia; in addition to building our own.  My search for an Investment software took me to Australia for the first time.  I was to meet with the company executives and negotiate the best possible deal for my then still small company.

Craig turned out to be the Director in charge of the software.  We met for the first time at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney for breakfast.  However, he had another meeting that conflicted with my schedule and I ended up negotiating with his boss instead.

Two months later, Craig flew to Manila ostensibly to re-negotiated the favorable terms I won.  He would later admit that he fell in love with me at first sight and had to meet with me again.

On October 8, 1988, he moved to Manila permanently.  

Together, we would build what would become one of the largest banking software companies in Southeast Asia.  And a few more start ups that would later be sold. 

We traveled the world and weathered a few life threatening events. 

In 2010, we lost everything we had as a result of the 2008 financial crash. We sold our properties in California:  a home in Larkspur, a condo in Silicon Valley; and a farm in Napa Valley.

Admitting that there was nothing left for us in the United States, and there was nothing we could do, we returned to the Philippines, where started organic farming.

On January 30th, 2015, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast cancer and had mastectomy on February 14th.  My left breast was radically removed. Also removed were 27 lymph nodes, 15 of which were malignant.  This was followed by more than 2 years of treatment.  In 2016, Craig and I returned to the US to continue my treatments and receive excellent follow-on care. Like many survivors, I suffer from the effects of chemo therapy including depression and PTSD.

I am very blessed to have found someone who would stay with me through the worst of times.  On September 13, 2015, we officially got married and renewed our vows after more almost 30 years of being together. 

We have lost and re-built, fought and made up, but through it all, we remained loyal and faithful, and never lost each other.