Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa eloped and married in secret before church wedding

Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa are a shining example of enduring love amid the many cheating, ghosting, and heartbreak stories recently.

The couple recently celebrated their 52nd anniversary, but did you know that they actually eloped and married in secret before their church wedding?

In an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Tito Sen and Tita Helen took a trip down memory lane by sharing their love story and relationship milestones through a game of Pinoy Henyo with Jessica Soho.

"Fifty-two years na magkasama kami. Church wedding 'yun, pero ang totoo nu’n 54 years na. 'Yung original na kasal namin tanan kasi," Tito Sen said.

("We've been together for 52 years. But that’s only counting our church wedding. The truth is we've been together for 54 years. We eloped back then.")

The pair traveled to Santo Tomas, Batangas at midnight to get married in front of a judge. But the judge was not there when they arrived, so they had to look for a priest instead.

They had their papers with them, so the priest agreed to officiate their wedding. They got married in the wee hours of the morning.

Tita Helen said the plan was to return her to her family after they tied the knot, but her mom somehow found out what they did.

"Humanap ako ng mga padrino na sasama sa amin para pagsoli dahil kinakabahan ako dun sa mother niya," Tito Sen recalled.

"Pagpasok namin ng bahay na ganyan aba'y bubuhatin 'yung silya, ang laki, ihahampas sa akin e. Ihahampas 'yung silya sa akin. Galit na galit, umiiyak. Halos himatayin."

("I looked for someone to accompany us when we returned because I was nervous about her mother. When we entered the house, she took a chair and wanted to hit me with it. She was so angry, she was crying. She almost fainted.")

Tito Sen said Tita Helen's mom was so strict he had to go behind her back to court his lady love.

"Nung una pa puwedeng pasyal-pasyal sa kanila because nagdadala ako ng mga plaka ng album. Kunyari mga pag-aaralang kanta. Nung nakahalata mommy niya hindi na ako pwedeng pumunta," he said.

"So papadala ako ng chocolates, roses. 'Yung drayber niya kinukontsaba ko. Kunwari ilalagay ko 'yung drum set sa likod ng kotse niya tapos sasabihin ko, 'Saan ang shooting n'yo bukas?'"

("At first I would drop by her house, bringing albums. I pretended that we were studying a song. When her mom noticed it, I was no longer allowed to come. So instead, I would send chocolates, roses. I got her driver as an accomplice. I would pretend to leave a drum set at the back of her car so I would have an excuse to see her.”)

After their secret wedding, Tito Sen was finally allowed to visit Helen at home once a week. A year later, they convinced her mom to let them live together and set a public wedding on January 2, 1971.

This is the anniversary they celebrated recently, and netizens could help but say "sana all" when their daughter Ciara posted a video of them being sweet.

In the clip, Tito Sen gave Tita Helen a vase full of roses and they took their time embracing each other.

"I am proud to say na talagang hanggang ngayon nililigawan pa rin niya ako," Tita Helen told Jessica.

("I am proud to say that until now, he is still courting me.")

She also said Tito Sen is her "one and only love."

Jessica then asked Tito Sen how he felt upon hearing that. To which he replied: "Sanay na ako. Sanay na akong kiligin sa kanya."

("I'm used to it. I'm used to feeling giddy over her.")

The couple remain very devoted to each other after five decades of marriage.

"Tingin ko hinding hindi naman nagbago 'yung pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa. As a matter of fact e parang puwede nating sabihing parang wine habang tumatanda, sumasarap," Tito Sen said.

("I think how we treat each other hasn’t changed. You could say that our love is aging like fine wine.")

Tita Helen, for her part, shows her love with acts of service.

"Kuha na ako ng plangganita, lalagyan ko ng warm water tapos konting alcohol, ibababad ko dun ang paa niya habang mina-massage ko," she said. "Kaya sabi ng mommy ko, 'Sobra ka naman! Parang hari 'yang asawa mo.'"

("I would get a small basin, I would put in warm water and a little bit of alcohol, then I would wash his feet while I massage them. My mom would say, 'This is too much. You treat your husband like a king.'")

They even wash each other's backs when they can no longer reach it with soap.

"We're growing old together gracefully. I can never thank God enough talaga for what he has done to us," Tita Helen said.

Belated happy anniversary, Tito Sen and Tita Helen!

—MGP, GMA Integrated News