Aiza and Liza on 'Tunay na Buhay:' A love story over a decade in the making

It happened last February 7, in the middle of a production of a play at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Actress Liza Diño was focused on her performance. Suddenly, the play was interrupted. Liza thought that someone had gone off-script. Soon, she realized that her girlfriend, Aiza Seguerra, had started professing her love, engagement ring in hand, on the stage of Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan.

Diño, an actress and former beauty queen, and Seguerra, a former child star and now singer, have only been officially together for a year, but their love story is not exactly a whirlwind romance. In fact, their relationship has been over a decade in the making.

In a recent episode of the daily GMA Public Affairs biographical program “Tunay na Buhay,” the couple opened up about their love story, which overcame time, distance, and even social conventions before finally culminating with a proposal on that brightly-lit stage.

Who made the first move?

Diño and Seguerra became friends in 1998. They met through Diño’s then boyfriend, who was taping a show with Seguerra.

Even as just friends, the Liza and Aiza felt a special connection. “We started talking at naaliw ako sa conversations. There’s something there,” said Diño.

At that time, Seguerra was planning on studying at the University of the Philippines. Diño offered to give Seguerra an UPCAT application form – a move that Seguerra jokes was the start of their flirtation.

“Naalala ko nasa Sta. Maria, Bulacan ako noon. Tapos pumunta siya just to give the application,” said Seguerra.

“Oh, ‘wag mong sabihin hindi ikaw nanliligaw noon?” she added, teasing Diño.

What stopped them?

“We were not officially together but there was something,” said Diño about her relationship with Seguerra.

Various factors hindered the two from taking their relationship to the next level. At the time, Diño had a boyfriend.  “I haven't been in a same-sex relationship. I was confused. I was with someone and I was trying to work it out with him,” she said.

Meanwhile, Seguerra was focused on her college studies and music career. She was also set to return to acting in the “Enteng Kabisote” films.

Diño was also busy starring in independent films and joining beauty pageants. She won the title Miss Tourism-International back in 2001.

As they focused on their respective careers and love lives, Diño and Seguerra’s relationship dissipated.

“Nawala ang pagiging MU namin,” said Seguerra.

In 2008, Diño went to the United States to get married and have a family.

"My heart was always in Manila,” reflected Diño. “Every chance I’d get to do a film, I would fly. Kahit one or two months lang [ang shooting].”

Regular movie offers convinced Diño to return to the Philippines for good in 2013. Her marriage also wasn’t working, so she decided to leave her husband.

How did they rekindle the flame?

"Hi Aiz, this is Liza. I'm here in Manila. Let's catch up it's been a while.”

Over Twitter, Diño and Seguerra got in touch again. After exchanging a few direct messages, they decided to meet up for lunch on January 8, which eventually became the date they chose to celebrate their anniversary as an official couple.

Even if there was a 13-year gap in their relationship, Diño and Seguerra eased back into the long, beautiful conversations that brought them together in the beginning. 

“Iba pag nag-uusap sila. Spontaneous. May connection,” said Abell Diño, Liza’s sister. “Sabi ni ate, ‘I’m love with a soul.’”

Seguerra proposed on February 7. With the help of their friends and family, she tricked Diño into believing that the two of them were just performing in a fund-raiser play, “Kung Paano Maghihiwalay.”

“It's very seldom, suntok nga sa buwan, na makahanap ka ng tao na sa lahat ng checklist na nagawa mo, noong bata ka pa, ganun siya and more," said Aiza.

As for Diño, “There's this whole surge of feeling na ito na iyon, that whole reality of being with that one.” And true enough, it was that sense of certainty that compelled Liza to say “yes.”

–Bernice Sibucao/PF, GMA News

“Tunay na Buhay” is a biographical program hosted by Rhea Santos. It airs Mondays to Fridays at 11:00 a.m. on GMA Network. Follow the program on Facebook and Twitter.