'Best Decision Ever Made': Marco And Lara Alcaraz Look Back On Their 12 Years Of Marriage

Lara Quigaman took a trip down memory lane on her and her husband Marco Alcaraz's 12th wedding anniversary last January 1, 2023.

The actress, who won Miss International in 2005 before joining show business, recalled in her Instagram post that she and the basketball player-turned-actor dated for just over a year when they decided to get married.

Their respective parents were understandably concerned for what seemed like a hasty decision to settle down. Thus the question on why getting married already.

Till today, Lara can't forget how she and Marco replied to their parents' question. They actually quoted Billy Crystal's unforgettable line to Meg Ryan in the iconic 1989 romantic comedy, When Harry Met Sally.

Lara wrote the movie line on the caption of her post: "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

She pointed out, "12 years later, with 3 kids, a belly full of excess skin and stretchmarks- I still feel the same." Then she greeted her "hottie" husband "Happy 12th Wedding Anniversary," adding "I love you asawa ko. Habambuhay."

Marco, on the the hand, said in his post that getting married to Lara 12 years ago was "the best decision I ever made," and went on greeting his wife, "Happy Anniversary Asawa ko."

How to have a lasting and love-filled marriage

Take it from Lara and Marco, regular dates work in keeping the fire burning.

Lara recounted in another post how Marco makes her extra special: "It was our 12th Wedding Anniversary last Jan 1, and my birthday last Tuesday, where we had a very humble celebration at home and Marco kept apologizing that we couldn't even go out for dinner to celebrate (our 2 youngest were sick then).

"I told him, I didn't care, that I was happy to just be with him and the boys- that they were enough."

She added, "Also, a few days before Christmas, he dragged me to the mall to buy me a Christmas+ Anniv + Birthday gift and I told him, I don't really need or want anything- so we ended up not buying anything.

"But on my birthday, he surprised me (which was so unlike him) with a cake, flowers and a gift that he knew I secretly wanted, but wouldn't ask, because it was costly. Soooo, I cried - not because he gave me those things, but because of what he did."

She said in reflection, "Honestly, I was really super happy to simply be with them during those occassions, but he wanted to make me feel extra special and loved. He gave even when I didn't ask."

So when Lara and Marco finally got the chance to go out, they had a day of pampering that ended with a dinner as a "belated anniversary celebration kahit di naman na talaga kailangan."

She then pointed out, tagging her husband in her post, "Alabyuuuu thank you love for loving me. I love growing old with you.. I thank God for you, 'my answered prayer', every day. Lablab kita, kaya kahit di ako mag #pengepera alam ko bibigyan mo ko heheheh love you."

Read here for 5 science-backed ingredients for a happy and successful marriage.