‘You’re the coffee that I need in the morning:’ A Valentine’s Day story
By Angelito Cabigao
“Best Part” by Daniel Caesar and H.E.R. holds a special place in my heart.
Every time I play it on Spotify and hear the line “You’re the coffee that I need in the morning,” it instantly brings to mind my wife, Bianca. The song beautifully captures the moments of our “coffee dates,” creating our own sweet soundtrack.
I met Bianca Romano, a dietician for Unilever BGC, when I was living and working in Bonifacio Global City. She lived in Cavite at that time, and I, a New York-born FilAm, was a BGC resident working for TaskUS, an outsourcing firm.
When we started dating, one of our favorite spots was a coffee shop in BGC called Elephant Grounds. Both of us had just started new jobs in the area, and Monday mornings were our rare times together.
The best part for me was when Bia’s iced latte was served at our table. I can still vividly recall that beautiful smile on her face as she admired the perfect harmony of milk and coffee, and her initial sip that effortlessly consumed half the cup. Even before taking my first sip, I was already wide awake and completely present in the moment with Bia, all thanks to that radiant smile of hers.
I kept asking her out for Monday morning dates at Elephant Grounds. I wanted to keep experiencing her smile and seeing her happy.
These dates became our weekly “coffee dates,” where we would dedicate our time to having iced lattes and spending time getting to know each other more and more.
Over time, our coffee dates expanded beyond the confines of Elephant Grounds. We shared more than just a fondness for iced latte. We are PADI-certified scuba divers and we would go on diving trips in Batangas. We love to travel, our favorite place to visit is La Union. We love to watch basketball. Go Lakers!
The proposal
When I felt it was time, I bought an engagement ring in NYC with my mom. It was memorable because she was with me. Then I went back to the Philippines and proposed to Bia in a remote beach in Puerto Galera before a scuba diving adventure. We got married in New York City.
We both love food and travel and are proud of our Filipino family values. Best of all, I like her Adobo cooking.
Now, a married couple, we persist in enjoying our morning coffee dates across the Philippines, Singapore, N.J., and NYC.
Coffee dates go beyond enjoying cups of coffee; they taught me to value time with the person I love. For Bia and me, we realize that coffee dates provide an opportunity to enjoy our favorite coffee together, support local coffee businesses, and start off mornings spending time with each other. It could be spending hours at % Arabica coffee in Brooklyn, chatting about the Manhattan skyline, a few minutes at our favorite local Dunkin’ Donuts spot in N.J., or spending a few seconds making our 3-in-1 coffee before a dive trip in Batangas.
All these coffee dates result in more time I get to spend with the love of my life. Bia is the metaphorical coffee that I need every morning, a source of warmth and joy that I strive to cherish in every shared moment.
Angelito ‘Gino’ Cabigao is the founder of Kulture Ko, a business consulting firm focused on workplace culture and human resources. Gino and Bianca live in Clifton, N.J.
(C) The FilAm 2024
