Kristel Fulgar confirms reservations when it comes to settling down.
After months of staying in South Korea for work purposes, as well as learning the country’s language and culture, Kristel has admittedly found someone who has been keeping her happy these days.
Despite all the green flags and check marks about this certain 39-year-old private Korean citizen, Kristel is committed to honoring her mother’s request for the guy’s religious conversion.
Sitting down on February 28, 2024, the 29-year-old singer-actress reveals that her mom is rooting for her to get married and build a family of her own already.
“Kasi nga, bilang wala pa, parang never pa akong nagka-boyfriend.
“Kaya parang sabi niya [her mom], ‘Ano ba, nale-late ka na, wala ka na sa kalendaryo niyan ng isang araw,’” she humorously relates.
“So, super okay siya sa idea na mag-entertain na ako, na magpaligaw na ako.
“Pero, isa lang ang parang request niya. Hindi ko siya [Korean suitor] muna talaga puwedeng sagutin hanggang hindi pa siya talaga parang official member ng church namin.”
Being a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) church, Kristel brings attention to the gravity of her partner sharing the same faith.
She tells PEP.ph, “Kasi INC kasi ako, so kailangan if magkakaroon kami ng someone, or boyfriend or girlfriend, kailangan part ng church namin.
“So, ayun, parang nung una, parang kahit gusto ko na siya, somehow nung mga first few months na magkakakilala kami, hindi ko pa masabi na parang hindi ko pa kaya maging fully committed.
“Dahil hindi pa ready. I mean, hindi pa siya… hindi pa siya part ng church,” she clarifies.
But, what became a turning point for Kristel’s personal assessment is how her suitor shows genuine willingness to convert and be part of her religious life.
The travel vlogger recalls, “Pero, nung sinabi niya sa akin na willing naman siya to convert, dun ko na, ‘Yes, willing pala siya.’
“And then, nung nakita ko talaga na, ngayon kasi naka-process na siya, hindi kasi… Sa church kasi namin, hindi siya basta-basta puwedeng pumasok.
“It will take time, it will take months.
“So, nasa process siya ngayon, and yun lang din yung hinihintay ko para masagot ko na siya,” she excitedly updates.
RESPECTING BOUNDARIES
Although Kristel is positive about undeniable compatibility between the two of them, she is still eager to get to know more about her Korean suitor, having met him just four months ago in October 2023.
However the relationship turns out, one thing is for sure: Kristel has fallen head over heels about her suitor’s respectful manners.
When asked what quality she favors the most about him, Kristel answers, “Super nire-respect niya yung boundaries ko.
“Super dami ko kasi yung boundaries ko, kung alam niyo lang,” she says laughing.
“Yes, kasi sabi niya nga dun sa vlog ko, nung sinabi kong hindi pa [in a relationship], sabi niya, ‘No, it’s okay, I can wait.’
“So, yun yung lagi niya sinasabi and hindi siya yung basta words lang. Nakikita ko sa actions niya talaga, na seryoso siya and gusto niya talaga.”
She also mentions her suitor’s tendency to be consistent in going after his intentions of being worthy of Kristel’s approval.
“Super consistent niya pa,” she says, talking about their regular dates and his efforts.
“And then after a month, bumalik ulit ako sa Korea, ayun, dun na kami parang mas naging close.”
PET NAMES
Only time will tell about Kristel and her suitor becoming official lovers, but, have they already given each other terms of endearment?
Kristel reveals that what she calls him may be simple, but contends it is special in its own right.
“Tinatawag ko siya ng ‘oppa,’ she bashfully confesses.
“Kasi puwede siyang pang-boyfriend, puwede rin siyang pang-older brother.”
In Korean honorifics, oppa is a name exclusively used by a woman to call her older brother or any other, close older men by.
The word doesn’t need to be used strictly only on blood-related family members, much like how Filipinos use the general term ‘kuya’ to address older guys.
“Pero kasi nagsimula yung parang pagkakakilala namin, tinawag ko na siyang oppa kasi as an older brother pa lang,” Kristel says.
“Yun yung medyo confusing sa culture nila, pero walang problema or hindi ganun ka-romantic yung oppa.
“Tayo lang mga Pilipino or mga na mahilig sa K-drama yung tingin natin pag oppa, tinawag na jowa, pero hindi naman siya ganun.”
This belief comes after pop culture acknowledges cute, adorable ways of saying oppa counts as an endearment in and of itself.
In defense of the term’s simplicity, Kristel adds, “Pero alam niya at sinabi ko rin na siya lang yung unang taong tinawag ko ng oppa.
“Kaya special dapat siya, ganun. Naramdaman naman niya dun na special siya.”
On the suitor’s end, he simply calls Kristel by her name.
