Love stories are often filled with unexpected twists, but for Darlene Dilangalen and Jesus “Bong” Borromeo, theirs became part of Philippine history in the heart of New York City.
It all began in 1975, when Darlene, then a junior nursing student, first met Bong on a flight from Davao to Manila. Years later, in 1980, she left her hometown in Cotabato and pursued her dream in the United States, working as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in New Jersey.
Through her work, she formed friendships that would change her life. One of them was with Mrs. Vicky Pineda, the wife of Ambassador Ernesto Pineda, then Consul General of the Philippine Consulate in New York. Their bond grew strong after Darlene cared for Mrs. Pineda during a hospital stay—refusing to charge her a fee out of kindness. That simple act of compassion turned into a lasting friendship and opened doors to Filipino gatherings in the city.
By August 1982, Bong, who had migrated to the US with his family, asked for her hand in marriage. When Darlene suggested the idea of holding their wedding at the Philippine Consulate, Mrs. Pineda was thrilled and personally arranged it with her husband, the Consul General.
On August 30, 1982, history was made. Darlene, just 25 years old, walked into the Consulate in a simple white summer dress and Annie Hall-style bowler hat. For $50 in registration fees, and with only about 10 guests—including close friends, co-workers, and prominent community figures—the couple exchanged vows. What was meant to be a quiet ceremony blossomed into a heartfelt celebration, thanks to Mrs. Pineda’s thoughtfulness. She surprised the couple with flowers, music, a photographer, and even a reception at Nora Daza’s Maharlika Restaurant located within the Consulate.
That day, Darlene and Bong became the very first couple to marry at the Philippine Consulate in New York City—paving the way for many more Filipinos to solemnize their unions there under Philippine law.
The experience was so special that the couple ended up marrying three times in 1982: at the Consulate, before a judge in Passaic, and later with a church wedding in Jersey City.
Today, more than four decades later, Darlene looks back with gratitude at that milestone. She and Bong raised three children—Jonathan, Juanito, and Jade Borromeo Flinn, now a nurse and director of the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit.
For Darlene, the memory of that first wedding—simple, heartfelt, and full of kindness—remains one of the greatest gifts of her life. It was more than just a union of two hearts; it was the beginning of a tradition that celebrated love, heritage, and community for Filipinos abroad.
