Cristine Reyes is engaged to Gio Tingson, turning what once began as a grade-school memory into a new chapter in her personal life.
The actress shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday, May 20, posting photos from her trip to Hong Kong with Tingson. In one of the images, Reyes is seen happily showing her engagement ring, confirming that the couple is now set to marry.
The announcement quickly drew attention from fans, not only because of Reyes’ celebrity status, but also because of the unusual history behind their relationship. Before they became a couple, Tingson was once the first boy who courted her when they were still in grade school.
Reyes previously shared that story on The Sexytime Podcast hosted by Isabelle and Ava Daza, where she revealed that she was in a relationship at the time but did not initially name her partner.
“You know what? Siya ang unang-unang lalaking nanligaw sa akin. Grade school kami nun,” Reyes said.
The actress recalled that she was then studying at St. Bridget School in Quezon City, an all-girls school located near Ateneo Grade School, where Tingson studied. She said she was not used to interacting with boys at the time, until friends invited her to attend an Ateneo school fair.
According to Reyes, she was brought to a “marriage booth,” where she met Tingson. One of his batchmates even acted as the “priest” in the playful school-fair setup.
“Tapos hinila nila ako sa marriage booth,” Reyes said.
“So sabi ko, ‘Ano ito?’ Parang medyo doon nag-change yung heart ko na parang, ‘Boys? Ang cute pala nila!’”
She said Tingson later tried to look for her around the campus and asked for her number. Reyes no longer remembered all the details, but said Tingson was the one who reminded her of what happened.
“Little did I know, hinanap niya ako sa buong campus,” she said.
“Tapos hiningi daw niya yung number ko. Hindi ko na maalala. Siya lang nagpa-remember sa akin.”
Reyes also recalled giving him the name “Agent Orange” because she was wearing an orange shirt at the time, while Slapshock’s “Agent Orange” was popular.
The young romance, however, did not continue back then. Reyes said she rejected Tingson and chose another suitor. Looking back, she said the timing simply was not right.
“Hindi talaga tayo magiging tayo noon kasi we’re meant to be now,” she said.
Public sightings of Reyes and Tingson began in July 2025, sparking speculation about their relationship. By October, Reyes appeared more open about her love life during an event at Shangri-La at The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, where she described herself as “very, very happy.”
She also called Tingson “the right person.”
“Super happy, and it’s different when you know you’re with the right person in your life,” Reyes said at the time.
The engagement marks a meaningful turn for Reyes, who has been open in recent years about her personal journey, including motherhood, past heartbreak, and moving forward after her marriage to Ali Khatibi.
For fans, the appeal of the engagement is not just the ring or the Hong Kong proposal. It is the full-circle nature of the story: a childhood suitor, a missed chance, years apart, and a relationship that found its way back at the right time.
Reyes and Tingson have yet to announce wedding details. But for now, the actress’ engagement post was enough to give fans the update they had been waiting for: Cristine has said yes.