The love story begins ....

A long, long time ago in 1965, Nano met Rosie in Pulo, Cabuyao, Laguna. It was a chance encounter - sort of fate, destiny. Nano was with his friends to visit another provincial lass in Laguna. He was rich looking, debonair type, riding on his bike - which was no good with the sudden onslaught of rain! So he and his friends were forced to take cover in Baltazar Bakery.

Now, the hired store helper was sick. The bakery owner, Generosa Baltazar - Gatdula, ordered her second eldest daughter to attend to the customers. Rosalinda Gatdula remembers seeing these group of young men, who asked for a can of Del Monte Peaches for merienda, and even asked for a can opener.

And so, the Makati boy met the Cabuyao lass simply because he was forced to take cover from the sudden rain, when she was asked to attend to the store due to an absent store helper.

Mariano Reyes is the youngest of siblings born to Diego Reyes and Gregoria Noveda. His other siblings are Maria, Pedro, Angel, Cesario, Sinforosa, and Celing. Mariano, or Nano to his friends, was a true blooded son of Bangkal, Makati - back then, the Ayala center as is known today was nothing but marsh land according to Tio Erning. Nano was the youngest and was definitely spoiled, he did not even finished high school although the opportunity was there - still he was the most educated having finished third year high school. Nano was born on April 19, 1939. But he did not introduce himself as Nano or Mariano - he became Danny. He said he gave another name because Nano sounds so old fashioned Filipino name. Of course, there would be those that looking back, his giving a false name already shows a dishonest character, one preying on innocent lass.

Rosalinda Gatdula was the second eldest of a brood of 8 children. Her siblings are Gertrudes, Josefa, Luchie, Jose Jr, Generoso, Susan, and Milette.

Nano or Danny then visited her regularly, without fail every sunday! It was this devotion that won the heart of the provincial lass.