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From Fog to Forever: Luigi and Ysabel’s Rainy Day Proposal at Heaven’s Gate

From Fog to Forever: Luigi and Ysabel’s Rainy Day Proposal at Heaven’s Gate

What do you get when you mix zero visibility, two people afraid of heights, and a hidden engagement ring? The perfect setting for a proposal.

Luigi Leonardo and Ysabel Vitangcol’s love story didn’t start with fireworks or fate. They met at a random car brand event in 2017 that Ysabel almost bailed on (because she didn’t even drive). But the universe (and her curiosity) stepped in. During the event, they clicked instantly. Still, Ysabel had one rule: no official relationship until after graduation, and Luigi agreed. Fast forward to a cold February night under the stars, and Ysabel officially said yes to being his girlfriend.

A Connection That Spanned 6 Years and 2 Continents

Soon after they got together, both found themselves bound for grad school. Ysabel was heading to London, while Luigi was flying off to New York. Most couples would’ve called it quits, but not these two.

They did long distance for six years, juggling time zones, career shifts, and international flights. In 2020, Ysabel flew back to Manila just as the pandemic shut borders down. Four years later, Luigi finally followed. By March 2024, they were both home—and the topic of “settling down” started gaining traction.

The Perfect Time to Pop The Question

The couple had agreed on a timeline. Ysabel wanted to be engaged or married before turning 30. Luigi wanted to be back in the country for at least a year before popping the question. When both conditions were met by her 29th birthday, he felt it was the right time.

He was nervous, of course. But every time he prayed about it, one answer from God kept nudging at him: Take the leap.

A Proposal in the Clouds (Literally)

Originally, Luigi planned to propose on Fansipan Mountain, the highest peak in Indochina. But when weather reports hinted at heavy rain and tourist crowds, he made a last-minute switch to a spot called Heaven’s Gate.

The family headed there early one morning in Vietnam. It was pouring, visibility was nonexistent, and the gates weren’t even open yet. Because the conditions all looked so drastic, Luigi began doubting everything. But when they were finally allowed in, he led Ysabel to a lone tree overlooking the fog-covered valley. They were both clinging to safety, and their shared fear of heights wasn’t helping.

However, this was the perfect moment to take the leap. Luigi began his speech. When he turned to include the family, they had mysteriously vanished—except for a hidden photographer. Mildly panicked, he called out to her mom (his secret co-conspirator), who summoned everyone with a casual “group photo” excuse.

Moments later, the photos were snapped, the family stepped back, and Luigi dropped to one knee with a simple ask for his rainy day proposal: Join me in a lifelong song and dance.

Her Side of the Story

Ysabel was floored. Not just by the proposal, but by the fact that Luigi had actually managed to surprise her (a miracle, she admits, given her razor-sharp intuition).

Despite the cold, the fog, and the fact that she couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead, the moment felt magical. Her entire family was there. The proposal was heartfelt, spontaneous, and—true to Luigi’s style—extraordinary in its simplicity.

A Love Story with No Script

Luigi didn’t plan every detail, and he just made sure he was fully present in every moment. For his rainy day proposal, he wanted to make it as meaningful and as memorable for the both of them as possible. That’s what made it perfect. Just two people, a bit of rain, and a whole lot of love.

According to him: “Many couples today strive to create the most Instagrammable proposal they can. My advice is to always be true to yourself and your partner. Ten, twenty years down the road, you will want to look back on YOUR story, and not how many likes your proposal got. It doesn’t matter how simple or quirky it is. As long as it’s genuinely yours, it’s the perfect proposal.”