WITH 24 years between them, Realyn Solero used to see her husband as a father figure.
But two years into their marriage and the 29 year old claims she’s never been happier with Reynaldo Maquinay Jr., 53.
The couple, who have been together for nine years, met while working for the same company.
Viewing Reynaldo as a “father figure” because of his age meant Realyn didn’t fancy him at first but soon realised he was giving her the kind of attention, kindness and concern she’d never experienced before.
“At the beginning he was persistent in showing his feelings, which annoyed me,” Realyn, a virtual assistant, from Cavite in the Philippines explained.
“However, he continued to show care that I hadn’t experienced in my past relationships.
“As the months passed, I realised I had fallen in love with him.”
Before she knew it, she and Reynaldo, a machine technician also from the Philippines, were obsessed with each other.
But while they had found happiness together, their families weren’t as thrilled about the pairing.
Realyn reveals: “There were unnecessary comments made because of the fact I already had a child.
“Friends and family thought I wasn’t serious about the relationship and would leave him as soon as I got what I wanted from him – which they thought was money.
“Little did they know he had no savings, no businesses, no nothing. He was just a regular company employee.
“Eventually I made them realise they were wrong about me and him.
“He is a good, responsible man.”
She also says that her 11-year-old daughter, Rhianna Jane Solero, from a previous relationship, loves Reynaldo.
“He guides me on the right path and most especially he’s been a good and responsible stepfather to my child,” explains Realyn.
“He treats my daughter as if she’s his own and that makes me be more in love with him.”
But, along with judgements from friends and family, the couple has also had to deal with comments from strangers and trolls online.
He is not just a husband to me but also a father who always reminds me what is bad and good.
Realyn Solero
Realyn adds: “At the beginning it was really hard for me as most of the time I was the one who was criticised.
“I’m the one who is judged and a lot of people think I am after his money and benefits.
“But I know the truth, I know I love him so I got used to the comments and learned to ignore them.
“Now, if I read or hear unnecessary comments about me or our relationship I just smile at them or ignore them.”
But the couple say that age isn’t the only difference between them.
Realyn reveals: “We face challenges when it comes to decision making.
“Because of our 24-year age gap, his likes are totally different from mine.
“Hobbies, movies, fashion, all of it.
“We often argue in selecting designs, colours, films to watch, places to travel.
“But little by little, we have learned how to adjust.”
And she says being with an older man is the best thing to have happened to her.
She says: “I have learned a lot from him.
“He is not just a husband to me but also a father who always reminds me what is bad and good.
“He is very understanding and never gets mad.”
Realyn’s advice to other women in a similar position is to “stick by your man” and ignore what other people think.
She says: “Don’t mind what other people think of you or of your relationship.
“You don’t owe them an explanation and besides, what matters is just you and your partner.
“As long as you love each other, age is not a problem.”
She adds: “Just focus on your goal and family and let them realise that they are wrong on what they think of you or on your relationship.”
