In 1991 I was laid off and on disability for a while. I didn't work again until 1997 when I worked for an Amiga store for three months. After that I worked for a company that manufactures medical devices. I would continue to create music with my Amiga while we had our videomaking business.


Although the business eventually folded, the good news is that Gary and I were able to divide the money left and thus we would have separate checking accounts.


While I worked at Alaris, everyone there, especially the Filipinos, knew I was single, so one of them had me go to a site where there were other single Filipinas.


Well, suffice to say I found one on my own. Her name was Lydze, and I didn't know how to pronounce that, so she replied with the right pronunciation, Lidz. We kept leaving each other emails.


For a while, I got my co-workers curious about some of the women I had been getting contact with. I was able to print out pictures of all the ones I've contacted, including Lydze, who I would eventually decide to go with.


Dad was talking about going back to the Philippines to see his sister, my Auntie Cleofe and her husband, Uncle Vic. I asked if I could accompany him. We would go there in February 2000.


First, we were in Manila, and that's where I first met Lydze. We chatted in front of the Manila Temple to get to know each other. I felt so drawn to her.


She would come with us, as would her friend Lori. We ate dinner somewhere.


The next morning, we would meet at the bus stop which would take us on a nearly five-hour ride from Manila to Laoag City. As we rode the bus, dad sat next to Lori, and I sat with Lydze. The bus driver turned on his VHS player and we would watch three movies during the ride, making a couple of stops to use the restrooms.


Eventually, we would reach Laoag City, and I would met Auntie Cleofe. I introduced her to Lydze and her friend Lori. We would go to their house to live.


During the two weeks we were in the Philippines, we got to tour many locations, including the farm area called Sacai. On one Sunday we attended a Sacrament meeting, and I would be asked to speak. I would talk about how I came here with my father to see my relatives and my fiancé.


Lydze and I really got to know each other, and dad was there to witness me proposing to her. Naturally we would take care of the prenuptial agreement, and then we would visit other relatives before dad and I rode a jeepney back to the Manila Airport to return back to Los Angeles, and then the van ride back to San Diego.


It took six months to get the paperwork done to the satisfaction of Immigration and Naturalization Services, now the Department of Homeland Security. In November of 2000, she came out of the plane and greeted me as well as dad and Gary.


It was on November 7th, 2000, we were married. When she came to Church with us, I was able to introduce her to some of the members, and mom would introduce her to the Relief Society. Meanwhile, Ken Hoch would announce to the brethren. "We'd like to congratulate Mark for his wedding."f


Naturally I was surrounded by the brethren congratulating me.