Did you know that Robi Domingo and Maiqui Pineda were actually batchmates at the Ateneo De Manila University? The two weren't part of the same friend group, but when they bumped into each other at an ABS-CBN Christmas After Party in 2017, it was the start of something new. Like Robi said, "To more fun (and funny) moments with you."
Fast forward several years later, and the two are now engaged and preparing to tie the knot! But what were the important milestones in their relationship journey?
Here is a complete timeline of Robi Domingo and Maiqui Pineda's relationship:
1. Robi actually knew *of* Maiqui back in high school!
"Kami sa Ateneo, may listahan kami ng mga chicks," he admitted in an exclusive interview with Darla Sauler for Star Magic's YouTube channel. "May [from] Miriam, Poveda, Assumption Antipolo, Assumption College...Napapansin namin, 'Uy may magandang chicks dun sa isang school—at kasama doon si Maiqui.'"
A member of Maiqui’s barkada became Robi's classmate in Ateneo, so the two got to see each other occasionally—but they still weren't close friends at that point.
2. Sparks only started to fly after they met again at the 2017 ABS-CBN Christmas Party.
Can you believe Robi was planning to skip the after party? Because the actual event ended at 11PM, Robi was planning to go home—so their serendipitous meeting was all thanks to Piolo Pascual, who convinced the host to stay for longer: "Sabi ko, 'Papa P, ayoko na, pagod na ako.' Sabi niya, 'Mahiya ka naman. Isipin mo na lang yung oras na binigay sa'yo, yung tiwalang binigay sa'yo ng ABS-CBN at 'yon na yung paraan para magpasalamat ka.'" "We owe Piolo everything," Maiqui stated in Robi's vlog.
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That night, he struck up a conversation with Maiqui and asked two questions. First: "Where is your other half?" (referring to Maiqui’s twin sister, who was working abroad). Second, "Where is your better half?" ("wala na," because Maiqui and her then-BF had broken up). At that time, Robi was enjoying the single life, so he thought they could share post-breakup stories. "You want to talk about it?" he asked. Their convo lasted until around 4AM or 5AM, and from then on, they would talk every single day.
Apparently, they didn't consider each other in a romantic way at first, but "I fell in love constantly with her," he shared in Kathryn Bernardo's YouTube series TGIS. "Kasi there's another world na nakikita ko sa kanya. And also, she puts my feet down. 'Yon yung pinakamasarap na pakiramdam kapag kasama ko si Maiqui. Okay, everything's real, pero lahat ng pangarap ko parang natupad ko sa kanya."
3. Although they weren't officially together yet, Robi gifted Maiqui with a sweet surprise for Valentine's Day 2018.
A couple of months after the Christmas party, Robi realized he was falling for Maiqui. On Valentine's Day 2018 he gave her an On The Wings of Love-themed pillow because he learned she was a huge fan of the James Reid and Nadine Lustre-led series—she was actually one of the guests in the wedding scene! "Dun ko na-realize na, o teka lang, hindi na ‘to gift, landi na to ah."
4. Robi's way of asking Maiqui to be his girlfriend was definitely memorable!
They weren't a couple yet when Robi invited Maiqui to a diving trip in Anilao, Batangas. "Ayaw niya talaga mag-dive kasi takot siya sa dagat kasi yung sharks daw nandun," Robi shared with Darla. However after several lessons, they dove and started exploring the world below. Since he couldn't speak underwater, Robi gestured first to Maiqui ("you") then himself ("me"), then made a heart with both hands before doing the thumbs-up sign and okay sign. Maiqui returned the okay gesture, and they eventually surfaced for air.
After the dive, Robi asked Maiqui: "Wait lang, tayo na ba?" to which Maiqui replied, "What’s that?" "Are we BF-GF?" the host continued. "I guess." And that’s how they officially dove into a relationship on August 6, 2018!
Since then, the couple have enjoyed exploring the ocean together and planned many more diving trips to "sea the world."
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5. Robi and Maiqui are fond of traveling together!
Since they became boyfriend and girlfriend, we've seen Robi and Maiqui go on dates and various trips together in-and-out of the country, shared through their social media posts and his YouTube vlogs. For example, in 2019 they visited New York and booked Sweet Escape for a special photoshoot in Dumbo, Brooklyn. "Feeling #HelloLoveGoodbye [laughing crying emoji]" Robi captioned the post.
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6. Robi shared a photo of them in NYC for their first anniversary.
"To all the weird, funny, and memorable moments we've made... and definitely more. Thank you for making me smile all the time. [cheese emoji]" So cute!
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7. Robi and Maiqui counted down to 2019 together!
The couple rang in the new year and Robi wished his followers, "Happy holidays from Maiqui and me. [smiley emoji] [thumbs up emoji]"
"Every moment with you becomes magical," Robi sweetly wrote in a September 2019 post. The two were very busy in 2019, but they made the most of the times they got to spend with each other—especially during the holidays!
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8. Robi made sure to greet his girlfriend on her birthday in April 2021.
Apparently, April 26 is Maiqui's birthday! "Happiest birthday to the person who makes me the happiest!! Really wanna thank you for all the laughs and inspiration you have given me all these years... and the years to come. I love you. [heart emoji][birthday cake emoji]" Robi captioned his montage of special moments with Maiqui. Netizens in the comments were kilig over his song choice—"Nothing" by Bruno Mars.
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9. In a June 2021 interview, Robi shared that they weren't ready to get married—yet.
He and Maiqui have talked about settling down, but Robi said, "we are not rushing into those kinds of things lalong lalo na sa panahon ngayon kasi the petty reason is we want everyone to celebrate with us, all the people who are close to us. The second reason is, ang pagpapakasal naman, para sa akin hindi lang naman I love you now. Ano 'yan, I love you now, I love you tomorrow, and forever and ang kaakibat ng pagmamahal na 'yon is securing your financials so kailangan handang handa tayo doon."
10. Robi revealed why a simple "Hi :)" message is so special to him on their third anniversary in August 2021.
"This is the message from Maiqui which I wake up to every morning. Honestly, I have been receiving this cute message at around 8-ish AM for the past 3 years. It may seem simple, but I find it the sweetest since I know it came from my favorite person. [heart emoji]" Aww!
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11. For Valentine's Day 2022, Robi decided to reveal another side of Maiqui to his followers.
Robi shared an adorable video of Maiqui struggling to drive a golf buggy for his 2022 V-Day post. "Moments like this make me feel I have won in life. Thank you, Maiqs. Happy Valentines. [heart emoji]"
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12. In April 2022, Robi celebrated Maiqui's birthday again on IG.
Robi wrote a sweet greeting for his girlfriend to honor her special day: "Whatever happens, sayo pa lang, panalo na ako. [smirk emoji][flower emoji] Happiest birthday, mahal! I'm so proud of you! [cake emoji]" What a gorgeous bouquet of flowers!
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13. The couple celebrated their fourth anniversary together in 2022, and Robi shared a throwback photo of one of their first dates!
On August 6, 2022, Robi uploaded a couple of photos of he and Maiqui eating a delicious meal at a Japanese restaurant. "4 with you. Next is... a sushi boat. [heart emoji] one of our first dates. [sushi emoji]"
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14. In October 2022, Robi and Maiqui spent Halloween in Tokyo with friends.
Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Joshua Garcia, Ria Atayde, and Zanjoe Marudo spent a well-deserved break in Japan and met up with Robi and Maiqui, who were also playing tourist in Tokyo.
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15. In November 2022, Robi proposed to Maiqui at an iconic location.
After being together for over four years, Robi popped the question on November 4 in the middle of the famous Shibuya crossing in Tokyo! It turns out Robi was so nervous, he rehearsed his speech and did an ocular two days before—he even timed things perfectly: "You got two minutes: 1:15 for the red light, 45 seconds for the green light."
Robi and Joshua share a handler, who informed the host that Joshua and the others would be going to Japan the same time he and Maiqui would be there. When he messaged Kathryn and told her about his plan to propose, they all got excited and wanted to be part of the event, which explains why the gang were all at the Shibuya Crossing together. After the proposal the group went out to have dinner, and Robi expected to pay for everything—but instead Daniel did! "Engagement party [dinner] care of Daniel Padilla, and then after, engagement party care of Ria naman, and Joshua."
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Robi had actually hinted that he would be getting engaged in an interview published the same day as his proposal: "I’m so excited for the next chapters of my life, if you know what I mean...I think I’m ready to have that certain level up in our relationship, so yes, napag-uusapan siya kasi…Wala naman na 'kong ibang naisip na gawin. Wala naman na 'kong ibang nakikita. And I think more on those, I think I’m ready and I know I’m ready." Aww!
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16. Robi shared how he knew Maiqui was "The One" in a November 2022 interview.
In an interview on the TeleRadyo show Journeys Of Hope, the host opened up about how he knew that Maiqui was ~*the one*~. "She gives me so much purpose and we have the same goals, we have the same ideologies, and I just can’t stop talking to her," he said. "I love conversing with her, especially with ideas."
17. In December 2022, Robi shared a throwback video of Maiqui's bridal photoshoot.
Robi took to Instagram to reveal a video of his wife-to-be’s bridal photoshoot that happened three years ago, captioning it "Right place. Right time. Just right. [ring emoji]." Maiqui gave her followers a closer look at all four stunning gowns: "Because someone a.k.a. @iamrobidomingo decided to share the video from a shoot I did in 2019… here are the beautiful photos taken from that day too. At least this time, I’m really getting married now," she teasingly wrote.
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18. The couple clearly hold Japan close to their hearts—it was the location of both the proposal and their engagement shoot!
"All aboard for our next destination," Robi said in his IG post, which was a video montage of photos from the engagement pictorial. The shoot was held at what appeared to be a train station, and the couple looked glamorous in matching all-black suits. Based on Robi's post, they picked two romantic locations: Kyoto and Osaka!
"We both love and I personally love Japanese culture (like how) disciplined and responsible they are,” Robi shared in a July 2023 interview. "And there’s something in that place that attracts me the most. I did the proposal there, in Shibuya. And it made sense that we had our prenup there." Will the couple also have their honeymoon there? "Maybe?" Robi thought out loud. "It depends on 'my boss.'" LOL!
Shot in Kyoto by Jaja Samaniego of Pearl Studio (the same talented photographer behind Maine and Arjo's US prenup shoot!), Maiqui wore a Filipino-made outfit by Connie S A Macatuno (for her brand Lokal) for another part of her engagement shoot.
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19. Robi Domingo on his upcoming wedding to Maiqui Pineda: 'I'm more excited dun sa lifetime with her'
In a July 2023 interview, Robi shared that despite people saying a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, "I am more excited [about] the things that will happen after the wedding." He also feels the pressure of earning a new title—husband. "Of course, you have to be the best groom, the best husband-to-be, and the best partner. And coming from a guy who knows events, that’s the one event na dapat sobrang maganda that you could offer as a gift to your wife."
"As cliché as it may sound, you just know," he added. "Totoo pala yung sinasabi ng mga tao na paano malalaman kung siya na talaga: I just knew from that moment when I got the ring. I told myself, ‘This is it."
20. In an August 2023 blog post, Maiqui revealed that she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition.
In a blog entry published on August 3, Thursday, Maiqui discussed how it all started in April 2023, with her experiencing dryness and skin rashes on her hands and fingers. It took several blood tests for her to be diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, "a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness, inflammation, and a skin rash."
In June, Maiqui felt like her body was getting back to "normal" but in July, her symptoms started worsening and she had to spend a week in the hospital.
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Amid Maiqui's journey to recovery and their busy wedding preparations, Robi experienced a roller coaster of emotions as he renewed his contract with ABS-CBN. "What an emotional day," Robi wrote in his IG post. "I just couldn't stop thinking about my fiancee and her condition while signing this contract. There has been that tug-of-war of feelings so maybe that's why the floodgates just kept pouring."
"Maiqs, whatever happens, I choose you. Can't wait to sign our (marriage) contract."
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21. Maiqui is a huge fan of Kim Seon Ho, and Robi is sweetly supportive of her fangirling.
On February 9, 2023, Robi shared a glimpse at Maiqui's work life—which includes a photo of a special someone who *wasn't* Robi. "I went to my fiancé's office and found these pinned at her table. Mahilig pala talaga siya sa good boy. [smirk emoji] @seonho__kim, love you pare [kissy face emoji]"
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Sadly, Maiqui was sick and hospitalized during the time of Kim Seon Ho's fan meet in the Philippines. Robi promised her to do his best as a host, and he delivered! "As a solid SeonHoHada, Maiqui was sooo excited. Due to certain medical obstacles recently, unfortunately, she won't be able to attend but here's my promise to her to make this one of the best interviews ever for one of the biggest Good Boy fans. [finger heart emoji]"
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Maiqui also shared a sweet post after the fan meet: "I may not have seen #GoodBoy yesterday but it’s okay because I already have my #BestBoy for life @iamrobidomingo [finger heart emoji] Congrats on another successful event!! Parang friends lang kayo ni Kim Seon-Ho [cute emoji] P.S. They showed my picture daw to KSH. At least he saw me [grinning emoji]"
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22. Robi and Maiqui recently celebrated their fifth anniversary together!
Maiqui marked her and Robi's fifth anniversary on August 6 with a simple but heartfelt video post on Instagram: "As long as I'm with you. Happy five years."
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(Belated) Congratulations on your fifth anniversary, Robi and Maiqui!
