I Have Fallen In Love (With The Same Woman Three Times)

I have fallen in love With the same woman three times In a day spanning nineteen years Of tearful joys and joyful tears I loved her first when she was young Enchanting and vibrant, eternally new She was brilliant, fragrant And cool as the morning dew I fell in love with her the second time When first she bore her child and mine She’s always by my side The source of my strength Helping to turn the tide But there were candles to burn The world was my concern While our home was her domain And the people were mine While the children were hers to maintain So it was in those eighteen years and a day Till I was detained, forced in prison to stay Suddenly she’s our sole support Source of comfort, our wellspring of hope On her shoulders fell the burden of life I fell in love again with the same woman the third time Looming from the battle her courage will never fade Amidst the hardships she has remained Undaunted and unafraid She is calm and composed She is God’s lovely maid That poem, titled I Have Fallen In Love (With The Same Woman Three Times), was written by Benigno Aquino Jr. for Cory Aquino at Fort Bonifacio on Oct. 11, 1973 for their 19th wedding anniversary and set to music by Jose Mari Chan who recorded it in 1989.