They say love goes beyond borders. There’s always that special moment where paths meet and serendipity takes place. It’s what you that would determine what happens next. Here’s a cute love story between now IAFT Alumni, Ankit Rawat and Megan Louise Hernandez, who took a chance at love and still continues to endure despite the distance.
How long have you been together?
Megan: We’ve been together for 2 years Right now, long distance for a year. Ankit Rawat is in India, while I am in the Philippines.
Ankit: We started dating August 2015, and we became official on September 22. So it’s almost 2 year and 4 months approximately.
How did you two meet?
Megan: (Oh Lord. Haha!) We first met after I actually enrolled in IAFT. I think it was the first day of class for the 101’s, as well as my first time eating at their cafeteria in Bigfoot. I was with my first film school friend, Yani, and we got to meet up with Moja over lunch. We were sitting over the tables and Ankit came along. Moja introduced him to us. So yeah, that’s how I first met him.
Ankit: I was entering my 301 and Megan was in her 101. The first time I met her was in the cafeteria and as far as I can remember it was a Friday. She just joined IAFT so it was her Introduction day. I wanna thank Moja ‘cause of him I was able to introduce myself to her. I am kind of an introvert person and I never talk much especially to a girl. Moja, in the other hand, is very extrovert. He already met the new IAFT students so he just pushed me to talk to new girls hahaha! Thank you Moja!
What made you notice or what were your first impressions of each other?
Ankit: Haha! Sorry Megan! Well my first impression of her was she is a tomboy. The first thing you would notice are her braces. (hehe!) Oh man, I want to tell more (hehe!) but let’s not go too far ;D To keep it simple, she was stuck in my mind.
Megan: To be honest, I didn’t notice Ankit that much. I know, unfortunately. I had an impression he’ll be a good friend, you know, like a brother. I also got the impression that he’s funny, and silly. But as I got to know him, he really was like that, but he was also hardworking, and an emotional, sensitive person. He’s adorable. What really got me to like him was how dedicated he was, and how much he’s just different from the rest of the guys I know. That may be such a cheesy thing to say but it’s true.
How did you propose or asked “The” question?
Ankit: Well I can’t forget how I proposed to her. (OMG) She is so innocent. We were going back to school after dinner in ZABDANI (it was a date actually FOR ME); so while walking I asked her “Do you like me?” And Megan said yes. She was blushing, but then I added “No, I mean ‘like like’, not the normal friendly ‘like’. The g.f b.f ‘like’” And she said yes again. So I grabbed her hand and we talk a lot that night.
Megan: I can still remember it clearly (laughs). First things first, this wouldn’t happen without the help of my best friend, Yani. (Thanks, girl!) We were on our way to the dance studio at Bigfoot (2nd floor) to meet Ankit cause they were planning to dance just for fun (Ankit danced back when he was elementary). Yani asked me if I liked Ankit, and I said yes. But she pressed on, meaning to say do I “like him, like him”. I hesitated and then said YES, and you can imagine how she reacted. After their dance thing, we were chilling on the corner and Yani started calling me to come closer. She whispered to my ear like it was a secret “He likes you too”. And of course, my eyes were wide. Oh, wow. But what I didn’t expect is she went to Ankit to do the same thing. I truly know she whispered to him “She likes you too”. You can imagine how we stared at each other awkwardly. It felt weird. The next thing I know, that night, Ankit and I were dating at Zabadani (which was gone already long time ago, unfortunately. It was beside Shrimp Silog). Yani was there with a friend, but as we were on our way back to school, we were way behind them. Ankit then popped the question. The rest was history.
How did you keep the relationship strong after IAFT?
Ankit: I really don’t know the kind of person that I am, but I think the reason we are strong is, first, we love each other, and we don’t hold grudges, we only keep the good memories and we don’t think too much about bad memories (like arguments)
And Megan and I are kind of the same in some ways, and we trust and understand each other.
Megan: To be honest, this is my first relationship, my first boyfriend. And I feel lucky to have Ankit. Before, I’ve been the kind of girl whose friends ask for relationship advice despite the fact of not ever experiencing being in a relationship. Now that I’m in one, it’s surreal, and a lot different than what I’ve imagined. After 2 years being together, I believe what keeps us strong is to be aware that every relationship is not perfect. There will always be ups and downs. We have to embrace it and take it as an opportunity to improve ourselves as a person and as a partner. Arguments don’t mean it’s the end of the world. It’s just a temporary bad problem we’re facing, and it will go away. We have to learn to listen to each other and support each other, no matter the difficulty, no matter the distance. Conversation and listening is key.
IAFT Memorable/Unforgettable moment (s)
Ankit: Haha soooo many memorable moments I have with IAFT
- Animation lab pizza party
- First time entering the school (I can’t forget that smell and the feeling I had)
- Night swimming and parties with my best friend, Randy winning Starbucks voucher in the school’s Halloween party (I don’t drink coffee I wanted to win it for Megan because she loves coffee)
- Graduation day (cause my dad was proud of me 😉 )
Megan:
- First day with IAFT. Orientation Day. I was all wide eyed with excitement.
- Dressing up for Halloween with Ankit
- Eating ramen with Ankit and buying snacks from the convenience store for movie nights
- Editing all day and night in the editing room or the Da Vinci Room, especially with friends. It’s the best feeling and moments when you stay in IAFT overnight.
- Shooting my 301 film and my 401 film, because those were the last two terms where I have improved myself as a filmmaker. The time when everyone watched my 301 film, “Enough,” during screening night and everyone loved it.
- Graduation Day because everyone was all teary eyed and we realized how much we loved our mentors and our classmates. And how much we love the memories we had. We were completely thankful for how we all ended up together that day.
Relationship Advice
Megan: I’ve learned this from Ankit. He made me realize this when we were together (and it was one of those nights where we were talking about deep stuff haha!). Relationships should never be taken lightly. It is not an accessory that you wear, and thrown off when its worn out. Relationship is when you’re with someone you know you want to spend the rest of your life with. And learn to notice the little things about your partner, study him/her, what he likes and what he doesn’t like; what is his/her limits, etc. Always talk to each other and importantly listen to each other.
Ankit: Now, listen up, guys! Relationship is not to pass the time or for small interval. When you are in a relationship you want to spend your whole life with your partner. You have to accept the faults, and trust each other. Ignore the bad times and remember the good ones. Forgive and forget
About Ankit:
Ankit Rawat hails from India and is a graduate of the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT)’s Diploma Program in Filmmaking. He is the director of the short film “Galit na Aso” that has won the “Most Popular Film” Award with it’s lead actor, Leon Miguel, receiving the “Best Actor” Award at the International Film Festival Manhattan NYC #IFFMNYC2017. Ankit was also part of the crew for Fashion One Television’s Original Series “No Grey Skies,” “Design Genius,” “The Campaign,” and “Wardrobe Warriors.” He currently works as a Freelance Filmmaker.
About Megan:
Megan Louise Hernandez is from the Philippines who graduated with a Diploma in Filmmaking at the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT). She is the director for the short films “Mirror,” “Daydream,” “Enough,” and “Fragments” as well as the assistant director for Global Shorts Honorable Mention Winner 2016, “The Paper Plane Man.” She also has worked with Fashion One Television’s “Design Genius” series. Megan currently is a Project Associate of TBA Studios and Apprentice of Direk Jerrold Tarog for the Heneral Luna film sequel, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.