Four lifelong friends, united by fate and strengthened by love, laughter, and honesty, navigate life’s ups and downs together, finding that their friendship is a priceless treasure beyond any material wealth.
In a delightful turn of fate, four friends—Marilu Batchelor, Techie Hagedorn, Junie Peña, and Mia Borromeo—crossed paths through a series of connections that seemed to bind them together in a warm embrace of friendship.
Despite coming from different walks of life, these friends shared a common thread that brought them closer, making their world feel a little smaller and a lot more interconnected.
It’s like the universe had a plan, showing that the power of connection can bring people together in surprising and wonderful ways.
The magic of connection
Techie explained that she met everyone when she started dating her husband. Since her husband knew all of them, she was introduced to everybody through him. She has known them for as long as she has been dating Phillip, which is 23 years. Over time, they naturally gravitated towards each other and have thrived together.
The women shared that one of their most cherished travel moments is simply being together and talking all day. They enjoy moving from the living room to the dining room, and then to the pool, engaging in non-stop conversation. These uninterrupted times of connection are what they value most. As Techie put it, “We were really like so into each other and there are no distractions.”
Techie added that their bond is so strong that during her pregnancy, the women were deeply involved and supportive.
Palette of personalities
Marilu explained that they all actively support each other’s businesses and stand by one another through various ups and downs. “We’ve definitely been there for one another,” Marilu said.
Mia added that they also come together to pray, recalling, “I remember when Techie was trying to get pregnant, we visited Sta. Clara many times to pray, and then the twins came.”
When it came to discussing who’s the most social among them, Junie pointed to Mia and said, “She’s definitely the most social.” Junie continued with a laugh, “You’re out every day,” and everyone joined in the laughter.
Everyone agreed that they’re all quite social, but Junie remarked, “I would say I’m the least social.” Techie described Marilu as the most “pusong mamon,” or soft-hearted, adding, “She would cry at everything.”
Ironically, despite being the most social, Mia was the last among them to join social media. Junie mentioned, “Oh, but I can’t attend a luncheon and a dinner on the same day; it’s too much for me.” Marilu chimed in, “But of all of us, Junie is so funny. Her sense of humor is unmatched.” Mia added, “She’s also a shopper and knows every site online.”
Techie noted, “That’s why she doesn’t want to attend events—she just wants to stay in bed and do online shopping,” prompting everyone to laugh.
Mia laughed and said, “We’re all enablers. She’ll ask us, ‘Should I get it?’ and we all shout, ‘YES!’”
Junie responded with a grin, “I may not have the most money, but I will spend the most,” which made everyone laugh again. The group was clearly enjoying themselves.
As for Techie, Marilu said she’s the most confident among them. “She can enter a room and instantly capture everyone’s attention.” Mia added that Techie also has a great sense of humor.
Intangible wealth
When asked about their advice for maintaining a strong friendship after 20 years, Techie shared, “If you’re not comfortable with something, you should speak up. We’ve always been honest with each other.” Everyone nodded in agreement.
The conversation then turned to how they define true wealth and luxury. Techie said, “For me, it’s quiet time.” Junie added, “I would say travel.”
Marilu agreed with Techie on quiet time and emphasized the importance of good health, as well as spending time with good friends and family.
Mia expressed, “One of the things I value most is friendship. Having a lot of true friends you can count on through thick and thin is a real blessing.” The group agreed wholeheartedly.
Junie remarked, “Sometimes the world can be mean, but we have each other. We’re never mean to each other.”
When asked to define friendship in one word, Junie chose “family,” saying, “It’s the family you choose.” Mia described it as a “blessing.” Everyone agreed with these definitions.
They recognized that wealth and luxury took many forms—from quiet moments of reflection to the cherished experiences they created together while exploring new places.
Worth more than any other
As their heartfelt conversation came to a close, it was clear that the bond shared by Marilu Batchelor, Techie Hagedorn, Junie Peña, and Mia Borromeo was much more than friendship—it’s about being a family. Their honesty, camaraderie, and genuine care for one another had withstood the test of time, proving that true connections are more valuable than any material possessions.
All photos by Kim Santos of KLIQ, Inc.
