Tess Lugos, 54, and Edward Johnson, 53, met through a friend in Manila in 1994. They now live together in north London
After growing up in the US, Tess Lugos returned to her home country of the Philippines, aged 26, to work as an editor for a trade publishing company. One night in July 1994, a friend asked if she would like to join him for dinner. “He had another friend staying with him and asked if he could come with us,” she says.
When Tess arrived, her friend was in the bathroom, so Edward Johnson answered the door. Originally from the UK, he was working in Hong Kong on another trade publication, and visiting Manila for a football tournament. He says: “I saw this vision of short, cropped hair and red lipstick. I’d been struggling with a hangover, but it immediately went.” They went out for dinner and became friends. “He seemed fun and different. He had eclectic taste and a great sense of humour,” says Tess.