How Did You Meet Your Wife/Partner/Girlfriend?

[BrettGC]

As the subject says, how did you meet your wife/partner/girlfriend?  I'm genuinely curious given the amount of horror stories in other threads - according to some of the advice it's a wonder any of us are in a relationship with a Filipina at all.

For me, I met my wife on a dating site.  Anecdotally, it appears we're one of the very rare success stories going down this path.  We met online just on 9 years ago, had an interesting journey, and  have been married since February 2020.

How about the rest of you? 

[Old55]

My wife was suggested to me by her cousin in 1998 so I knew she was from a good family and a decent person. She was also listed in a Mail Order Bride magazine called Cherry Blossoms.

My wife and I exchanged letters and agreed to meet briefly in Cebu City while I was on my way to Sequior to SCUBA dive. A coworkers wife suggested her niece who was smoking hot and sweet so I was more interested in the niece. After first meeting the niece I knew she was not for me. As soon as I met my wife I became aware she was very special so I remained in Cebu getting to know each other. After returning to Cebu in 1998 I knew she was worth taking a chance on. We got married in 1999 and have been very happy.

[Snowy79]

My current partner I've known over 4yrs and been with her just over 2yrs. I was single for over a year having finished with a great girl who just had too much jealousy and tampo for me. She was a waitress in a restaurant I ate in regularly and seamed very shy. I did my homework on her as lots of guys were trying their luck. She knocked every single one back and a few tried to flash the cash to impress her.

I was a friend of her best friend and a bit of a shoulder for her friend to cry on but purely platonic. Her friend told me many things about my partner, mainly thinking she's going to die a single old lady as she won't entertain any guys. She was telling me she came from a nice family, never drank, smoked etc but had insecurity issues and would I mind advising her as she thought I was a decent guy.  I friended her and she slowly opened up to me telling me lots of personal things as did her friend but I kept everything to myself, both started fishing to see what the other one was talking about but I would just laugh and tell them no chance, what's told to me stays with me. 

I remained a good friend to her for well over a year, never even a kiss on the cheek then the restaurant closed down, I'd moved to Boracay and kept in touch then her friend asked me if there was jobs on Boracay I could find for my current partner. I offered to find her cheap digs and help out. I got her a room for 2k per month and tried to find her a job with no success. One day I saw the room she had and it was basically the size of a kitchen table, no running water and one light.  I then offered her to stay in my apartment as I had spare room and the rest is history as they say. 

I'll add I had a dabble with the dating sites and 99% were scammers. 

[Freebie]

The wife ( well the ex wife ) met in a nightclub in Hong Kong. She was with a group of fellow filipinas who all worked with a very well known Asian airline. That led to marriage, kids and a huge amount of discounted travel ( 90% off !) all around the world. Eventually, after over 20 years wife and I had different interests expectations and motivations.

GF I met from a dating sight....she  was shy but looking for adventure in her life might be the best description.  That was 4 years ago and we continue to smile, travel and enjoy life with very few arguments, zero jealousy  and a tampo attack  once a year max. Way simpler and satisfying ( to me ) than being married.

 

[Jollygoodfellow]

3 hours ago, BrettGC said:

As the subject says, how did you meet your wife/partner/girlfriend?

Which one as l have all three sort of 

[jimeve]

4 hours ago, BrettGC said:

As the subject says, how did you meet your wife/partner/girlfriend? 

I met my wife through her sister whilst working in the Netherlands. Her sister gave me her Address in Singapore I wrote to her with a photo of me, we arranged to meet up in the Philippines 3 Months later she got her visa to come to England and we got married The rest is history. 20 years later we are still living together. (JUST). LOL.

 

Edited June 10, 2022 by jimeve

[baronapart]

Cherry Blossoms 2017. Made 8 trips to the Philippines 2017-2019. She is from Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao. We met in Manila on my first trip. Then subsequent trips to Cebu, Dipolog, Dapitan and the coastal areas of ZDN.  Married April 2019. My life has been so much better since I met her.

Edited June 10, 2022 by baronapart

[GeoffH]

I met a filipina through a dating site about 6 years ago (I forget which one) but after a short time it became apparent that she wasn't the one for me.

However by then I'd made freinds with a few of the older family members and one of them suggested her partners niece (she's the only one I'd recommend for you Geoffrey).

We stayed friends for a few months but eventually got together as a couple about 5 years ago and we're still together.

Not married because I'm divorced and SWMBO is strongly Catholic (so understandably wants a Catholic marriage ceremony) and I can't get married in a Catholic church without a church annulment (or my ex-wife passing on which would make me a widower in the churches view). 

And getting an annulment for me would be arguably more difficult than it would be to get one for a catholic in the Philippines because it would probably have to be done in Australia.

 

Just all too hard *shrug*

[Mike J]

Internet dating site.  I read 1000s of "who am I what am I looking for" short blurbs from all over the world.  After reading these and doing a bit of research I decided to start communicating with Filipinas as they seemed to espouse the character traits I was looking for.  I also purchased and read the book "Culture Shock Philippines".  The site I used had a set of filters including min/max height and weight, min/max age, children yes/no, children in the house yes/no, education level, religion,  maybe some other that I cannot remember now.  I set the filters and communicated with those that met the criteria(big head)  and looked attractive (little head).  Those who were dressed in any type of revealing clothing (plunge tops etc.) were excluded.   I ended up with a set of manila file folders set up to keep track of correspondence (chats) and photos from the ladies.   Over a period of about a year I reduced the list down to two that I decided I needed to meet in person.  I was honest with both and explained that I wanted to meet and spend time with each of them when I came to the Philippines.  One was okay with that, the other said; "That is not being fair to the other Filipina".   So I was forced to make a choice between which one I wanted to meet.  I flew to the Philippines and spent three weeks learning more about the lady who told me it would not be fair to see both in person.  We have been married 17 years now, eight year in the USA, nine years here in the Philippines.  

[hk blues]

I met mine online (but not a dating sight)  in Hong Kong where we both were working.