3. Natalie and Kevin
Natalie and Kevin
Where they met: Coffee Meets Bagel
How did you begin dating and how did it blossom?
“We messaged each other for a week before meeting up at a bar then we went on a few dates for a month before becoming official.”
How did you know that you have found “The One”?
“I realized he’s the one when I had to go on a business trip for two months and he sent me two care packages, one every month.”
What would you tell people who don’t believe you can find love online?
“Meeting people online opens up your social circle. You will get to chat with people from all walks of life. Many times you’re out and see someone you like or are attracted to, but if you’re the type that’s shy to approach people, you’ll never find love. With apps, it takes away your shyness as you’re not physically talking to the person face to face. If you don’t like how the conversation’s going then you can move on. If it’s going well, you can plan a meet up. The only risk with online dating is your own safety when you meet them in person. Make sure you inform your friends where and when you’ll be meeting up with the person.”
2. Cheska and Gilbey
Cheska and Gilbey
Where they met: Tinder
How did you begin dating and how did it blossom?
“To be honest, before I met my husband, I’ve always held judgment against people who use online dating apps. However, I drew inspiration from a friend who used Tinder to meet guys and maintained platonic relationships. I signed up with the hopes of finding a friend and promised myself to be on my guard at all times from guys who only want one thing. Sure enough, there were men who wanted to meet up right away which was a bad sign for me, but there was one who stood out and took his time to get to know me before asking if we should start video calling.
December 2015, I was a nurse in CDO waiting for my UK employer to grant me a sponsorhip while he was (and currently) an Iliganon engineer based in Saudi. We swiped right on Tinder and started chatting online. All we knew was when we started communicating, that was the start of something special. Despite of what the future held for us, we tended our romance. February 2016, I was informed of my deployment date which was on March 1, the very same day Gilbey was supposed to come home and meet me in person for the first time. Devastated and unsure if it would work out, we still planned for our future. A week before my departure, he texted me that he was boarding a plane going to the Philippines! The very next day, we hugged for the first time and we were beyond happy with each other’s presence.”
How did you know that you have found “The One”?
“The fact that he asked his employer to let him leave a week early just to see me before I go made an impression on me and my family. Then as we continued our UK-Saudi LDR, our communication was consistent and he still made efforts to be with me whether it be in UK or Philippines. Moreover, from the very beginning, he never made me feel guilty nor stop me from wanting to travel and work abroad. For me, these were the major instances that made me think he was The One.”
What would you tell people who don’t believe you can find love online?
“Be open to the idea that you can find love anywhere if you’ve learned to love yourself and believe that you deserve a man whose purpose in life is to make you happy.
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1. Arthur and Tracy
Arthur and Tracy
Where they met: Tinder
How did you begin dating and how did it blossom?
“Arthur was an OFW in Oman, and during his one-month vacation in the Philippines, a friend advised him to try finding a date on Tinder before going back to work. Hoping and ready to love, he did and eventually saw Tracy’s profile.
“I messaged her in the app, but she wasn’t replying. (Turned out, she already uninstalled the app.) I saw her Facebook connected to her Tinder profile. I messaged her, without really hoping she would reply, but to my surprise, she accommodated all my questions, though a little “suplada.” I asked her if we could meet in person and she agreed. We met and, from there, I knew it was her. I knew she was “the one” for me. She was wearing her uniform from work, and the moment I saw her, I experienced that cliche, cinematic scene from those romantic movies we usually see. Everything went blurry, and suddenly, all I could see was this woman, Tracy. We dated the whole week until I had to depart for Oman. On the last day of my vacation, Tracy said yes to me.
We officially became an LDR couple, and we kept our communication through video chatting. After a year, we finally got married.”
What would you tell people who don’t believe you can find love online?
“My advice, the love of your life is out there. Don’t give up and think that you will never find him/her. Wherever you are, no matter what time it is, destiny or fate, remember you’ll be with the one for you in God’s right timing. It may be through Tinder, friends, or social media. Just be patient and let love come to you naturally.”
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NOTE: Some answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. Special thanks to Michelle Neri, Kelly Punzalan, and Aira Parado for the help in the research for this article.
Do you know of any couples with romantic stories of meeting online? Tell us in the comments section—we’d love to hear it.
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