crazykuya73

Wow, great love story, blessings to you both and your new life. Your post gave me some much needed comfort, and reminded me how blessed i am that everything has moved a long so quickly as it has.

Yeah I could run a more efficient court with drunken monkeys. I'm sure we both had some positive come from our ordeals too. best of luck my friend.

First Congrats !!! on the visa. Second thanks for writing your story it was nice to read and it saves me from writing most of mine. I really know how you feel. For us we had to do annulment first. The lawyer was not a crook just not so competent and in the provinces things can move s l o w. Many times the judge would not show up for court etc. My girl and her parents were always already there and I already spent money for the trip only be told it is canceled. two month delay each time. Once it was not even an emergency he just scheduled one of our dates for the same day he had a seminar in Mnl. One occasion our court date that we waited 2 months for was declared a holiday 1 week before our appearance. No matter how good a case the judge will also expect a " gift" at the end. My thinking was if I dont strangle the man that is his gift. All the time, money and effort and some people thinking it's a scam I hear ya. Like you I could never walk away and of course you could never forget her. I flew there as much as I could, spent more money than I even want to think about but if you really are committed to someone it is for better or worse. Besides, I made a promise and there's a great little kid involved who ought to know what a real father is someday. We read about annulment first and seemed most take a year so thats what we expected going in. We met in May 2008 and our interview is finally set for end of this Nov. I haven't been there since Jan 2011. If all goes well I will be coming to get her and my step-son in Jan 2012. Good luck in the future. Myself I just look forward to having a normal life again. Jim.

LMAO - we should realize how much we are loved and is being love always. Me and my fiance had been in this road since 2003. encountered ups and downs and worst trials but here we are staying strong and just recently got the approval nd soon we will be together, I should say its not the end of the journey but a brand new start! - To the OP, I know how the wait is, so Congratulations to you & your fiancee and hopefully the time of being apart will always remain as a reminder when difficulty comes, how much you try to defy all the challenges just to make future happen.

Okay, I dont know if its still my pregnant self being too emotional these past weeks but I literally had to grab a box of tissue and cried like loca reading your love story Kuya... you see, Wonderful men like you make us women realize why our past relationships didn't work with others, simply because God had someone particular on mind, someone better, someone who would love us unconditionally and keep us happy. God bless your mother for raising a son like you.
Peace and blessings to you and your soon to be family. Congratulations!!!

that's beautiful,.. just beautiful!

I was indeed an inspiring story...and amazing i would say its good to see how the test of patience would make a person emerge to be a much better and stronger person after going thru sometimes tough roadblocks along the way but i guess thats how life processes is without those we all could not appreciate the good things in life...congratulations!!! make u continue both to love and cherish till the rest of ur lives...god bless!!!!

Before I tell our story.. Just a quick update, she recieved her visa yesterday from the courier service. She texted me all excited and I called her soon after. We are both thrilled that our three year journey is about over.
This a long story and hope anyone who reads this have some time on their hands..
Way before I met my fiancee.. One of my uncles told me I need to go the Philippines to find a good wife. I thought he was nuts and even though he and my dad's other brother are married to filipino women. I thought of them being too bossy and one of my filipina aunts is the BOSS of her house. It's her way or no way.. The other one is not that way at all, just a sweet and loving person. I was afraid to take a risk and decided to marry someone close to home. It turned out to be five and a half years of pain.. As my divorced was getting finalized and I dated a few women along the way and got hurt time and time again. The same uncle of mine told me to go the "Filipino" route again. This time, I figured I give it a try.
I looked over the internet and found some dating/penpal sites. I decided on Cherry Blossoms and put in a ad. I was amazed how many hits I got.. There was many I chatted with who kept asking me about my job and of course, "How much money you make"... I finally decided on one lady and after a few months I grew tired of her getting mad at me for not giving her money like she wanted. I did help her get a plane ticket to Dubai and she got a good job now. We remain friends to this day.
I went back to Cherry Blossoms and eventually found my soulmate, Rizel. Her ad was pretty straightforward and said, she "wanted to be loved and have a family." Her picture of her sitting on a couch and looking so beautiful really caught my eye. Little did I know then, she was even more beautiful on the inside too. We emailed back and forth.. We finally started chatting and even though she saw me on webcam, I never saw her face until 2 - 3 months later. She was worried that I wouldn't like what I see, but she was even more beautiful than in her pictures. I discussed my trip to the Philippines with my aunts and they gave me alot of advice and some emergency contacts with their family there, in case Rizel and I didn't hit it off.
I haven't flown at that time since a few months before 9-11-2001 and it changed in a big way since. All the extra security checks and my longest flight at that time was from Little Rock to San Diego roundtrip. I can tell you, flying twenty-something hours was truly painful ! The whole time I was questioning myself, but so anxious to meet her. I finally arrived at Cebu and while I was in line to go through customs. I saw a beautiful lady staring at me. I thought she looked familiar and when she smiled, I knew it was her and I waved at her, she waved back. When we finally met, I didn't feel nervous and felt so comfortable with her. Only thing I was worried about was meeting her family and being in a strange country far from home.
Soon as we were outside, the humidity hit me like a ton of bricks ! It was very hot there and when I left home it was in the 50's. It felt like I was in the middle of August again ! I rode with her family to our hotel and it was nice to finally get some rest from that long flight. After our second day I finally proposed to her in private, just between us. Maybe kind of quick, but I knew she is one of a kind. After a few days in the city, we went to the province and stay for several days. I met her mom & dad and her other siblings. They are wonderful people and of course, I got many stares from people in the province. At first I didn't care for it, but I gotten used to it. I guess they don't see many foreigners come their way. I see how many people live in primitive conditions there. I seen houses no bigger than my living room and no electricity. Even though they lack some of the things we have here, I always see them smiling. Makes you appreciate what you have.
After the second day at the province, I asked her dad for her hand in marriage. I studied the words that Rizel told me to say and he gave me his blessing. Even appreciated I tried to learn their language and I continue to learn much as I can. I bonded with her daughter and so glad she liked me. We went to the Simala later on and it was amazing. I never been inside a catholic church before and all the decor, the artifacts and the painting of the Lord's Supper on the ceiling blew me away. We went back to the city for a few more days before going home. It was hard leaving her behind, but I knew it wasn't forever and we will be together soon. So I thought anyway.
I hired an agency to do our paperwork and by the the time I paid the fee and two months later it was completed. I was about sign it and send it in, when they called me about my fiancee's birth certificate was incorrect. It's not like here, you go to your local govt office and have it changed in a few weeks or much less. It took us nearly two years ! Our first lawyer was a crook and never did file one piece of paper. My fiancee would go see him and he would ignore her. She would call and he just yell at her for bothering him. I even called him and he assured me that he was working on it. By the time I went back to see her a second time, I called him and he would say, "The other lawyer you want is in Makati" and I knew it was him. I called him back the next day and he never would answer. I was angry and part of me wanted to give up, but I knew if I did, I would never find anyone like her again. So, I waited and she hired a different attorney. It took another year before they finally corrected her birth certificate. After that, we finally got the ball rolling again. I did see her again for a third time and spent two weeks with her like the last two times. Every time I left, it hurt more than the last time. I finally broke down into tears. I finally sent off the paperwork and waited & waited.. We prayed and hoped the Vermont Service Center would approve our petition pretty quick. It was faster than some others and I can't complain about waiting as much as other people who waited alot longer. After the NVC letter, it went along pretty fast and finally hearing that she was approved for her visa was the best news I had in three years !
As I look back.. All the money spent on flights, hotels, money sent on Xoom, and all the other fees that I had to pay to get to this point. Some of my friends and some family telling me I wasted my time & money on her.. Would I do it again ? Do I really want to go through that headache one more time ? I would.. only for her. I truly love my gwapa Rizel with all my heart & soul. She will be here in December and it will be truly, a Christmas gift I would always cherish for the rest of my life.
If you truly love someone.. good things will come to those who wait. I never believed in those words before... I did when I met my Rizel. Take care and God bless everyone here on visajourney.

Before I tell our story.. Just a quick update, she recieved her visa yesterday from the courier service. She texted me all excited and I called her soon after. We are both thrilled that our three year journey is about over.
This a long story and hope anyone who reads this have some time on their hands..
Way before I met my fiancee.. One of my uncles told me I need to go the Philippines to find a good wife. I thought he was nuts and even though he and my dad's other brother are married to filipino women. I thought of them being too bossy and one of my filipina aunts is the BOSS of her house. It's her way or no way.. The other one is not that way at all, just a sweet and loving person. I was afraid to take a risk and decided to marry someone close to home. It turned out to be five and a half years of pain.. As my divorced was getting finalized and I dated a few women along the way and got hurt time and time again. The same uncle of mine told me to go the "Filipino" route again. This time, I figured I give it a try.
I looked over the internet and found some dating/penpal sites. I decided on Cherry Blossoms and put in a ad. I was amazed how many hits I got.. There was many I chatted with who kept asking me about my job and of course, "How much money you make"... I finally decided on one lady and after a few months I grew tired of her getting mad at me for not giving her money like she wanted. I did help her get a plane ticket to Dubai and she got a good job now. We remain friends to this day.
I went back to Cherry Blossoms and eventually found my soulmate, Rizel. Her ad was pretty straightforward and said, she "wanted to be loved and have a family." Her picture of her sitting on a couch and looking so beautiful really caught my eye. Little did I know then, she was even more beautiful on the inside too. We emailed back and forth.. We finally started chatting and even though she saw me on webcam, I never saw her face until 2 - 3 months later. She was worried that I wouldn't like what I see, but she was even more beautiful than in her pictures. I discussed my trip to the Philippines with my aunts and they gave me alot of advice and some emergency contacts with their family there, in case Rizel and I didn't hit it off.
I haven't flown at that time since a few months before 9-11-2001 and it changed in a big way since. All the extra security checks and my longest flight at that time was from Little Rock to San Diego roundtrip. I can tell you, flying twenty-something hours was truly painful ! The whole time I was questioning myself, but so anxious to meet her. I finally arrived at Cebu and while I was in line to go through customs. I saw a beautiful lady staring at me. I thought she looked familiar and when she smiled, I knew it was her and I waved at her, she waved back. When we finally met, I didn't feel nervous and felt so comfortable with her. Only thing I was worried about was meeting her family and being in a strange country far from home.
Soon as we were outside, the humidity hit me like a ton of bricks ! It was very hot there and when I left home it was in the 50's. It felt like I was in the middle of August again ! I rode with her family to our hotel and it was nice to finally get some rest from that long flight. After our second day I finally proposed to her in private, just between us. Maybe kind of quick, but I knew she is one of a kind. After a few days in the city, we went to the province and stay for several days. I met her mom & dad and her other siblings. They are wonderful people and of course, I got many stares from people in the province. At first I didn't care for it, but I gotten used to it. I guess they don't see many foreigners come their way. I see how many people live in primitive conditions there. I seen houses no bigger than my living room and no electricity. Even though they lack some of the things we have here, I always see them smiling. Makes you appreciate what you have.
After the second day at the province, I asked her dad for her hand in marriage. I studied the words that Rizel told me to say and he gave me his blessing. Even appreciated I tried to learn their language and I continue to learn much as I can. I bonded with her daughter and so glad she liked me. We went to the Simala later on and it was amazing. I never been inside a catholic church before and all the decor, the artifacts and the painting of the Lord's Supper on the ceiling blew me away. We went back to the city for a few more days before going home. It was hard leaving her behind, but I knew it wasn't forever and we will be together soon. So I thought anyway.
I hired an agency to do our paperwork and by the the time I paid the fee and two months later it was completed. I was about sign it and send it in, when they called me about my fiancee's birth certificate was incorrect. It's not like here, you go to your local govt office and have it changed in a few weeks or much less. It took us nearly two years ! Our first lawyer was a crook and never did file one piece of paper. My fiancee would go see him and he would ignore her. She would call and he just yell at her for bothering him. I even called him and he assured me that he was working on it. By the time I went back to see her a second time, I called him and he would say, "The other lawyer you want is in Makati" and I knew it was him. I called him back the next day and he never would answer. I was angry and part of me wanted to give up, but I knew if I did, I would never find anyone like her again. So, I waited and she hired a different attorney. It took another year before they finally corrected her birth certificate. After that, we finally got the ball rolling again. I did see her again for a third time and spent two weeks with her like the last two times. Every time I left, it hurt more than the last time. I finally broke down into tears. I finally sent off the paperwork and waited & waited.. We prayed and hoped the Vermont Service Center would approve our petition pretty quick. It was faster than some others and I can't complain about waiting as much as other people who waited alot longer. After the NVC letter, it went along pretty fast and finally hearing that she was approved for her visa was the best news I had in three years !
As I look back.. All the money spent on flights, hotels, money sent on Xoom, and all the other fees that I had to pay to get to this point. Some of my friends and some family telling me I wasted my time & money on her.. Would I do it again ? Do I really want to go through that headache one more time ? I would.. only for her. I truly love my gwapa Rizel with all my heart & soul. She will be here in December and it will be truly, a Christmas gift I would always cherish for the rest of my life.
If you truly love someone.. good things will come to those who wait. I never believed in those words before... I did when I met my Rizel. Take care and God bless everyone here on visajourney.

Beautiful!!! Absolutely Beautiful!! You Brought a Tear to my Eye Kuya!! Beautiful!

Before I tell our story.. Just a quick update, she recieved her visa yesterday from the courier service. She texted me all excited and I called her soon after. We are both thrilled that our three year journey is about over.
This a long story and hope anyone who reads this have some time on their hands..
Way before I met my fiancee.. One of my uncles told me I need to go the Philippines to find a good wife. I thought he was nuts and even though he and my dad's other brother are married to filipino women. I thought of them being too bossy and one of my filipina aunts is the BOSS of her house. It's her way or no way.. The other one is not that way at all, just a sweet and loving person. I was afraid to take a risk and decided to marry someone close to home. It turned out to be five and a half years of pain.. As my divorced was getting finalized and I dated a few women along the way and got hurt time and time again. The same uncle of mine told me to go the "Filipino" route again. This time, I figured I give it a try.
I looked over the internet and found some dating/penpal sites. I decided on Cherry Blossoms and put in a ad. I was amazed how many hits I got.. There was many I chatted with who kept asking me about my job and of course, "How much money you make"... I finally decided on one lady and after a few months I grew tired of her getting mad at me for not giving her money like she wanted. I did help her get a plane ticket to Dubai and she got a good job now. We remain friends to this day.
I went back to Cherry Blossoms and eventually found my soulmate, Rizel. Her ad was pretty straightforward and said, she "wanted to be loved and have a family." Her picture of her sitting on a couch and looking so beautiful really caught my eye. Little did I know then, she was even more beautiful on the inside too. We emailed back and forth.. We finally started chatting and even though she saw me on webcam, I never saw her face until 2 - 3 months later. She was worried that I wouldn't like what I see, but she was even more beautiful than in her pictures. I discussed my trip to the Philippines with my aunts and they gave me alot of advice and some emergency contacts with their family there, in case Rizel and I didn't hit it off.
I haven't flown at that time since a few months before 9-11-2001 and it changed in a big way since. All the extra security checks and my longest flight at that time was from Little Rock to San Diego roundtrip. I can tell you, flying twenty-something hours was truly painful ! The whole time I was questioning myself, but so anxious to meet her. I finally arrived at Cebu and while I was in line to go through customs. I saw a beautiful lady staring at me. I thought she looked familiar and when she smiled, I knew it was her and I waved at her, she waved back. When we finally met, I didn't feel nervous and felt so comfortable with her. Only thing I was worried about was meeting her family and being in a strange country far from home.
Soon as we were outside, the humidity hit me like a ton of bricks ! It was very hot there and when I left home it was in the 50's. It felt like I was in the middle of August again ! I rode with her family to our hotel and it was nice to finally get some rest from that long flight. After our second day I finally proposed to her in private, just between us. Maybe kind of quick, but I knew she is one of a kind. After a few days in the city, we went to the province and stay for several days. I met her mom & dad and her other siblings. They are wonderful people and of course, I got many stares from people in the province. At first I didn't care for it, but I gotten used to it. I guess they don't see many foreigners come their way. I see how many people live in primitive conditions there. I seen houses no bigger than my living room and no electricity. Even though they lack some of the things we have here, I always see them smiling. Makes you appreciate what you have.
After the second day at the province, I asked her dad for her hand in marriage. I studied the words that Rizel told me to say and he gave me his blessing. Even appreciated I tried to learn their language and I continue to learn much as I can. I bonded with her daughter and so glad she liked me. We went to the Simala later on and it was amazing. I never been inside a catholic church before and all the decor, the artifacts and the painting of the Lord's Supper on the ceiling blew me away. We went back to the city for a few more days before going home. It was hard leaving her behind, but I knew it wasn't forever and we will be together soon. So I thought anyway.
I hired an agency to do our paperwork and by the the time I paid the fee and two months later it was completed. I was about sign it and send it in, when they called me about my fiancee's birth certificate was incorrect. It's not like here, you go to your local govt office and have it changed in a few weeks or much less. It took us nearly two years ! Our first lawyer was a crook and never did file one piece of paper. My fiancee would go see him and he would ignore her. She would call and he just yell at her for bothering him. I even called him and he assured me that he was working on it. By the time I went back to see her a second time, I called him and he would say, "The other lawyer you want is in Makati" and I knew it was him. I called him back the next day and he never would answer. I was angry and part of me wanted to give up, but I knew if I did, I would never find anyone like her again. So, I waited and she hired a different attorney. It took another year before they finally corrected her birth certificate. After that, we finally got the ball rolling again. I did see her again for a third time and spent two weeks with her like the last two times. Every time I left, it hurt more than the last time. I finally broke down into tears. I finally sent off the paperwork and waited & waited.. We prayed and hoped the Vermont Service Center would approve our petition pretty quick. It was faster than some others and I can't complain about waiting as much as other people who waited alot longer. After the NVC letter, it went along pretty fast and finally hearing that she was approved for her visa was the best news I had in three years !
As I look back.. All the money spent on flights, hotels, money sent on Xoom, and all the other fees that I had to pay to get to this point. Some of my friends and some family telling me I wasted my time & money on her.. Would I do it again ? Do I really want to go through that headache one more time ? I would.. only for her. I truly love my gwapa Rizel with all my heart & soul. She will be here in December and it will be truly, a Christmas gift I would always cherish for the rest of my life.
If you truly love someone.. good things will come to those who wait. I never believed in those words before... I did when I met my Rizel. Take care and God bless everyone here on visajourney.

Before I tell our story.. Just a quick update, she recieved her visa yesterday from the courier service. She texted me all excited and I called her soon after. We are both thrilled that our three year journey is about over.
This a long story and hope anyone who reads this have some time on their hands..
Way before I met my fiancee.. One of my uncles told me I need to go the Philippines to find a good wife. I thought he was nuts and even though he and my dad's other brother are married to filipino women. I thought of them being too bossy and one of my filipina aunts is the BOSS of her house. It's her way or no way.. The other one is not that way at all, just a sweet and loving person. I was afraid to take a risk and decided to marry someone close to home. It turned out to be five and a half years of pain.. As my divorced was getting finalized and I dated a few women along the way and got hurt time and time again. The same uncle of mine told me to go the "Filipino" route again. This time, I figured I give it a try.
I looked over the internet and found some dating/penpal sites. I decided on Cherry Blossoms and put in a ad. I was amazed how many hits I got.. There was many I chatted with who kept asking me about my job and of course, "How much money you make"... I finally decided on one lady and after a few months I grew tired of her getting mad at me for not giving her money like she wanted. I did help her get a plane ticket to Dubai and she got a good job now. We remain friends to this day.
I went back to Cherry Blossoms and eventually found my soulmate, Rizel. Her ad was pretty straightforward and said, she "wanted to be loved and have a family." Her picture of her sitting on a couch and looking so beautiful really caught my eye. Little did I know then, she was even more beautiful on the inside too. We emailed back and forth.. We finally started chatting and even though she saw me on webcam, I never saw her face until 2 - 3 months later. She was worried that I wouldn't like what I see, but she was even more beautiful than in her pictures. I discussed my trip to the Philippines with my aunts and they gave me alot of advice and some emergency contacts with their family there, in case Rizel and I didn't hit it off.
I haven't flown at that time since a few months before 9-11-2001 and it changed in a big way since. All the extra security checks and my longest flight at that time was from Little Rock to San Diego roundtrip. I can tell you, flying twenty-something hours was truly painful ! The whole time I was questioning myself, but so anxious to meet her. I finally arrived at Cebu and while I was in line to go through customs. I saw a beautiful lady staring at me. I thought she looked familiar and when she smiled, I knew it was her and I waved at her, she waved back. When we finally met, I didn't feel nervous and felt so comfortable with her. Only thing I was worried about was meeting her family and being in a strange country far from home.
Soon as we were outside, the humidity hit me like a ton of bricks ! It was very hot there and when I left home it was in the 50's. It felt like I was in the middle of August again ! I rode with her family to our hotel and it was nice to finally get some rest from that long flight. After our second day I finally proposed to her in private, just between us. Maybe kind of quick, but I knew she is one of a kind. After a few days in the city, we went to the province and stay for several days. I met her mom & dad and her other siblings. They are wonderful people and of course, I got many stares from people in the province. At first I didn't care for it, but I gotten used to it. I guess they don't see many foreigners come their way. I see how many people live in primitive conditions there. I seen houses no bigger than my living room and no electricity. Even though they lack some of the things we have here, I always see them smiling. Makes you appreciate what you have.
After the second day at the province, I asked her dad for her hand in marriage. I studied the words that Rizel told me to say and he gave me his blessing. Even appreciated I tried to learn their language and I continue to learn much as I can. I bonded with her daughter and so glad she liked me. We went to the Simala later on and it was amazing. I never been inside a catholic church before and all the decor, the artifacts and the painting of the Lord's Supper on the ceiling blew me away. We went back to the city for a few more days before going home. It was hard leaving her behind, but I knew it wasn't forever and we will be together soon. So I thought anyway.
I hired an agency to do our paperwork and by the the time I paid the fee and two months later it was completed. I was about sign it and send it in, when they called me about my fiancee's birth certificate was incorrect. It's not like here, you go to your local govt office and have it changed in a few weeks or much less. It took us nearly two years ! Our first lawyer was a crook and never did file one piece of paper. My fiancee would go see him and he would ignore her. She would call and he just yell at her for bothering him. I even called him and he assured me that he was working on it. By the time I went back to see her a second time, I called him and he would say, "The other lawyer you want is in Makati" and I knew it was him. I called him back the next day and he never would answer. I was angry and part of me wanted to give up, but I knew if I did, I would never find anyone like her again. So, I waited and she hired a different attorney. It took another year before they finally corrected her birth certificate. After that, we finally got the ball rolling again. I did see her again for a third time and spent two weeks with her like the last two times. Every time I left, it hurt more than the last time. I finally broke down into tears. I finally sent off the paperwork and waited & waited.. We prayed and hoped the Vermont Service Center would approve our petition pretty quick. It was faster than some others and I can't complain about waiting as much as other people who waited alot longer. After the NVC letter, it went along pretty fast and finally hearing that she was approved for her visa was the best news I had in three years !
As I look back.. All the money spent on flights, hotels, money sent on Xoom, and all the other fees that I had to pay to get to this point. Some of my friends and some family telling me I wasted my time & money on her.. Would I do it again ? Do I really want to go through that headache one more time ? I would.. only for her. I truly love my gwapa Rizel with all my heart & soul. She will be here in December and it will be truly, a Christmas gift I would always cherish for the rest of my life.
If you truly love someone.. good things will come to those who wait. I never believed in those words before... I did when I met my Rizel. Take care and God bless everyone here on visajourney.

I thought all Darren's threads were locked ? I guess there is still one more left.. Let the bashing BEGIN ! J/K !
Darren.. You are marrying your filipina soon and you ranting about the Philippine people is not only inconsiderate towards her, but totally embarassing for us Americans to be anyway associated with you, much less live in the same country.
I served in the US Navy and currently work for the DOD for the last 10 years. I was told when traveling to another country, always "RESPECT" their habits and their culture. People like you give us Americans a bad name. I would say it was good of you to go there to be with your fiancee to her physical and interview. I wished I have done that, but spending all the money to do that was unnecessary and she needed to learn independence. I'm proud of her and looking forward to having her here soon.
I have a story about UGLY AMERICANS... I was on my second trip to Cebu to see my fiancee when I encountered some at Gerry's Grill. There was two guys talking to these girls and pretty much trashing their country (doesn't say much about the girls since they just laughed about it)and they were talking pretty loud.They were at a table next to us and my fiancee and I were trying to eat dinner and they were talking too loud and getting on our nerves about the put-downs on the Philippines. I just stopped eating and started to stare at them. They asked me, "Can I help you ?" I said nothing to them. I kept staring at them until they realized they needed to tone it down.
Another time, my fiancee and I was walking in Ayala Mall near McDonalds when I saw a fat guy who really needed TWO chairs to sit on and he was talking to two girls in front of him, acting like a stud with his collar up. As we were walking by, he looked at my fiancee and shot me a "Go to Hell" look.. I stopped and asked him, "Who the hell you looking at ?" Of course, he was stunned and started stuttering.. The girls he was with started laughing and my girl was telling me to let it go and pulling me the other way.
We were at a resort in Mactan and there were kids and people on edge of the property trying get us to rent a boat or a jet ski from them. I was told not to do it by the staff at the resort, but I didn't mind giving them a few coins and having a chat with them. The economy is bad everywhere and we all need to make a living somehow. One of the guys tried to introduce me to his niece, but I already told him I was engaged. I talked to him in Visayan and he was shocked and tried to give me the coins back. I told him to keep it and he said, "You good Americano". I appreciated hearing that. Having two Filipina Aunts did help me understand the culture and the way of life there. I just hope all Americans can show some respect to the country they are visiting, even though we may not like or agree with what the people do there.

I paid for my own medical. I had my fiance with me, but I knew their policy of not allowing anyone in. We tried and asked if he can go in, but they said no.. It wasn't a problem, since it was their rule. He stayed in the car and went to a coffee shop to wait for me. There is a plan B. Also, there are lot of people inside the building. In the 1st floor, you don't see them, but when you go to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, there are no available seats left. Take into account that Canadian, Australian and other countries conduct their medical here. Also, there are communicable diseases that are being treated inside. There's no need for someone to be victimized.

Manong guard would never allow that big croc into crowded St. Lukes because he takes up more than one chair.

Darren...
Quit making excuses. Your tantrum had nothing to do with your eyesight. And please don't tell me that poor eyesight is something I don't understand. I understand it very well. I go nowhere without my glasses. You made a choice to behave like the Ugly American. As a fellow American, I was ashamed by the arrogance and ignorance contained in your email.
It's plain and simple. You had other choices, but you chose to behave poorly. You also chose not to listen to those with experience at St. Lukes.
By the way, how is it possible for you to forget your glasses? If your eyesight is that bad, you would have known that you weren't wearing your glasses even before you stepped out of your friend's car at the airport. What's up with that?
Also, I never travel without a spare pair of glasses. With your eyesight, why would you choose to travel overseas without a extra pair. And please don't use the excuse that your glasses are too expensive to risk losing them overseas. Look at the position you put yourself in because you chose not to take along an extra pair of glasses.
Further, why didn't you choose to have your friend FedEx your glasses to you? You could have had them in three days. Or, why didn't you choose to simply get another pair of glasses in Manila? I guarantee they are way less expensive there. You could have done so in a day or two. Instead, you chose to go around blind. You seem to be making a lot of poor choices and not owning up to the consequences of them.

Trying to get sympathy? You make me laugh! No sympathy for you.
Your vision has nothing to do with your tantrums. You're vision is not the problem. Your ego is the problem!
C'mon! Admit it. You made an a$$ of yourself. Your EGO got the best of you. You threw a fit because you didn't get what you wanted and you felt embarassed with mom and dad watching.

any puti researcher should have known that
just ask any Pinoy.

You really think you have "power" to tell SLEC what to do, huh? I'll applaud if you do.
FYI, St. Luke's doesn't give a d*mn who pays for your fiancee's (and other's) medical. There is no policy on who should pay or where the money comes from. You paying for her medical doesn't mean SLEC should follow your demands. AS IF! you are their boss.
Well, then NO medical for you. That's SIMPLE! Your " I want it my way coz I'm American and I'm paying for her medical" attitude put yourself in danger, NOT SLEC.
Sure, why not...? But If I was the CO, I would pause for a second and wonder why you didn't "trust" your fiancee to carry the money herself. and, I doubt the CO would give a ratz caboose whether you were let in or not. No medical = No interview. DUH!

hey man you have stayed in the good old usa! its the philippines i think they see your age and her wait until you bring her to the airport -you will have more fun -go back to the usa and wait for her

im sorry for this unsolicited comment.. sparky is right, it is not safe to pass money to your fiance in public, if there is no way to do it privately, you must learn how to do it very discretely, especially here in the phils... and i second, you should trust your fiance more with handling money..
and with your rant about the clinic's policy and the beggars, and all complains that irritates you about the Philippines.. please remind yourself that you are in a foreign country, PH is different from america, i know there are so many flaws in the Philippine system.. if you cannot embrace the things about the country, at least understand well that you are not in your homeland where you have access to what u need or exercise or over-exercise your rights.. im sorry but i just hate it when i see people complaining without even trying to understand the situation.. i acknowledge your disappointment but you could have reacted in a nicer way or you could have even went back to your hotel room while your girl is in the clinic since phones are not prohibited inside...
on a lighter note, this is why Filipinos are very patient and very understanding...
I guess the Philippines is just teaching you how to be more patient and more understanding and even more tolerating...
i just wish more than changing the system, you realize what you can learn while you have to deal with the system...

Anita,
You have pretty much summed up what we have been feeling on reading this thread and past threads too. My fiancee is in Manila with her daughter getting their physical today as I'm typing this comment. Much as I love to be there with them, I would just be in the way and out more money than I want to spend. I don't have alot of it anyway ! I knew from the begining not to make advance plans until it was a sure thing ! Common sense !
It's obvious he doesn't have a clue about the filipino culture. Tribalism ? My aunts had a field day reading his comments on this thread and wondered what planet he came from ? His mind must be in the 18th or 19th century.. Totally clueless and a jerk too. The age difference is entirely up to the people involved.. It's their business and if they truly love each other,it shouldn't matter. The comments said about "control" should've never been said.. Darren.. Google "Filipino culture" and if you read carefully, it doesn't say anything about CONTROL or OWNING your spouse. Read the part of TODAY.. The 21st century of the filipino cuture as it is now !
Your lady will be "American-ized" sooner or later and you might as well be ready for it. She eventually get tired of you controlling her and disrespecting her family. You both want children ? Cool ! More income for her when she hooks you up for child support. If you think that filipinas don't believe in divorce ? You need to read some threads on here and quit blabbing about your pathetic life.

I guess I should consider myself very lucky. My future-in-laws doesn't expect me to pay them and they told me, "Just love her with your heart". I done that and alot more. I was upfront and honest with her parents. I told them I'm not rich and don't drive a fancy car, but "I love your daughter more than all the money in the world". I even asked her father for her hand in their Visayan dialect. I still continue to learn to show them I respect them and their culture. I told them whatever money I send them, its up to them how they spend it or save. They didn't have to feel obligated to me or anything else. I told them to live their life the way they want.
You seem to act like you're the expert of the filipino culture ? My fiancee has read your thread and her thoughts of your knowledge of the filipino culture.. Well.. One word summed it up.. CLUELESS ! I read most of your threads, including this one and one previous about your last trip there. So many things should be kept to yourself and not for the whole world to know. This is a free country and you can post whatever comes to your mind, but think long and hard before you do.
I have two filipina aunts (by marriage) and both of them were already here when my uncles married them. I learned some about the culture from them and if you think you are going the be "Amo" (boss) of your future wife, you better think again !
I sent them the links to see your comments for themselves and they had some choice words... Loser and IDIOT were the nicest ones I heard.
Do yourself a favor ? If you truly love your lady.. Keep the personal stuff to yourself and you won't be subjected to all the backlash.

Anita,
You have pretty much summed up what we have been feeling on reading this thread and past threads too. My fiancee is in Manila with her daughter getting their physical today as I'm typing this comment. Much as I love to be there with them, I would just be in the way and out more money than I want to spend. I don't have alot of it anyway ! I knew from the begining not to make advance plans until it was a sure thing ! Common sense !
It's obvious he doesn't have a clue about the filipino culture. Tribalism ? My aunts had a field day reading his comments on this thread and wondered what planet he came from ? His mind must be in the 18th or 19th century.. Totally clueless and a jerk too. The age difference is entirely up to the people involved.. It's their business and if they truly love each other,it shouldn't matter. The comments said about "control" should've never been said.. Darren.. Google "Filipino culture" and if you read carefully, it doesn't say anything about CONTROL or OWNING your spouse. Read the part of TODAY.. The 21st century of the filipino cuture as it is now !
Your lady will be "American-ized" sooner or later and you might as well be ready for it. She eventually get tired of you controlling her and disrespecting her family. You both want children ? Cool ! More income for her when she hooks you up for child support. If you think that filipinas don't believe in divorce ? You need to read some threads on here and quit blabbing about your pathetic life.

I have read this and other threads and it makes me very anxious. Our time is getting short and I would love to be with my girl at her interview and bring her home, but I can't spare the money. As much as it bothers me to be away from her, she will have to go it alone for her interview and travel to her POE. She's a big girl (31), so I think she can handle it.
One of my rules about my journey is that it was to be funded only from cash. No credit cards or borrowing involved. I had to draw the line some places and it lead to a few discussion during our journey. When I was visiting, we did very modest things, but we enjoyed ourselves. I did stay at her parent's with her and paid a little "rent" and bought food to defray the costs. My girl (and her family) know(s) that I am not rich and want us to be stable financially when she gets here.
I hope everything works out for G&D in the end.
God Bless,
jim