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Just about every MOB ad I've ever seen says the same thing: "Sweet, simple girl who likes cooking and reading seeks responsible, stable man to make a future together." For those of you who have succeeded in finding a gf or wife that way, what criteria did you use to separate the potentials to write to from the "nah, I'll pass this one?" Looks, attire, whether or not she was smiling? Just curious how you managed to go through so many to find the needle in the haystack. I met and married my wife before the internet days; we were introduced by a mutial friend, so have no clue how someone would go about it.

- Jeff

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005

Back when I was seeking a RW, my process went something like this:
1. Select a country that was interesting to me.  As the women do not come with a blank slate but rather with all of their cultural background, I narrowed it down to a country that had to me an interesting history, culture, or language I'd be willing to learn more about.
2. Select a geographic region within that country.  If I only had enough vacation time to spend a week or so in-country, I couldn't afford to waste precious days in transit going across the country to visit a myriad of girls.  So I selected one of the more interesting cities and selected girls from that city or nearby within reasonable commute distance.
3. Select a desired age range.  At the time, must be younger than me but old enough to have finished some college.
4. The photo.  Must be appealing.  What appealed to me was:
 a.  Smiling with warm kind eyes. Who wants a dour pouty moody woman?
 b.  Nice figure by my personal standards, but...
 c.  Modestly attired. The future mother of my 14 kids should not be someone inclined to dress and act slutty in front of strangers, for I am a jealous god and thou shalt have no other gods before me.
5. The bio. Looking for items of compatibility.  For me, that meant:
 a.  Never married, no kids.
 b.  Christian, but not too devout in her denomination so would be somewhat compatible with my Protestant denomination.
 c.  At least some college.
 d.  Bonus points if she has held some kind of professional job.
 e.  Look for compatible interests, or be wary of conflicting interests that could later become points of contention. For example, I don't ski, so I wouldn't want a woman who'd be bugging me to take her up to Snow Summit.
6. Red flags of the gold digger or spoiled princess. To keep it simple, eliminate anyone even hinting that they'd prefer someone with a higher lifestyle than my simple middleclass income can provide. Is she posing next to an expensive car? Dressed in fancy ballgowns? Hobbies include shopping and world travel? I like sightseeing travel too, but only got 2 or 3 weeks vacation each year. Even if she is compatible in most respects, is she just too picky in her requirements? With my job, there's no telling if my next job will be in Arizona or Washington, so if she insists on a particular climate, well, she's not adaptable enough or devoted enough.
That would narrow it down to the ones I'd want to contact for correspondence.  Further letters and communication would narrow the list even futher of ones I'd eventually want to meet.

... in response to Step method for selection, posted by Bob S on Jan 18, 2005

Excellent analysis, Bob.

I've always wondered myself about the kind of men who are attracted to women who insist on showing off too much of what they have on the internet for all to see. Fine, I guess, if you're looking for a good time, but who want's a wife who's assets have been drooled over by the masses.

What about women who seem underdressed, i.e. jeans and a tee shirt, no makeup? Would you consider that a plus or minus?

- Jeff

... in response to Spoken like a true engineer, posted by Jeff S on Jan 19, 2005

[This message has been edited by Ray]

I agree with Bob S.

If looks is your priority, then how she looks in jeans, a T-shirt, and with no makeup is probably the best test of what you're really getting. Those glamor shots can make even a girlie man look good (LOL).

Hey Jeff, did you go down to the beach and pick up any of those giant squids for dinner?

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050120/us_nm/odd_squid_dc_1

Ray

... in response to Squid & blue jeans, posted by Ray on Jan 21, 2005

[This message has been edited by Jeff S]

I heard they were ok to eat so long as they were still wiggling, but if not, let 'em lay - I have been out to catch them at night before. Great eating when they show up but they do tend to retaliate with squirts to the face.
http://www.senortuna.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=100&topic_id=12960&mode=full&page=3

I wasn't necessarily talking about a glamour shot, just about a person putting their best foot forward. I used to be amazed at how many women go out in public in curlers poured into K-Mart spandex. Walk through a grocery store in Japan and you never see women sloppily dressed - not glamorous, just modestly but nicely dressed.

Personally I'm getting pretty burned out on blue jeans. Walk through South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island, and all you see are holey jeans, even on women wearing $25,000 worth of jewelery, and a hundred grand worth of plastic surgery. OK, Maybe they are $500 jeans designed by some famous fag from Paris, but they still look like crap to me. The worst are are these "Diesel" brand. They look exactly like the ones I used to wear back in my younger days after spending a week on my motorcycle sleeping on the side of the road, and having oil mist splattered over them at 80 miles an hour for a couple thousand miles.

- Jeff

... in response to Re: Squid & blue jeans, posted by Jeff S on Jan 21, 2005

That was a classic squid shot Jeff! ROFLMGDAO!

... in response to Spoken like a true engineer, posted by Jeff S on Jan 19, 2005

IMHO, casual dressed is fine, maybe even a plus since it suggests a down-to-earth character, or at least a comfort in being seen in public in casual dress (doesn't need to spend an hour getting ready just to walk the dog or run down to the supermarket).
But that's just a match for me.  Some guys may be specifically looking for eye candy arm decoration so would naturally gravitate to glamour-shot type photos.  To each his own.

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005

Actually, my wife wasn't in the pile when I met her.  I was writing her sister, who in actuallity was her uncle.  Then, when I decided to call, Mares was told to talk to me, cause her sister wasn't home or some such thing.  We had the best conversation I've ever had with anyone.

She wrote me back after the call with her picture and an explanation.  We've never stopped clicking.

BTW, I wrote probably over 100 girls over a year and half and never clicked with any until Mares.  It was just one of those things I can't explain, kinda like love at first sight.  So I either found her through dumb luck or fate.

The lesson here is that getting passed off to a relative is not always a bad thing.  In my case I met the most perfect match and I do think she is the prettiest one I wrote.

If I was to advise anyone, I'd say never limit your choices, cause you never know what will turn up.

Dan

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005

I wasn't asking how you picked your wife out of the ones you MET - it's obviously all about chemistry and clicking together. Though Stephen's method - the tight jeans test, seems to have worked quite well. I was curious how you waded through the ads to determine which ones you wanted to contact in the first place, since all the ads and many of the photos seem so similar. Let's see: 5' 2", cute figure, long black hair, big smile in jeans and a tee shirt, likes reading & singing wants a long term relationship with a sincere, mature, stable man - they go on page after page after page.

- Jeff

... in response to I must not have made myself clear., posted by Jeff S on Jan 16, 2005

Hi Jeff,

When I found Cherry Blossoms online, that was my reaction - so many women, how do you narrow it down?

The solution was to start with the search engine (they have a good one).  Then use the photo and bio information to narrow it down even more.

For me, it went like this:

1. Select all women between the ages of 30 and 40, with height ranging from 5'3" to 5'6", and weight 120 lbs and under.

2. Look at each photo, keep the ones that appeal to me.  This part is subjective, I know, but that's the way it should be.  The human face is a facinating thing.  One man's plain jane is another man's beauty.

3. Then check the bio info.  Remove those that specify a man's age to be 40 and under (I was 44).  Remove those who described themselves as a "very devout Catholic."  Remove the Muslims and 7th day Adventists.

That's it, start writing.

Why 5'3"?  There were so many at 5'2" that I had to narrow it down with something, even if it didn't matter to me very much, which it didn't.  But I figured, what the heck, a taller woman is going to have longer legs, right? -LOL

Jim

... in response to Three steps, posted by Jimbo on Jan 17, 2005

Hi Jim,

Maybe I should have used your approach, lol.   I met Anecita through Filipina heart.  My biggest thing was a lady that smiled.  After my morose ex wife I knew I wanted someone that smiled and laughed alot.  I wanted someone that was happy with themselves and could be happy around others.  

I am leaving on February 21st for Manila.  I will be in the Philippines for two weeks.  I will heed you and the others advice and keep my eyes open.  

Keith

... in response to Re: Three steps, posted by Keith NC on Jan 17, 2005

Hi Keith,

I agree about the smile.  Sally's photo had a big smile and when I met her I saw that she loved to laugh.  After having been overly serious in my younger days I've gone the other way now, so that's what I wanted in a lady.

You're going to have the time of your life.  I can't wait for the trip report.

Jim

... in response to Three steps, posted by Jimbo on Jan 17, 2005

I know it worked out well fo you but did you ever think you might be passing up some real gems who were 5' 1" or 5' 2"?

Also, did you specifically look for someone who was an OCW, or did it just work out that way? Jean used to say it's a wise choice to make - shows a willingness to put up with a lot of adversity to get what she wants. What does Sallie think about OCWs as compared to native girls.

- Jeff

... in response to Just curious Jimbo, posted by Jeff S on Jan 17, 2005

What is OCW?  

James

... in response to DOOH! OCW??, posted by jfs on Jan 19, 2005

Overseas Contract Worker.

Lots of Filipinas take jobs in other countries under a contract. Many are housekeepers, nannies, and similar domestic help in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and other wealthier places in Asia. They also sometimes work in the middle east as well, like Baharain, Oman, Kuwait, etc. Jobs are scarce at home and there are agencies in the PI who make the arrangements, obtain visas, transportation, etc.

If you notice on the Asian women websites there are many, many Filipinas residing in Hong Kong and sometimes Singapore or Taiwan. These are nearly all OCWs, as it's extremeny rare for a young Philippine woman to have enough wherewithall to travel and seek work on her own.

- Jeff

... in response to Just curious Jimbo, posted by Jeff S on Jan 17, 2005

But sometimes the criteria has to be arbitrary, just to get the process going.  I ended up looking at a lot of those 5'2" and under woman anyway because once my snail mail letters went out, I had plenty of time to look again.

Re: OCW - I had no preference for an OCW, but afer I learned more about them and met a bunch of them I was impressed.  Most of Sally's friends are OCWs.  She views them as less provincial but basically still good, simple, optimistic, family-oriented ladies.  When you're a lady living in Hong Kong you're going to know what a Fendi handbag is, no matter what your nationality.  As long as that's not a priority in her life (or she prefers the $10 knock-offs, which she does, and that means she knows the value of a buck), it's no big deal to me.  The OCWs that I met were sending a lot of their earnings home to their family.

I know this:  OCWs are willing to take big risks in order to better their lives.

Jim

... in response to Yes, it did, posted by Jimbo on Jan 17, 2005

... that OCWs are more likely to be looking for someone to support their family back home than home grown girls?

Lucky guy if your wife prefers the knock offs. I can't get away with that myself. It had better be the genuine article in my house.

- Jeff

... in response to Would you think then..., posted by Jeff S on Jan 17, 2005

But these women don't want to be prevented from doing it either.  They will most likely expect to work part-time to be able to keep some support going.  It's not much, a couple of hundred every few months is plenty unless the plans are big, like a new house.

I let Sally handle those decisions.  She knows when they're asking too often or asking for too much.  She determines the amount and I don't have to deal with it.

The big thing about these women is that they accept the risks involved in order to achieve success.  I know a lady who did this:  she quit her job in Manila, sold everything she owned, paid P30,000 to an agency to get her an interview in Singapore (that agency could have been a scam operation), met the agency guy at the airport so he could bribe an immigration official to get her out (work visas were not legal for Singapore at the time), arrived in Singapore with P5 in her pocket and an empty stomach, and waited for the first interview.  She's got 2 weeks to get accepted by an employer or else she goes back.

A rich Singporean Chinese lady comes in, says "I'll take you to my house.  If my daughter likes you, you're hired.  If not, I'll bring you back here.  Wait a minute, stand up... you are taller than me... are you a Filipina?"  As it turned out, the daughter liked her, and that job lasted 5 years.

This brave lady was just a typical Filipina; a church-going Catholic who never let a guy get past first base.  I have great respect for a lady like that - with dreams, persistence, values, and spirit.

Jim

... in response to I must not have made myself clear., posted by Jeff S on Jan 16, 2005

Like I said.  

I gnored the ads route and chatted with the ones who responded to my picture, info and bio with their own picture, info and bio.  Although I saw many in the ads that I thought were cute I didn't feel that that route warrented the effort.  I felt that those girls had an "agenda", would be more likely to lie and deceive and that the cutest girls probably already had several responses to their ads.  I believed that the girls I talked with in the mIRC chat channels were more innocent in their intentions (at least I did at that time)- many, if not most, were not even looking for a spouse.  I think my beliefs proved themselves out because I was able to find girls who had sincere intent quickly.

How did I pick between them?  I really didn't.  I just chatted with them and let them know of my intentions to come to the R.P. and find a wife.  The ones who didn't answer the questions I sent or asked for money I put less efforts into writing them and more into the others.  I remember one who dropped me because I refused to join her Iglesia ni kristo church.  Another got upset because I aked her what she'd do if I got in a grumpy mood and she respnded in the opposite of what I wanted.  Another was less than virtuous and tried to send me a virus attached to an e-mail because I called her on it.

If I had choose between the ads on the chinabride and cherry blossom websites I think looks would have been the innitial reason to write, then it would have gone about the same as it did through the chat channels.  Of course, I would have written those who specifically indicated certain traits they didn't like or did like ones I had.

The Bear Family

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005


For me it was simple.  Meet my wife sometime and you will see why :)

When Gerlie and I met, I was determined to prove to myself that this was not the route for me.  I had been through a handful of long but fruitless relationships, but a close friend--My adopted Sister :D  Dan's Wife Ched--urged me to try once again.

I couldn't wait for the two of them to go back to the Philippines and introduce me to her cousins and friends, 18 months seemed like such a long time to put my life on hold, so I decided to go it alone.

I looked around to find a reputable site that had chat and was email based.  I chose Cherry Blossoms.  My story was similar to Luther's.  Everyone that I wrote that promised a prompt reply, didn't keep their end of the bargin strengthening my gut feeling.

I turned to the chat room and met plenty of available, willing young ladies, but no one that I connected with on the level I had hoped to.  Just as I was about to give up hope, hope found me.

Gerlie stood head and shoulders above anyone else I met at Cherry Blossoms.  Heck, anyone I've ever met ANYWHERE!  It's not that she was the best available, she was the perfect Yin to my Yang.  With Gerlie it is all about her personality and sense of humor.  The fact that she is beautiful is just a pleasent bonus.  She makes me laugh, but most importantly she makes me feel safe and loved.  I never realized how important the last two items were to me until I met her, now I can't imagine living without them!

Over the years, we have developed a friendship that has become the most important thing in my life!  We have become a family, the two of us and that stability has made all the difference for me as we plan our future.  Before Gerlie, I had only hoped to find companionship.  In her, I have found a peace that has made me redifine my concept of love.

I feel truly blessed that she puts up with me :P

Keep the Faith!

H

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005

I'm testing as well.  Actually just checking up on how you guys are doing.  You are all doing well, that I can see.

... in response to Re: Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Carr on Jan 16, 2005

Hi Carr,

Hope you Chris and sone had a great Christmas and a happy New Year.  

Whats new in your life?

The Bear Family

... in response to Re: Re: Tests all work - Now for a quest..., posted by Bear on Jan 16, 2005

New job, new house and 15lbs lighter.  Chris won the State championship for downhill racing, Colby will be 8 next month.

How many cubs do you have now?

... in response to Re: Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Carr on Jan 16, 2005

Hi Carr :-)

... in response to Re: Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Carr on Jan 16, 2005

Just one cub - Honey miscarried last month.  Still trying though.  Shes got most of her paper work done now and her AOS interview set for March.  Works part time for extra money at a large florist as an accountant.  Hoping we have our house on the 1st of April.  Honey failed the driving test twice now and refuses to even think about trying again.  As for me, I is promoted to a full fledge engamaneer now - my probationary period is over in 2 weeks so I am hoping for a big raise and bonus - should get it coz I's getting good grades on my submittals.  With the exception of losing my hair and the aches and pains that come with age - life is great.  

The Bear Family

... in response to Re: Re: Tests all work - Now for a quest..., posted by Bear on Jan 16, 2005

Well, keep trying - practice makes perfect. That works for both driving and baby making BTW.

Congrats on the promotion. Pretty soon, you'll be able to drive a train in both forward AND reverse. (When people ask me what engineers do that's usually my response - drive a train.)

- Jeff

... in response to Re: Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Carr on Jan 16, 2005

Good to hear from you Carr. Well, after finally recovering from our Seattle weather, our good moods are finally returning. Looking for pointers on how to keep smiling with week after week of gray skies.

- Jeff

... in response to Re: Re: Tests all work - Now for a quest..., posted by Jeff S on Jan 16, 2005

How to keep smiling?  How about lots and lots of kisses and loving--this will keep your blood boiling for more and keep you warm all over.  Beats a warm cup of cocoa, heck you don't even have to be clothed haha.

... in response to Re: Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Carr on Jan 16, 2005

Now that's the spirit!

- Jeff

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005

I wrote to about 50 women at the same time.  About 30 responded back.  About 10 of those continued to be interested in me.

So you pray about it.  Then you pick the one that looks the best in tight jeans and the one that looks the best in a short skirt.  

Tess was the "tight jeans" winner.  A gal that looks good in tight jeans can't lie!

Stephen

... in response to Re: Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Stephen on Jan 16, 2005

Hi Stephen,

I think that's what Jeff is asking.  How did you pick out those 50 just from pics and bio info?

Jim

... in response to How did you choose the initial 50?, posted by Jimbo on Jan 17, 2005

Oh, okay.

There was this service "LOVE 2 CU .com".  For $80 you could get any 50 addresses from the ladies you choose.

Stephen

... in response to Re: Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Stephen on Jan 16, 2005

Okay...more specifically.

I wrote 50 ladies.  As they responded I had the two ladies that worked at the law office in the same building as me read them and give their viewpoint.  They were quite critical....some they spotted right away and said "drop her".

By the way, after about a month one secretary told me "If if you to the Philippines to see a lady, I think it will be Tess.  She is the best one."

Stephen

... in response to Re: Re: Tests all work - Now for a quest..., posted by Stephen on Jan 16, 2005

Use a woman to do the initial choosing huh?

The Bear family

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005

I tried Cherry Blossoms because I had written to several women at eharmony.com and none of them responded.  I decided the whole idea of eharmony.com knowing more about my needs and interests than I did, and then taking $50 per month to make my decisions for me, was bogus, and went to Cherry Blossoms because I used to be a mailman and had stuffed many of their magazines into single guys' boxes.  And at $19.95 per month, blossoms.com was affordable and showed me pictures right away, which eharmony.com was too snooty to do.

I got mail right away from my ad.  I had worded it in such a way as to indicate that I had no money, and as far as I could tell no pure gold-diggers bothered to write me.  I did mention that I just needed someone to care about, and posted a photo that showed me with my dog, wearing a shirt with Japanese characters on it (me, not the dog.  The dog was naked.)

The first woman to write me was a cosmopolitan Chinese woman.  I drooled over her considerably because she was very attractive and over 40, but reconsidered when she said she wanted to be manager of her own salon.  Different interests.  And although I enjoy studying languages, when she told me she had to use software to  translate my letters, I was discouraged and decided I wasn't really in love with her enough to make the journey to China.  Then I got a response from Jovie, just a generic thing saying she'd like to know me better.  Then I got a bunch of letters, all from Filipinas.

I wrote to all of them regularly and gave them all an equal chance despite the fact that some were not beautiful or even close.  Jovie I barely considered because I thought she WAS beautiful and I didn't think she'd really be interested in me because she seemed quite religious and interested in having her own family, which I had not put much thought into because I'd never had a girlfriend who'd inspired me to want to raise children.  I was religious when it was popular in 1972 but had since settled on my own mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, shamanism, etc., so I wasn't sure if I should write her back.

I got letters from a Filipina contract worker in Hong Kong who insisted from the start that I tell her my email address, which according to the Cherry Blossoms staff was a red flag.  Her English was good and I liked her but in her pictures she was never smiling.  She almost got me because she was the most aggressive.

A pre-school teacher (a divorced Filipina with a small child) was hot on my trail and I liked her even though she giggled constantly in her messages (hehehehehehe) which was okey but made me nervous.

A rather unattractive girl who liked to cook wanted me pretty bad and for a while she was first in line because I felt she was sincere and intelligent.

A divorced over-40 schoolmistress Filipina who spoke better English than me was interesting but she had 4 kids and I was afraid she was out of my league, educationwise and professionally.

One day I took a look at the women who'd contacted me and thought, what the heck, and I went into the pictures and wrote to the most beautiful women in Cherry Blossoms.  Including Jovie, but she was the only one who'd contacted me first.  Only one of my cold contacts wrote me back, and her response was somewhat tentative sounding.

Except Jovie, she wrote me back too.  She wrote me in detail, responding to the specific points in my letter.  For example, I'd said I liked Asian food, and in her response she listed several of the dishes she liked to cook, and said that cooking and gardening were her hobbies.  She was college educated and had been working full time in the same office for 13 years.  She stressed that she was a devout Catholic and wanted her own family.  I was falling for her fast, so I wrote back and said I was not what most Christians would consider a Christian, and until I met her I hadn't put that much thought into raising a family.  I was surprised when she wrote me back immediately, still interested.

After I'd been corresponding with all these women for a while I felt like I was cheating on all of them, so I re-read every letter I'd sent and every one I'd received.  I looked at all the pictures.  I decided that if I didn't say goodbye to all of them but Jovie, I would be ripping myself off.  She was the one I wanted.  Her smile was the one I wanted in my house, in my life, and in my heart.

It was Jovie's idea to get on the webcam after a few weeks of sending emails.  That was the opposite of a red flag in my opinion.  When the webcam first came on, I was shocked because she didn't look like the low resolution photos that had been on Cherry Blossoms.  Then she smiled...

And when Gerlie peeked through the curtain from the booth next door, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe smiling might be something that runs in the family.  My final decision was based on the good background (happy family), detailed and timely responsiveness (her letters didn't sound like generic responses), sense of humor (indicates maturity and intelligence), and the 2000 facets of Jovie's smile.

... in response to Tests all work - Now for a question., posted by Jeff S on Jan 15, 2005

Hmmmm, the test was because I deleted all my cookies and needed to make sure I remembered my passowrd.

As to the question...

I looked at all the available pictures and bios on the various sites and take a great deal of pride in telling my wife that I picked her from literally thousands of pretty girls as the prettiest.  But I never ordered any pictures from those sites - I guess none were worth the effort.  Although I will say that my first inclinations this way came because of a TV report on successful marriage from a magazine called "Cherry Blossoms".  Several years before I divorced my "ex" I saw one of the Cherry Blossom magazines and was amazed at the good looking girls who were in them.

I actually wrote girls I chatted with in the mIRC channels.  I usually sent them a picture and a brief bio of myself and if they responded (with requested info like what I provided for them) then we started corresponding and I looked for compatibility.  I was writing 13 girls when I first chatted with Honey and stopped writting them very soon after meeting Honey - I just knew she was the one.  The thing that first attracted me to Honey was the look on her face.  As I studied it for clues about her character she looked to me as if she had just pulled a practical joke on someone, she looked "sneaky", happy.  The second picture she sent me I didn't care for at all, it was professionally taken and didn't look like her at all, but the third was quite revealing of her character and it included things I had sent her for her birthday.  None of her pictures were physcially revealing in any way and she was quite stingy with the bio information.  I based most of the decisions I made to marry her on the answers to my questions, her response to my actions and prayers - many together.

I was prepared to write lots of girls and visit them all to make a good decission.  I had observed several trip reports where guys had done just that.  I also noticed later it really didn't seem to help.  Once I met Honey, I decided it really wasn't necessary and if I had to start over later, I guess I'd have to start over.

I had thought I met a girl worth the effort before Honey but she turned out to be a suicidal fruitcake. She later tried to write me after Honey and I got married. I let Honey handle it.  Another girl, only 17 insisted that I'd marry her? even though I insisted she was far too young.  Her father was a sherrif in Cotabano, I didn't even want to go there.  Another was a nurse who disappeared from chat after a trip to Southern Mindanao - really don't know what happened to her?  Another was an engineer in Manila and another a unmarried mom trying to find a home for her son, she was honest about it from the beginning so I introduced her to a friend of mine who had just gotten a divorce.
 
I stopped chatting with everyone who asked for money instantly.  The girl who threatened suicide was because I refused to send her money for her last year of college - her sister in Philadelphia had refused her any more money because she was failing her in courses.  Eventually her sister relented and she graduated and hoped one of her many chat boyfriends would now bring her to the states.  None did at last communication.

I have since introduced several frineds to available Filipinas and as far as I know none have worked out.  I'm actually not in communication with any of them anymore, so I can't say how the personal introduction thing works.  Most of Honey and my friends met through introductions and/or the military while on tour of duty in the R.P.

The Bear Family