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Thanks for your story. I agree that back in the day these dating sites seemed to work much better, there was just not alot of scammers on them. I just do not recall so much BS and scammers on main stream dating sites and I was actually able to go on dates and meet women who became long term girlfriends. Now days it seems its impossible on any of these sites and I have heard that Filipino Cupid is just like all the sites full of fakes. It does sound like a valid and interesting idea to just go take a vacation there, alone would be difficult, if I had a friend or group of friends to go with, esp other friends who might be single and seeking to date that would help out, sorta having a wing man, and also someone who might know the country, be able to help navigate. Does sound risky, scary, just going there and trying to mingle and find someone, that sorta thing just does not work much anymore here in the USA just meeting someone in the grocery store, now days everyones heads are in technology and some app or site they try and meet on, problem is there are 1000s of sites so who is on what site. But yes it would be amazing to be able to meet someone in person and build that connection. Again would be great to know others who are seeking to do the same thing and get together for a trip to the Philippines. So what is the "Handcuff" thing?

Yes I agree the women on those dating sites which are specific to women seeking american men I certainly wonder about that, and have not been apart of any of those dating sites. I have been on a few big name dating sites, some for some reason do not even list Philippines as an option, or some had it listed but took it away, not sure why, is there that much fraud there? I am just seeking someone real and genuine about a relationship and no matter where they are from, or what nationality, it seems impossible on dating sites as they are all full of fake profiles.

Where I am at there are not many people, not great options to meet, I am not in a big city. Yes finding someone local or closer or even in USA would be ideal but with having horrible past relationships full of selfishness, issues, lack of respect, etc, etc, etc I wanted to find a culture like the Philippines where things are a bit old school, and there are still beliefs, values, faith, morals. But yes the time in waiting, the expense so its certainly not ideal. If I could find a woman here with those old school mentality, or perhaps a Filipino or Asian woman here in the USA already who has not been ruined by western way of life yet, that would be ideal.

Thanks for your advise. I agree local groups, churches, issue is I am from smaller community and not much going on around here and not many candidates for dating either, if in a larger area it would be much easier. You hear of people finding each other from a distance, not even international, but just around the united states and they come together. I have always wondered how did they find one another and how did they get together being from so far away, at least with dating around the USA there is no process like the visa process, you can meet and be together when ever you decide its the right time. I do find myself liking the asian culture, that old schoolness that is non existent in the usa now days, morals, values, faith. I also find asian women very beautiful as they have a natural beauty about them. But yes with not much time to travel international relationship would be tough, yes I would make time to chat, message, talk, etc and of course the idea is to meet and come together and not have things drag out years and years because non of us no how long life will be so if you connect with someone you want to start enjoying life together with them. Yes I agree referrals from strangers maybe not a good idea, but who knows, they might know someone and they just put the two of you together and you talk and connect, but its a long shot. Seems these dating sites are not safe either, its worse than a referral from a stranger. When did trying to meet someone become so difficult and so full of fakeness, scams, etc and it just gets worse and worse, what a wonderful society we live in.

Here I am in a world full of fakes, scams, BS. I have had my share of american women relationships but they all turn out to be toxic, issues, problems, selfish with no values or morals. Wouldn't it be wonderful to find happiness, find love. Joining dating sites seems to be a joke, a scam, and full of fake profiles and its getting worse every day. How does one go about finding a TRUE relationship? Not some online chat buddy, but someone you can connect with, plan to meet, and than start the process to be together. How did many of you find your love? Your girlfriend, your wife? Dating sites in general all seem to be a scam with so many fake profiles now days, and specific Philippines, Filipino or Asian dating sites seem to be everywhere now days, but seem very fake, sketchy and a scam. Not sure why so many fakes and scams and its getting worse and worse, what a wonderful world we live in where we just keep trying to screw each other over. So any advise on where to find a TRUE relationship? Keep in mind I am in my 40s, I work, I have responsibilities so I cannot just go vacationing for weeks at a time and gallivanting around the world to find someone. And I am not lurking around on social media responding to random women like I have heard some guys do hoping to win the lottery and she is single and into you. But I will/would/could make the time getting to know someone as we do in the technical age now by messages, chatting, etc until comfortable to plan to meet. To bad the old school method does not work, hey I know a friend, my wife has a sister, a friend, etc, but maybe thats not such an impossible idea. So maybe you or your girlfriend, wife, knows someone who is seeking a great relationship? Please this is a serious topic, please no BS, rude posts.

Never ever said I was not willing to invest, once again this is gone off topic because a few commenters cannot understand what this post was about and had to go off in some other direction and read into things and throw this topic in some direction it never had to go in. Again I had already decided this is what I should do and want to do, has nothing to do with giving up up few dollars, has nothing to do with should I invest or should I not invest, nothing to do with that choice at all. Nothing to do with willing to spend a few dollars, nothing to do with that at all. Please discontinue comments if your thinking is he willing to invest or not.

Thanks for some good advise that is on the topic I posted about. Finally someone who does not go off on some tangent and gets what the original topic was about. We do use whats app to communicate and seems globe has a good plan for that, I do not have FB and never will for reasons I will not go into. Instead of sending her money as mentioned I would like to start out paying for the plan myself, don't see an issue with that as its my choice and still accomplishes the same thing, this is my risk I am taking so its my choice and probably easier and quicker. But yes I do need to find out what will work for her as far as best load plan and from which carrier. Earlier someone has posted screen shots about some plans, seems whats app is listed as a free option that will not use data against the plan. You seem to suggest some more permanent plans that do not expire from smart or globe which would be nice options for sure. Thanks again for staying on topic.

Because of a few posters who obviously just like to make things difficult and feel the need to respond to every topic on here because they know it all (I think you know who you are) they have sent this topic off in another direction for every other poster who might of had great advise based on the original topic, thanks to them for making this into something its not. I have never said anything about the money, or about spending 10.00, 50.00, 100.00 being to much, not once. I certainly know that if things move forward I will be paying for most everything in the process, that is not an issue. Again I had already decided this is what I should do and want to do, has nothing to do with giving up up few dollars, and I probably should of thought of doing this a long time ago. This topic was for some advise on the best way to go about it.

This topic has gone way off the rails, not sure why its gone off in some other direction of it being about the money. I have never said anything about the money, or about spending 10.00, 50.00, 100.00 being to much, not once. If I don't want to hand over 10.00 and instead pay for it myself through the globe site or whatever site at first that is my choice, in the end it still gets the same accomplished, and probably easier and quicker also. I certainly know that if things move forward I will be paying for most everything in the process, that is not an issue. Of course that would be after we have met, and figured out this is reality. Seems this thread has turned into about me deciding if I want to do this or not, again I had already decided this is what I should do and want to do, and I probably should of thought of doing this a long time ago.

I have not had the chance to communicate with her, she is probably still not added any load to her phone so I could let her know about this and start doing it. Seems this thread has turned into about me deciding if I want to do this or not, again I had already decided this is what I should do and want to do, and I probably should of thought of doing this a long time ago. This topic was for some advise on the best way to go about it, give me some knowledge on what cell plans they have, what ways to go about paying for it so I have some knowledge before I talk with her about it, and early on someone posted about globe and screen shots of plans, and that I can pay myself through the app or send money, that was the best type of advise and what I was hoping for to steer me in a direction.

I agree I have probably sent way more on random things or situations like going out and things I did not really need to. When I started this topic it was not about whether I should do this or whether I should not, I had already decided this is what I should do to help out. Seems this thread has turned into about me wanting to or not, again I had already decided this is what I should do, and I probably should of thought of doing this a long time ago. This topic was for some advise on the best way to go about it, and early on someone posted about globe and screen shots of plans, that was the best type of advise and what I was hoping for to steer me in a direction to research more. I agree helping with communication will be the best way for me to figure out if this is going to work or not and to really get things rolling and plan meeting. Instead of this continuing as some slow ongoing thing because of inconstant communication. I have not had the chance to communicate with her, she is probably still not added any load to her phone so I could let her know about this.

I get that there is a difference between women in USA and women in Philippines, and that many in Philippines have to make very tough choices and do not have the luxuries we have in USA. That is really why I made the choice to offer this instead of putting pressure on her to have to try and keep up on trying to afford to pay for the phone. I know she comes from a poor providence and from a family that works very hard to take care of one another. I admire that about her and her family. I certainly am not the guy that you had described in that sailor guy, why would he do that to someone he is married to, and leave her not being able to take care of the household and herself, that was horrible of him. Every relationship I have been in I have made sure they were taken care of, the household was taken care of or together we made sure of that, perhaps I did a little to much as they took advantage of that but still that is what I did. Everyone seems to forget I have not met this woman, I am not married to this woman, Yes I have talked to this woman for a long time, and mainly its been a long time due to covid keeping us from planning things for awhile, now its just figuring out a time frame that works for both of us. But then there is the lack of communication that has dragged things on as well, we make some progress but than don't talk for a bit because her phone ran out, than we sorta have to start over with the conversation. Hoping some consistent communication will figure things out between us.

Well than she can have one of those guys over there making there 100/week, thanks for your comment. Willing to do more for her huh??? What are you talking about? I have not met this person, not going to go above and beyond and start sending money for anyone I have not met, maybe that is your style, its not mine. However I am suggesting that I pay for her cell load to help our communication, if you guys wanna hand over your money to people you are talking to than that is your choice, and its my choice not to. If we had met in person already than it would be totally different. Let me count how many times have I shipped money to women I have talked with in the USA, I come up with 0.

Good that its 20.00 or less a month, pretty responsible so that we can communicate more consistent, I perhaps should of thought of this sooner but did not realize how cell phones, load, etc work over there and just thought she would be able to keep load on the phone. This has nothing to do with being controlling, weird a person would bring that up, I have not even met her, sure we have been talking for a while, but we have not met in person and again has nothing to do with being controlling, has everything to do with being smart. I would never pay for a woman in the USA cell phone when we are just talking and have not met. My idea was to pay for her cell phone load, not give her the money to pay for it, nothing controlling about that, its to help our communication and its my idea, not hers, she has no idea I would suggest this. If after we meet and all goes well than I either keep paying for it myself or I give her the money for it, either way at that point is an option.

I do agree about finding out if she is responsible with money and all, that would be great to find out, but at this stage even know we have known each other for awhile we have not met and with inconsistent communication that holds me back from just handing over money for her to buy load with. I would rather pay for it via a method that I can put the load on her phone and see what occurs. Sounds like there are options for me to pay having her phone number and put the load on it.

Thanks for the advise on western union and being able to send load to her phone. That Globe seems to be a decent thing, esp if you can pick 1 app to use that does not count towards the data, like whats apps, but still it will expire in 15 or 30 days and no roll over, but still being able to use whatsapp without worry of running out of load for the month would be nice.

Trying to plan meeting, but with inconsistent communication pretty difficult to accomplish planning that. I cannot just travel at any moments notice I do have a job, life, responsibility so planning is certainly necessary. Yes we have known each other for 3 years, and we met at the start of covid, soon after the world shut down, than continued restrictions for awhile esp in philippines so meeting was not possible in our situations. However for awhile now I have been trying to plan meeting which both of us want to, but we just cannot get anywhere with lack of consistent communication on what will work. You talk about trust her, I have never met her, sure have talked to her but inconstant communication, I want to give this a chance, but am not handing over money. I want to try and help with the cell load issue and see if our communication issue is resolved and hopefully plan meeting. If that does not solve it I will have to move on.

Thanks for all the info, it helps out alot to gain knowledge on how it works. I agree she will know what might work best, sounds like smart and global are the choices and I believe I have heard her mention them. We have known each other for several years now, however communication has become an issue as we get more serious. She just does not have the money to keep adding load to the phone, or they expire and she has to reload and does not have the money. So after not helping for so long, and she has not asked if I would help with her phone, this is my idea as if I want this to go anywhere perhaps I should step in and help a bit to find out where this is going. I can always back off and stop. Sounds like on Globe for 11.00 for a 30 day plan? and you can choose one app that does not count against data? We use whatsapp and I believe I seen that icon listed in your screen shots. I am just trying to educate myself before presenting this idea to her. I of course don't want to just send her the money so if I can purchase through somewhere and let them know her number which I do know and it just adds the load to the phone that is best.

Wondering if a person can use a pre paid visa? on any of these sites to purchase. I will have to find out which provider or service she has been loading on her phone. So you said load is a form of cash money? Load is what is put onto the phone, that is the term I have heard used, "need to add load" to my phone, sorta thing.

How might I go about paying for this for her, whats the best option? Also if anyone has any info about what costs might be, what type of plans as I believe it works a bit different over there than here in US.

In a previous post I got some info on Messaging apps and a bit of info on how cell phones work in Philippines. Keep in mind she is not from a major city like Manila or anything so availability to free wifi is not available or common, I think available to towers and cell plans is also limited. She is from a not so developed area Libagon. I am trying to help better our communication, she runs out of load or minutes pretty quick or it seems you only get so many days to use what you purchased and that expires and she cannot afford to buy more for awhile which leaves our communication on hold. She has used a few family members hotspots in the past, so there must be plans or service that offer that. I might sound crazy but what if I offer to pay for her load, plan, whatever its called in the Philippines so we can better communicate as we really need to be able to move this along and forward otherwise I have to move on because with lack of communication or occasional, random, etc communication we just cannot proceed, build a connection, and plan anything. So as crazy as it sounds I want to give this a try and if it does not help the communication than I stop paying and move on. How might I go about paying for this, whats the best option? I know there are probably a thousand apps that may allow me to, who knows which ones a person can trust with your financial info, can I simply use a pre paid credit card, life a gift card thing so I am not having to give financial info. I don't want to mail anything to her and now days I should not have to, there has to be some way that is safe to do this where I don't have to give a ton of my info as well, just sorta pay for it, preferably with a pre paid credit card or something. I am not sure what type of load, plans, etc are in the Philippines in her area, I will probably have to talk to her about that as she knows her area and whats available, unless someone here might have some info on that.

Sounds like its not worth her trying for the tourist visa based on factors of her life. I certainly have not supported her, have no intentions on supporting her daily life at this point in us knowing each other, but yes I believe I would have to pay for her flight here, do I like that I would have to NO, but I know she does not have the money and she is offering to come here to meet. Would I like to meet a woman who can take care of herself, YES, pay for her own visa, flight, etc, YES. But I am also trying to be understanding and that, so with her offering to fly here I probably would of paid for the flight. I would however like her to pay for the visa part, the 160.00. But sounds like this is not going to happen.

Yes she did ask that question, and I will not get into that long drawn out situation, I did sorta RUN, I stopped talking to her for awhile and there is NO way I was going to give her anything at that point in us knowing each other and she knows that, she still knows that. Really I had just planned to move on, move on to what I have no idea, I just want to meet someone great, have a great life and that certainly has not occurred with women from the USA. Her explanation as to why asking that question was because she was frustrated, she had just come home from working overseas for many years and could not find a job locally, she was pressured by family to help out. Its not an explanation I like, and we stopped talking for awhile after that and when we started talking again she never mentioned it. I am moving forward cautious, and again might just have to completely move on from this situation, its to bad after knowing someone for this long, but I may have to move on, life is short.

OFW, overseas worker sounds like her getting a tourist visa is not going to happen because she does not have strong ties to going back home, it makes sense, but at the same time it to bad that idea of her coming here to meet will not work. Yes I work and have obligations and commitments, but I could remote work so she would not be alone and I could take many days off, just maybe not in a row, I am in tech so just need to be around in case of issues. I would have to go back to me seeing when I can visit her as I have passport so just need flight and of course the time to go. Everyone not knowing my situation I will just say that I work and its not easy to get time off as I have obligations, but with planning could be done at certain times of the year, but communication with her needs to occur better so we can plan but thats been the issue, technology she has to communicate. I am early 40s, as far as her having extra money, not sure she has that, I do not think she has extra money.

Well she certainly has a few things going against her on that list, she has no job, just helps family out, does not have property, probably has no bank accounts, she has been a OFW a few times so has returned home from those job contracts. She is of course single, and mid 30s. So not sure with this info what her chances are of getting a tourist visa?