A Pinay formerly based in Palawan, recently shared on social media how she found “the one” in a dating app. Besides sharing their love story online, she wanted to dismiss the “bad” mentality from the public after being in a relationship with a foreigner.
23-year-old Jolina said she is aware of other people’s comments about her marrying a foreigner.
“’Yung mindset natin na ‘isang Pinay nanaman ang nakaahon sa kahirapan’ lagi kong nare-receive ‘yan sa mga comments sa TikTok. Pero sa akin po, hindi po ako agree doon kasi ‘yung mga foreigner po kasi ang nakikita ko very hardworking po sila. Kami naman nagtutulungan naman kaming dalawa so, pareho naming i-aangat ‘yung mga buhay namin sa kahirapan,” Jolina told The Philippine STAR.
Jolina said she started using a dating app in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“First time ko pong gumamit ng dating app nun kasi nung college ako, wala po talaga akong idea kung ano ‘tong mga dating apps. Pumunta ‘ko ng city [para magtrabaho] tapos may na-meet po akong mga friends, gumagamit sila nitong dating app na ‘to,” she said.
Even though it was her first time, she got lucky with her first conversation with a man based in USA.
“I super liked her, I messaged her. I said, ‘Hello, future wife,’” her then boyfriend Alex Woods recalled.
“Nag-respond po ako ng, ‘Hello, my future husband.’ Tapos dun na nag-start ‘yung conversation namin. Actually hindi ko po siya ine-entertain sana kasi ‘yung profile niya, masyadong pang model ‘yung profile niya, Sabi ko, ‘Ano ba ‘to scammer naman kasi gumagamit ng picture ng ibang tao.’ Tapos nung kinuha niya po ‘yung Instagram ko, vinideo call ko po agad siya para malaman ko kung true face niya,” Jolina shared.
After quite some time and several video calls, Jolina fell for Alex even though they were miles apart from each other.
“First two weeks namin nag-uusap, tinanong niya ‘ko kung anong favorite flower ko, sabi ko sunflower. Then, nagpadala na siya ng bulaklak dun sa bahay. After six months of talking, he decided to come [to] the Philippines to meet me and my family,” she said.
Alex first visited Philippines in April 2023.
Recalling their first meeting, Alex said “Even when we first met, there was no awkwardness. We hit it off, and everything was great. My first words to her were ‘you’re so small’ but then right after, I said, ‘oh, you’re so beautiful too.’ I like her though, she’s so adorable, and she’s so gorgeous.”
After three months, he went back to the country to attend Jolina’s oathtaking after she passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.
“Akala ko mag-a-attend lang siya ng oathtaking. Tapos sabi niya sa’kin, pupunta daw po ‘yung family niya. So, akala ko ‘yung parents niya lang. So na-shock po ‘ko nung nakita ko ‘yung parents niya, ‘yung tatlong kapatid niya atsaka ‘yung lola niya!” she said happily.
Alex brought his whole family because he planned to propose marriage to Jolina.
“I went home the first time, ‘Hey, I’m gonna propose and I want you guys to come in August.’ They were all excited about it. They were planning for it. There was like no need to convince at all, they were ready to come already,” he said.
He then proposed to Jolina in August 2023 with his whole family helping him for their special day.
“Na-excite po ako nung ganun po ka-supportive ‘yung family niya. Parang family ko rin po sa Philippines. Nung dumating po sila sa Palawan, so nagrent po kami ng van, two hours po ang biyahe nun hanggang sa bahay. So, gusto nila pumunta sa bahay para ma-meet ‘yung family ko, parang ‘yung sa’tin din po na pamamanhikan. Sila po mismo ‘yung nakikipag-communicate sa family ko and sa akin. Like, sila po ‘yung nag-i-initiate ng conversation,” she noted.
They are set to get married this year in Hawaii.
