This happened because more and more people are now able to explore different parts of the world, which broaden their horizons, knowledge, and experiences and, their field when it comes to choosing the person they want to spend their life with.

International marriage is not really a new concept for Filipinas.  They have been getting married with their Spanish conquerors during its reign in the Philippines. Add to that are the Americans, Japanese and any other foreigners who came to their land to trade and/ or conquer, which, in turn, lead other people to think that Filipinas are only after the financial security and social status that marrying a foreigner can bring.

As for me, I think not.  I think that the Filipinas are just blessed with the opportunity to mingle and connect with other people because, topographically speaking, the Philippines is welcoming tourists from other lands with an open arms, what with its long stretch of beaches and open waters.

Also, Filipinas are very kind-hearted persons.  They are very romantic and they believe in love so much that they are willing to marry guy with a different belief and culture, and even go as far as the West just to be able to be with the one they love.  While we can’t deny that are some who marry for money and social status, we also can’t deny that most of them marry for love and for life.  It would be wrong to generalize the Filipinas basing on the greed of some of them.

However, love and romance are not the only reasons why Filipinas prefer to marry Western guys over their Filipino counterparts.  Here are their other reasons for getting married with Westerners:

• Filipinas are naturally born with a sense of adventure.  This is evident in their enthusiasm to explore Western countries that no one in her hometown has ever been to.  Marrying a guy from the western part of the world is also an adventure to her.  She has to learn and understand new culture and even practice it.  It would also be a challenge to her because she would have to live in another country, apart from her family, friends and loved ones.  It would be one of the biggest sacrifices that she would ever make but she’d feel fulfilled if she would be able to overcome it.
• Filipinas also marry western guys for companionship and someone to share her dreams with.  Since Filipinas are born adventurous, one of the things that she would want to do is travel the world, and who would be the better partner in that journey of hers than someone who is equally well-traveled, and with someone who she knows would stay by her side no matter what.
• Finally, Filipinas marry because they see something in their partners that they think are worth keeping for.  No matter how rich and handsome the western man is, the classic Filipina would never compromise her beliefs by getting married for the wrong reasons.  When she decides to marry a western guy, know that she is doing that because she knows that she has found her significant other; the one who would complete and complement her whole being.

So, if you see a Filipina in the arms of and married to a Westerner again, I hope you would remember all these reasons and never doubt her intentions first without taking the time to know her completely.

As if that is not a hard enough work, you also need to know their background.  For example, an American or European guy would have a different culture and tradition about courting and relationships compared to an Asian guy.  It makes me think that it is not that easy being a woman after all.

So in order to help you with this quest, I have listed a few things that you would want to watch out for when you are seeing somebody, and would want to know if he has the potential to be “The One”. And since I believe you already know how to deal with your fellow Filipino, even though he is a guy, the following would be better observed when you are with a foreign man.  Be sure to look for the following signs of attraction.

1.  Watch out for extreme attitudes towards you

As a general rule, guys tend to be very attentive and nice towards the girl they like, especially if they want the object of their interest to know how they feel.  However, there are also some guys who annoy and ignore the girls they are attracted to just don’t want the girl to know how they feel about them.  I guess they are just afraid that the girl won’t like them back. Talk about confusing body language, right?  So, observe how he treats you. If he does differently with the other girls you know, then he’s probably attracted to you.  Of course, since you are a Filipina, he would also consider the fact that you have been brought up with strict culture and traditional views, so he’d still be very careful around you.

2.  He wants to spend time with you

Attraction is a universal feeling. So no matter what his race is or what country he came from, a guy who is attracted to you would always want to spend time with you.  He would want to get to know you better to find out if you have the same interests and likes.  Because of this, you might want to broaden your horizon by reading topics with an international scope; you can’t possibly expect a foreign guy like him to know so much about the Philippines, right?

You can establish your belief that he likes you when he asks for a second and third date, that is, if you can keep the conversation and his interest coming.

3.  He will, eventually, be expressive of his feelings

Of course, you are used to all your Filipino suitors, whose idea of wooing a girl is to be her friend first then hopefully and ultimately be her boyfriend.  More often than not, the Filipino guys you meet who like you do not tell you outright how they feel, compared to guys who came from other countries, especially the Western ones.  Since you are dating a foreigner, you won’t have a prolonged waiting time before he’ll finally reveal his true intentions. Unlike Filipino guys who tend to beat around the bush, so to speak, when dating a Filipino girl.  So when that time comes, you won’t have to depend on these signs of attraction because you will learn personally from him if he is really into you.

Lastly, and basically, attraction is one of the most difficult feelings to hide, so all you have to do is keep an eye out for it.

Interracial romance and love affairs are very popular right now, what with the arrival of high technology which advances by the hour – and almost by the minute.  Because of these advancements, many things that were impossible to do before are just a few breaths away now. Imagine that.  One of those things that technological advancement has made possible is online dating or, on a general note, international online dating.

Before, international dating is very hard to achieve, especially before the internet was introduced.  People who participate in international dating had to endure the impossible period of time that snail mails take.  Add to that is the expensive amounts of overseas calls that used to bleed the callers to death, figuratively –and financially speaking; whereas online dating is very cheap and accessible.

And because communicating has been easier since people discovered the wonders of the internet, you can easily tell if the one you have been dating online has a particular interest in you.  And you can also tell if the relationship you have at the moment is a very promising one.

So, how do you know if the guy you are seeing online is interested in you romantically?  Here are several ways to find out with a few tips thrown in.  Note them done and tick each one very carefully.

1.  You have to know his preferences.

Of course, the first step you have to take is to learn about his preferences.  You can easily do this by asking him of what he looks for in a girl, or you can just check out his profile if you have meet through a website that offer dating service.  So if you possess the qualities of a girl that he is looking for, then you can already consider that as a point on your side.

TIP: Many foreign guys prefer Filipino women for a girlfriend and, eventually, a wife.  This is because they know that Filipino women have traditional values and they view relationships and marriages with high regard.

2.  Think back on your previous conversations and observe your current one.

See if your conversations have a nice flow to it, because if it does, then you can tell that you have chemistry, and that you interest him enough to for him continue talking to you.  If he asks you questions, it means that he wants to get to know you more, and that he thinks that you might have a wonderful future together.

TIP:  If you really like that guy you have been dating online, then I suggest that you check out his hobbies and interest, and read on the subject.  You can also learn some of his culture. That way, you will have something that you can build your foundation on.  Being the Filipina that you are, you can easily this because of your innate ability of immerse yourself in different cultures.  And, mind you, it’s just being resourceful and clever, not sneaky.

3.  He wants to spend time with you.

International online dating also means that you live in different time zones. And one of the perks of online dating is that you are sure that whenever you go online, there would be someone that you can talk to and engage in the rituals of dating online with, especially if you are using a site that offers free dating service.  So when the foreigner that you are seeing asks you when you can go online, then you can consider that as another check in your “Signs that He Likes Me” column.  It only means that he is willing to spend time with you even if it’s just online.

And lastly:

Of course, there would be other tell tale signs that he is really into you.  You just have to keep an open eye on them, and interpret them with an open mind.  After all, you do not want to give out the wrong signals, as well.  And you also have to uphold the positive disposition of Filipinas, which what made them famous as being one of the top choices of foreign men when it comes to romantic relationships.

So because I can’t bear the fact that you are having problems with it, let me share a few tips to you; tips that would teach you how to love yourself.  You will surely be surprised that you don’t really need a man to be able to find love because you can do it all by yourself.

1.  You can start by treating yourself to your ideal date; great food and a bottle of fine wine to go with it, a cozy ambience and an intimate corner table with a view of the city or of the coast.  It can also be a picnic in the nearby park during a lazy summer afternoon or just lounging on the beach.  You can do whichever would make you feel good, refreshed and pampered. If you don’t want to spend on your date with yourself that much, you can always find alternatives like: curling up in a cushioned, comfortable armchair with a great book or just go out to see a good chick, or even action, flick.  Going out by yourself and without a love life is not as hard as you imagine, trust me.

2.  You may try listening to classical music.  Try the ones from the masters; Bach, Mozart, Chopin or Debussy for a more contemporary listening experience. Listening to classical music will surely help you to relax a bit and take your mind off some things for a while.

3.  Engage in a physical activity.  It does not have to be a strenuous one, just enough to occupy your time and mind for a few hours a week.  It would also keep your mind focused and your body disciplined due to the exercise; let it be a physical manifestation that you love yourself.

4.  You can explore your creative side.  You can start by going into art museums and learn to appreciate all the artworks and pieces that surround you.  Then you can explore your creative side further by making artworks yourself.  You can use materials that you have handy in the house like Lego blocks, colored pencils, water colors and paint.  All it will take is just a little imagination.

5.  Try to allot a few hours or minutes of your day to just stop and do nothing.  You can use this small amount of time to reflect; think about all the things that you have, and refrain from thinking about all the things that you don’t have.  Be thankful for what you have been given and expect that you will always get what you deserve.

And, of course, you should always know that the term “love life” does not always refer to romantic love, even though most of the time, it does.  You will always have love in your life, whether it is from your family, your friends or even your pets.

While some wait until the prime of their lives just to meet the right one for them, others are fortunate enough to find true love in their youth.  But whatever your age may be, love should not be so much of a challenge to you, just enough to make you want it so bad and motivate you to do everything and anything in your power to get it.  All you have to do is follow these 5 very simple steps on how to make a girl fall in love with you.

1. Keep in mind that you want to be the love of her life.

Yes.  While it is good thing to be her good friend, you do not want to end up being just her best friend.  Trust me, you do not want her to get the wrong idea and think that you just want to be friends.  To avoid this, you would have to be clear on your intentions.  Let her know what your feelings are and that you intend to make her fall in love with you.  Try to get her to confide in you, and try harder to make it more intimate; something that is exclusive to both of you.

2.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Cliché it may seem, but it’s still applicable and an effective way to make her fall for you.  While you want her to feel pursued and wooed and wanted, you do not want to crowd her, or else, you will send the signal that you want to be the center of her universe, which is entirely wrong.  Never do this or risk ending a relationship that has not even started.

3.  Keep your head in the game, but keep a cool head while you’re at it.

I understand that you want to keep your eyes on the prize; it would surely help to keep you focused and concentrated. But, remember she is the object of your love and desire and not the object of your obsession. You most specifically do not want her to feel this way or she will avoid you or, worst case scenario, request a restraining order on you.  Then you can say goodbye to your life’s dreams.  All that would do is scare her instead of make her fall for you

4.  Make it a two-way chase

I have mentioned in tip # 2 that you would have to give her space to realize that she will not entirely be too happy without you and for her to realize of your importance in her life.  Well, this fourth one is connected to that.  Let her feel chase of the game, the thrill and excitement of it.  She will try to anticipate your every move, and you must try not to do what she expects from you.  You could outdo your previous moves or you could deviate or try another move.

5.  No guts, no glory

And, last but most definitely not the least on tips on how to make a girl fall in love with you, you must have the guts to let her how you feel.  If you cannot, at the very least, be upfront with how you feel about her, then there is no point in you planning on how to make her fall for you.  While it is okay to wait for the right time before you confess your feelings and intentions, it is never okay to let so much time and opportunity pass or you will never get the chance to make her fall for you.

Of course you are a little hurt that the one you love has some reservations with commitment, but as you ponder on this, you realize that it really has nothing to do with you, personally speaking.  It’s just that your man tend to shy away from commitments in general.

So how do you remedy this?  How do you convince your man to forget his long-time fear of commitment to you and your relationship?  Read on and find out how to solve your relationship problems by using the following proven techniques:

1.  Keep him interested

We both know that little sparks and tiny sizzles do so much when it comes to long-term relationships.  Aside from the love you feel for each other, it also helps the relationship, without making it too dull or too predictable.  You need to feel a thrill and some excitements from time to time.  Otherwise, you end up losing your romantic connection and find yourselves in a platonic state.

2.  Give a little chase

This is related to the previous tip.  When you know that you have gotten his interest and his attention, you would want to keep it and keep him at it.  You have to give out the image that you are the typed to be chased and wooed, and that if he wants to go out with you, he would have to work for it.  However, you would have to take care not to be too much of a hard-to-get.  You don’t want him to get the wrong impression and think that you’re not interested with him anymore.

3.  Spend some quality time with each other

This tip is pretty self-explanatory.  It is so simple that many couples take it for granted, without realizing that this is actually one of the keys to the door that leads to happy endings.  When you spend some time with your beau, you get the opportunity to talk to him about things that would help you bond with each other; things like interests, hobbies, plans, dreams and goals.  Some of these topics are pretty sensitive that he would only open it up and talk about it with someone he really loves and trusts, and cares enough to listen to pieces of advice and criticisms, then you can ask him about the commitment issues that he has.

4.  Have some “Me” moments

Oh, no. I do not mean that you would go so far as to break up with him so he would know your worth and realize that he does not want to lose you.  What I’m suggesting is that you also have to allot some time for your own self.  When you do this, you would have the chance to think about what you really want from each other, without the presence of the other to cloud or influence your decision.  When you are both sure with what you want, then you can focus on how to work on committing to your relationship.

5.  Let him know of your expectations

Men are such oblivious creatures.  They do not know what is happening around them half the time.  So don’t think that he is just being insensitive, he’s just not that aware with his surroundings.  So try finding out his opinion on commitment, and you just might be surprised to know that you have the same thoughts on that matter. If not, then you could try persuading him to see your way about commitment issues.

Of course, there is the negative side of things. Personally, I think that the negativities brought by technological advances in warfare and its influence in the several countries’ quest to become ‘world power’ will always remain negative.

On a lighter note, there is also one that still stirs up debates in some forums, blogs, and other online social media/networking sites, and that would be the use of online dating sites.

Many people think that online dating and logging onto online dating sites has some negative sides to offer.  Contrary to popular belief, online dating is not as bad as people tend to think it is.  Let me tell you why online dating is so popular not just to teens and young adults.

1.  Admittedly, we are all living in a fast-paced life now.  Everyone is too busy that going out socially has become too difficult to manage.  Imagine balancing career life, social life and love life, when finding one is so hard to come by, so online dating sites are created to accommodate those people who cannot meet people out on their own.  Besides, you are more likely to meet people you share interests with on that dating site.

2.  If you are careful enough with which online site you engage yourself into, chances are, you could find one that is of good quality and has the best services.  It is to be expected that there would be fraudulent dating sites, and you must steer clear from those.  Most good online dating sites require no membership fee.  You would only have to pay a very low amount if you want to communicate further with your chosen partner and not before.

3.  You are also given the right to post your own advertisement.  This way, the other searchers would be informed of your preferences even before you talk to them, and would save you valuable time and effort.  When you post an advertisement, you would also have the opportunity to choose on a much wider market, and that’s just the responses you’ll get from your advertisement.

4.  One of the best things that dating online has to offer is that you get to choose whom to reveal your true identity.  Being on the age of information does not mean that you would have to share your pertinent information with someone else that you meet in the online dating chat rooms, and it would be really wise not to, at least before you get to trust the one on the other end of the internet connection.  This way, you would be able to protect yourself from scammers, perverts and potential stalkers.

5.  Some dating sites have niches or “groups” for certain faith or religion.  This is a very clever plan to connect people of the same belief and it allows the building of an instant rapport.  It would also be a chance for people of different beliefs to immerse themselves with each other, and be educated of each other’s culture.

6.  Aside from the abovementioned advantages, there are also some dating sites that not only help people meet online through online dating chat rooms, they also help people to meet outside the World Wide Web.  These dating sites regularly host parties, where the member can meet face to face and interact with each other on a personal level.

I hope that I was able to enlighten you about the positive side or the pros of online dating.

1. Lucy Torres-Gomez
   
   Lucy Torres is a commercial and fashion model for Bench with her husband Richard Gomez. She is also a television talk show host these days.
2. Wilma Doesn’t
   
   Wilma is a fashion model and movie actress. She is a wonderful fashion model that many aspiring young models look up to. Tall, dark and beautiful, she would never fail to mesmerize you every time that you see her. Also, she has a very high spirit that’s why you will never be bored with.
3. Rachel Lobangco
   
   Rachel used to be a beer model and an actress in the Philippines in the great part of the 90’s. Although she is no longer active in the Philippine movies, Rachel came back with a fiery vengeance as fashion and commercial model not only in the Philippines but in the Middle East as well.
4. Melanie Marquez
   
   Ms. Melanie Marquez is former beauty queen where she was widely known for. Because of her beauty, she became an actress and later turned to the fashion world. She also tried modeling for TV commercials. Her beauty still reigns even after she won the Miss World Title.
5. Miriam Quiambao -
   
   Miriam is another beauty queen that became a very famous fashion model. After winning her title as Miss Universe, she became a host on an afternoon TV show. These days, Miriam is still active in modeling.
6. January Isaac
   
   January Isaac was known for her detergent bar commercial series. After that, she also tried acting in movies and television but she is greatly known in fashion and commercial world. A very sexy and beautiful model, her charms would make you fall in love with her over and over again.
7. Precious Lara Quigaman – A former Miss International beauty queen, Precious Lara posed as a model for different brands of product and companies. She has also tried acting and hosting for television.
8. Margaret Wilson – Margaret has succeeded in winning the Philippines’ most prestigious beauty pageant “Binibining Pilipinas” at a very young age. She started her career as an actress in Philippine television and eventually realized that she wanted to becaome a beauty queen. After winning the beauty pageant, Margaret started posing for the fashion world.
9. Jamilla Obispo – Jamilla is an ex-resident of the widely known Pinoy Big Brother. Although she was evicted earlier that she expected she became a superstar hot fashion model the moment she got out of the house.
10. Asia Agcaoili – Asia is the former FHM (For Him Magazine) columnist. Her articles in FHM are all about sex and how people would be educated about it. She is also one of the sexiest and very alluring models that you would see either on commercials or the internet.

If you are a tourist in the Philippines or just browsing the internet, the chances of meeting beautiful Filipina models are very high. Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is where most of the beautiful Filipina models gather to have modeling jobs. This is where things get a little exciting because you can also expect to see them in some popular beaches, resorts and even hotels all over the country where they do their photo shoots. If you happened to visit one or two of these places, you would surely get to meet beautiful Filipina models. Here are some:

• Boracay Island. This fine beach island of white sand is the one of the most popular beaches in the Philippines where beautiful Filipina models gather for photo or video shoots. Because of the magnificent beauty of this island, many tourists all over the world come here not just for vacation but also for sightseeing. In Boracay Island, many fashion related events are held at night. Just roam around the whole area – the restaurants and bars around – you will definitely meet one or two of them.
• Puerto Galera. This is another famous beach where beautiful models do their pictorials. Just like the Boracay Island, the number of tourists is as many as the sand on the seashore. All you have to do is to roam around the resorts at night and you would surely get to meet them chatting and sometimes drinking after the bikini open contest.
• Palawan Islands. Aside from the Palawan’s magnificent ecological and marine sanctuary, the beautiful models roaming at almost every street of the area make the place a wonderful haven for love-seekers. Because the Palawan province celebrates different kinds of festivals, it is a great place to spend every summer in. You could bet that Filipina models would be there for your entertainment and pleasure.
• Cebu City. Cebu City is considered as the “Manila of the South”.  Here, you will find young and beautiful Filipina models walking down the ramp in every fashion gatherings. Cebu City is also one of the finest places in the Philippines where you will not only enjoy looking at the fine models plus it is a nice place to stay in because of the various produce of the place.
• Manila. Being the Philippines’ capital, Manila houses most of the fashion models that you would see on fashion magazines, men’s magazine and the likes. Manila is where large numbers of beautiful young ladies pursue their dream of becoming successful fashion and commercial models. There are lots of clubs that hold fashion shows. If you are in Manila, chances of seeing beautiful young models roaming the streets are very high.

These top five places are where you will commonly see models hanging out at night, doing their pictorials or video shoots. Definitely, you would be hypnotized by their charming grace and allure that you would want stay in the Philippines for the rest of your life.

These days, if you are travelling to the Philippines, seeing their fascinating culture is one of the things that you shouldn’t miss. You may enjoy the wonderful sights in every town that you pass by but the Filipino culture is something that you will admire and treasure for the rest of your life. Speaking of the culture, your Filipina girlfriend’s parents are very wealthy source of the superficially institutionalized Filipino culture.

Upon your meeting, your girlfriend’s family would offer you lots of things – comfort, drinks and especially food. This act is rarely practiced in western countries. When visitors arrive, the Filipino families offer them whatever food that they are eating. You should not be surprised or appalled by what you will see because the Filipinos are known by their overwhelming hospitality. They would even serve you exotic foods on your first day in their hometown.

Aside from the food, another thing that you should watch out for is their drinking habit. In Filipino culture, you will always see them celebrating every possible occasion in their town. Your arrival in their house is not different; in fact, not only your girlfriend’s family will celebrate it. You would also see their neighbors and friends drinking with you. If this happens, just don’t take it seriously because the Filipinos are always receptive and joyous.

Your girlfriend’s parents would definitely ask you questions. They would even use interpreters if they think that they cannot speak in English effectively. Try to answer them as honest as possible. There are some instances that you will have a moment or two of huge language barrier. Her parents would try to grasp every possible English word that they could just to communicate with you. If that is the case, try at least to learn few Filipino words that would help communicate easily and effectively with you. This way, having a nice and thrilling conversation would not be such a pain for both of you.

Meeting your Filipina girlfriend’s parents is a wonderful experience especially if this is your first time to see them. There are surely lots of things that you will treasure once you meet them face-to-face. Just remember to be yourself and pay a great deal of respect on their cultures and practices.