When I first signed up for FilipinoDate.net, I wasn’t looking for anything serious. After years of dating without success, I had convinced myself that maybe love just wasn’t meant for me. Still, I missed having someone to talk to and share moments with, so I decided to join an online dating website, hoping to find someone I could connect with, at least as a friend.
I remember the first message he sent—it was simple and polite, not the type of message that screams “romance” but rather one that feels welcoming, like an open door. “Hi, Mary,” he wrote, “I hope you’re having a great day! Just thought I’d say hello and ask how things are going.” That was it. No flashy compliments, no pushy comments. It was just a genuine greeting from someone who seemed kind.
Curious and a little bored, I replied, not expecting much. But over the next few days, our conversation picked up. We talked about simple things: our favorite foods, the places we’d love to travel to, and the types of movies we couldn’t get enough of. With each exchange, I felt my walls surrounding me coming down, bit by bit. Something about him felt familiar like he was someone I’d known for years.
His name was Daniel, and he was honest from the start—he, too, wasn’t looking for a grand love story, just someone to talk to, someone to share his days with. He’d recently moved to a new city for work, and, like me, he felt that sense of loneliness that can creep up even in a bustling city. Online dating had been his way to reach out to others without any expectations.
Our friendship grew quickly, and before long, I found myself looking forward to his messages more than anything else. He made me laugh with his quirky stories, like the time he accidentally wore mismatched shoes to work or how he once tried to cook adobo and set off the smoke alarm. There was a warmth in his messages that made me feel comfortable being myself. I didn’t have to impress him, and he didn’t have to impress me. We were just two people finding joy in each other’s company.
Months passed by, and our “friendship” started to feel like something deeper. Without realizing it, I’d started relying on him—not just as someone to chat with but as someone I could confide in. When I was stressed at work, he was the one I’d vent to. When I had good news, he was the first person I’d share it with. Slowly, I started to wonder: could this be more than friendship?
Then one night, after a long conversation, Daniel said something that made my heart skip a beat. “I don’t know when it happened,” he admitted, “but you’ve become my favorite person. I feel like I could spend the rest of my life talking to you.” It was as if he’d read my mind, voicing the very thoughts I’d been too afraid to say.
We decided to meet in person soon after. I was nervous but also thrilled, knowing that I wasn’t meeting a stranger but someone who already felt at home. When I saw him, we didn’t need to say much; we just laughed, hugged, and sat together as if we’d been doing this for years.
Daniel and I became inseparable. What started as a casual friendship had blossomed into something neither of us had expected but both of us deeply needed. Today, Daniel lives in the Philippines with me and isn’t just my partner; he’s my best friend, the one I turn to every day, the one who makes life brighter.
Looking back, I’m grateful for that one “hello” he sent all those months ago. FilipinoDate.net didn’t just help me find love—it helped me find my best friend, my soulmate, and the person I want to share forever with.
~ Christina