I first heard about AFA Davao from one of my friends who has a friend who just got married to a foreigner from AFA Davao. After hearing good things about it, I was excited to apply and thought that maybe there's a possibility of me finding a foreign husband. Me, my cousin and a friend applied together with our complete documents and valid ID's. In the office, they give us orientation, provide us with more information, evidence and assurance that it is real and safe. The staff are very helpful, friendly and seem like trustworthy persons. What gives a confidence that the company is legit and can be trusted is that one of the staff who works in the office is my senior in college. I started filling up the forms, writing my own introduction as to who I am and my idea of interest to the man I am looking for. I also wrote a summary of my life experience which leads me to the idea of finding a foreign man. Then the staff took a photo of us for our profiles. I am quite nervous about them taking pictures but it was really for nothing. I had fun, they taught us how to pose and select different clothes that we are comfortable to wear.
After 2 weeks of approval period. I became an official member. I trust myself that I did the right thing. Becoming a member was xciting. I got a chance to meet a lot of women who are also looking for a chance to meet their other half. From time to time, we went to different places for picture talking. Shooting a video introduction or updates of ourselves. Feels like we are a model or an actress. Feeling shy about what to say in the videos and about our english speaking. It's a challenge to put an effort in every little thing we do to make the video and picture possible, especially with our work schedules. When we were doing the video, the ladies were taking turns one by one to say what they wanna say to the person who is going to watch that might be their future husband. I am very thankful to the Davao staff. They are so kind, very helpful and supportive. They help us cover our fare expenses and food since sometimes it takes a whole day to take everyone's turn.
Through AFA Davao, I had a chance to get to know a person via letter, meet and greet a lot of wonderful foreign guys. It feels good to hear that someone from the other side of the world knows me, appreciates my beauty and is interested to meet me. I felt excited getting to know each other with an old days style. But sometimes, I felt like it would be better to know them in person vice versa rather than sending letters for a long time. I don't want to feel the ups and downs of a long distance communication without meeting in person first. It would be better if they decided to meet me face to face rather than sending letters back to the forth.
I have been an active member since 2013 to 2016. Through those years, I only got a chance to join social night events due to random selections or invitation from the foreigners. For me, it feels like you won a lottery when you received an invitation since out of a thousand ladies in the Davao branch alone, you were selected to join. At the event, I noticed that all the women really put a lot of effort into looking presentable and beautiful. Of course, I am one of them. Most of us arrived an hour before the event started to get changed and put makeup on. Some are just on time and few are a minute late due to work schedule. When the event started, me and the ladies we're looking at the guys entering the room with their confident or shy faces but surely a surprised look. We all are having a great time meeting and greeting each other. The games, pageant, dancing are fun but the most important is the question and answer part (table hopping). I am curious and observant about how the guys talk when they're asking or answering questions. What is their facial expression towards the conversations. How they approach or react on the topic or situations. While they were talking, I was looking into their eyes and seeing what I could find who he is as a person. That was some of the things I looked upon searching for my potential husband. I found several potential husbands for me but none of them gave me the feeling that I can say "he's the one". None of them made me feel and see a future with them. During the events, even though we are enjoying it, I can still feel the pressure in me and saw that some of the ladies feel the same. As everyone noticed, there are a lot of women but only a few men. There is only a small chance for us to be selected and had a chance to select. The probability to find your perfect match is also small but luck plays a big part.
I had a nice experience when dating from AFA. I once was invited to be in the excursion but as a chaperone. 3
of my friends that time were invited in the excursion and so they wanted me to come. I volunteer to be their
photographer to at least earn my keep. As I was being the lady behind the scene. I realized that this really
is working. I saw a lot of couples becoming closer. They become more passionate and are really putting effort
to know each other. I saw that love is growing and they are all wearing wonderful smiling faces. I saw that
love can find its way no matter how short you've been together. It is just a matter of dedication to show what
you feel.
Some of the men I met became my friend. One of them is John from Texas. He was the one you invited me to join
the social night event which was my 3rd and last. I feel grateful because I would have never met the love of
my life if he didn't invite me that time or maybe destiny will still find its way.
It was October 8, 2016 Saturday the 2nd social night event in Davao tour. That night I felt that this could be my lucky night and asked God to give me a sign. Even if I have those positive feelings, I still don't want to have a high hope which might hurt too much if I fall. The same as the other events I attended, I just plan to enjoy the night. Then the table hopping comes. I was surprised. He is not on the list of clients and even not present in the clients introduction. He sat on the empty chair beside me and introduced himself. "He said his name is Rob". After his introduction, I just can't stop myself from saying "Rob, your my Robinhood, you stole my heart". Then he replied with a cute geeky smile, and again, I was starstruck. He is such a cute and kinda nerdy type I like. While the other ladies are trying to get his attention, I was just observing him and trying to understand him without disturbing what he was doing. The event moves on and I can't find him in the crowd. I tried to send a letter in the box but none of them are his. Even though he is nowhere to be found, I just enjoyed the night with the rest of my friends.
The virtual assistant was the one helping and contacting us if we receive a letter or a date invitation. She notified me that I have a scheduled date with Rob. Sad to say that I missed it because I fell asleep due to the graveyard work schedule. Even though I was 3 hours late, I still went to the office and asked the staff if they could contact Rob and tell him that I am really really sorry. That I am really interested to meet and have a date with him. He is so kind to forgive me and give me a chance to date him. Since I am really interested in him, I really put an effort into not to end the day with regrets. I wanted to apologize to him in person. To let him know that I like him and to show him who I am despite being late. Ever since then we dated everyday after my work. Everyday we learn a lot from each other. We shared the pros and cons in our life. Then we begin to talk about what the future might be.
During the tour, I've even heard a lot of couples getting serious, such as meeting the parents. 2 of my friends got engaged at the same time. Me and Rob got invited to their engagement celebrations. Rob was even teased by my friends that he will be next to be engaged. I was just being silent because I don't want to assume about something that might not happen. I am just happy to know him more. While dating, Rob and I also did some filipino courtship culture such as meeting my parents, my brother in the cemetery and my relatives during meals, karaoke, drinking liquor and such.
I never thought that after 9 nights of knowing him, he proposed to me. No words can explain how happy I am knowing that we are taking the next step being committed together. Speechless to the point that I forgot to say yes. But luckily he understood and put the ring in my finger. The next day he met my parents for formality as an engaged couple.
We went to the AFA office Davao to share the good news. Also to remove my profile in the website / agency and marked it as engaged. They provided a lot of information, recommendations and steps to process the fiance visa. Even though Rob already left the country. The AFA Davao office is still giving me assistance while I am gathering documentation. They helped us during the preparations for the U.S Embassy interview.
In 3 years of being a member of AFA Davao, they became my extended family. They were so happy to know that I am finally not available. I am grateful and forever thankful that AFA Davao existed. I am proud to say that I am one of the luckiest women on Earth that found their lifetime partner and it was possible because of AFA. Even though my husband Rob lives miles away, we had a chance to meet each other because the company exists.
If there's a will there's a way. Me and Rob took a chance of it. AFA was the bridge that made it happen.
Ronna Lou L.
Davao City


















