There was a heavy downpour when I went home last night. I didn’t have any umbrella so I called M0rn1ng before leaving the office. He told me not to worry because he will fetch me at the unloading area near our house. I reminded him that I left my mobile phone at home. He said he would be there 15 minutes after we end our conversation.

As the bus near our meeting point I saw him carrying two umbrellas. He is crossing the street to meet me. He already saw me so I rushed to the nearest building to avoid getting wet.

Since the rain was really heavy, the street that we will pass is a bit flooded. I told him that I’m afraid that my shoes won’t stand the water. Do you know what he said and did in response? He took off his slippers and gave it to me while saying: “magpapaa na lang ako. Suotin mo na to para di masira shoes mo”. So he walked barefooted for 3 blocks until we reached our house. If that isn’t sweet, I don’t know what is.

It is definitely better than a million I LOVE YOUs.

Popularity: 7% [?]

I have an officemate who found her boyfriend in a chat room. Curious as I am to those kind of relationships started and nurtured online I asked her some questions. I asked her if it is really possible to find love on cyberspace and she said yes. She told me that chatting helps her to overcome her shyness. On face-to-face conversations she is often timid so she finds it hard to meet people. She is also a Chinese and her family wants her to marry a Chinese too. So she has to find someone from the Chinese community and chat rooms have provided her the means to find someone.

She’s an only child too so sometimes there is no one to talk to at home so she joins chat rooms to talk to other people with the same interest. In one of those days, she has chanced upon this guy who is so much fun to talk to in the chat room. They spent a lot of days getting to know each other and so they decided to meet personally. The first meeting was fun and they are happy that they aren’t disappointed. A series of dates culminated and they became a couple. The relationship lasted for 2 years. However, they parted ways because the guy has a lot of responsibilities and don’t have plans of settling down. Though the relationship did not culminate to marriage, they have remained friends.

So it seems like chat rooms are a great avenue to meet new people and possibly a mate. It is organized in sub-groups, some call it clubs so that you can easily mingle with people with the same interest as yours. Lack of personal contact has distinct advantages too. On-line dating allows couples to focus on what a prospective partner is like on the inside without being distracted by personal appearance. Really, it is a place where you can express yourself anonymously, without the fear of embarrassment.

Though chat rooms have advantages, it also has some dangers. Recently it has been a hunting ground for sexual predators. Some also take advantage of the anonymity that chat rooms provide to be deceitful. Online they pretend to be someone that they are not. This is the reason why a lot of online relationships fail to flourish. When they get to meet in person, they find out that they are entirely different individuals from what they know in chats.

So I say, it is possible to find love in cyberspace BUT online dating should never be solely relied on. If you find someone interesting, keep it on a casual level first and get to know the person on a deeper level face to face. Be honest in all your dealings. Do not pretend to be somebody that you are not. Who knows you might really find your one true love online.

Popularity: 5% [?]