Love and Tech: They found love in the digital space
“You’ve Got Mail” — which was released in 1998, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan- opened the possibility of falling in love online. And while “organic meet-cutes” are still the ideal setup for many, have you met anyone organically recently?
Many can still be skeptical about dating apps, but it is Valentine’s Day afterall, and if there’s a perfect day to feel a little bit of hope when it comes to your dating life and relationship status, well, today is that day. So, here are two successful matches made through dating apps that have blossomed into beautiful relationships — one of them is even engaged now!
Jean and Amiel
Now engaged to be married, Jean and Amiel have been together for seven years now and met on a dating app. Jean was fresh from a heartbreak, and Amiel had his fair share of “situasionships” before going on the digital love route.
Both were tired from “organic encounters,” and found the idea of trying out a dating app intriguing. “I thought there was no harm in trying,” Amiel said.
They didn’t get lucky immediately, though; it took some time and three dating apps (for Amiel) before they matched. Jean first ghosted Amiel, but it was lucky that they matched again, and that was when they got the ball rolling.
Since they are both creatures of habit, the two plan to see a movie and have dinner in a new restaurant this Valentine’s Day.
When asked for advice on people who are looking to try a dating app. Jean said, “It’s not for everyone. Before downloading the app, be sure you know what you want. If you want to find a meaningful relationship, you’re going to have to put in the work — while practicing caution. But if you’re just looking for fun — swipe away!”
As for Amiel, this is his advice: “Figure out what you want before trying out dating apps, so you don’t end up being disappointed. Some people get lucky — just look at me.”
Caroline and Louis
*Not their real names and told from Caroline’s perspective.
Caroline had just come out of a “situationship” with someone in college when she first tried dating apps — to help take her mind off what happened. She first tried Bumble in 2021 during the pandemic and made a friend here. But she realized that she wasn’t over the previous relationship, so she took the time and focused on healing and trying to win herself back, instead of meeting new people.
“When I finally learned to love myself and my life again, and felt genuinely ready to meet new people, that’s when I decided to try the app again,” Caroline shared.
Luck was by Caroline’s side as she met her partner Louis just a week after she downloaded the app. "He almost missed me, though, because the match expired and he wasn’t able to reply within 24 hours. About a week later, when I was about to uninstall the app because the market wasn't really good, he suddenly messaged me. That’s when it all began." Caroline fondly recalled.
Caroline and Louis have been in a relationship for three years now, and according to Caroline, it’s like they never left the honeymoon stage.
“He’s my first and hopefully my last boyfriend,” Caroline wished.
Their first date was like it came right out of a romantic comedy.
"I wasn’t nervous, but I knew he was! Days before the date, he prepared a spreadsheet of our itinerary and schedule. It included Google Maps pins for each location, contact details for the establishments, and a list of items I needed to bring, such as an umbrella and a towel. He told me to send it to my friend or family so they’d know where I'd be that day. It was meant to reassure them of my safety, as I was meeting someone I had just met online.” Caroline said.
This is also a good tip for those going on first dates with people they met through dating apps.
“I didn't tell him at the time, but he already had me with that spreadsheet!” Caroline added.
“We went to Cioccolata Churros Cafe in Intramuros for brunch. He took me to the National Museum of Anthropology and lectured me on the history of something he’s really passionate about: clay pots. We had snacks at La Cathedral Cafe, then in the afternoon, we went on a bike tour around Intramuros. To this day, I still tell him I doubt it was the first time he ever did that —put so much thought into a first date. But he insists every time that it really was the first time he poured that much effort, and he says he’s glad he did. Our first date is always my favorite story to tell,” Caroline shares.
For Valentine's Day, Caroline and Louis will skip the crowds and celebrate on the 15th with a simple brunch at a garden restaurant that they both love.
From love letters, emails, text messages, social media, and now dating apps, the ways and means for meeting and falling in love will continue to change and evolve. What matters is that there are two people willing to take a chance, do the work, and open themselves to love.