At first, Leslie was unsure about dating in the United States. Originally from the Philippines and living in Hawaii for grad school, Leslie had always imagined herself settling down with someone from her home country after earning her degree.
Nevertheless, Leslie gave online dating a try because she wanted to attend a Boyz II Men concert and needed a date, because she didn't want to go to a concert alone!
She came across a Valentine’s Day promotional advertisement for CatholicMatch and decided to sign up...
Lee was one of the first men to reach out to her, and even though they didn’t end up attending the concert, the two decided to meet for a date two weeks later, in March of 2016.
Lee met Leslie just as he was coming back to the Catholic faith and was looking for a partner who truly wanted to live out all of the Church’s teachings. Leslie’s profile checked that box, and she was also looking for someone rooted in the faith that would help her get to heaven. During their first date, the two discovered that they shared a lot of similarities, such as their Filipino ethnicity and the same taste in food.
Attracted to Lee’s honest and straightforward nature, Leslie decided to stay open to dating opportunities in the United States and continued to stay in contact with Lee.
Even though Leslie had her reservations about dating outside of the Philippines, she found online dating to be a very efficient and practical way to meet someone. In particular, using CatholicMatch meant that she didn’t have to find a way to ask about the important topics related to the Catholic faith.
Lee also shared a similar view and appreciated CatholicMatch’s direct approach to dating, as he discovered many of the important things about Leslie before they had even gone on their first date.
Before long though, Leslie had to return to the Philippines.
As Lee and Leslie’s relationship progressed, the two prayed very seriously about whether or not God was calling them to marriage. Leslie felt that Lee was the person she had asked God for as a child, but she was set to leave for the Philippines several months after the relationship began because her visa was about to expire.
Unable to renew her visa, Leslie returned to the Philippines in December.
Knowing that Leslie was the woman he wanted to marry, Lee visited Leslie abroad to ask her parents for their blessing. Lee proposed in Leslie’s favorite place in the world– an adoration chapel in the Philippines. Once at the chapel, Lee waited until they were the only two in the room before popping the question. The intimate proposal was interrupted when someone entered the chapel halfway through, but Leslie enthusiastically accepted anyway.
Lee and Lelise spent ten months apart while they were engaged. Lee returned to the United States while Leslie stayed in the Philippines to plan the wedding.
The two were married on October 21, 2017, surrounded by all of their family and friends.
Lee and Leslie now have three boys!
Having been married for nine years, Lee and Leslie have experienced their fair share of ups and downs.
They have endured long distance, moved several times, and supported family members through physical and mental health struggles. Lee and Leslie have also welcomed three children into their family, all boys. They shared that the blessing of their children has allowed them to bond deeply as a couple.
Lee and Leslie also share that the happiest parts of marriage are often the moments that are quiet and simple.
It’s in these moments of peace that the couple is able to fully enjoy time with their children and one another.
