Khai Meneses, 28, met Ivy Viray, 36 (and with two kids) on August 12, 2013, via “Brenda”, a social networking site for “women or butch femmes or bifemmes”, as Khai described it.
“At first, I just searched for a lesbian site to join. Then I found ‘Brenda’ and I joined,” Ivy recalled.
As for Khai: “My gay friend told me about that site, so I tried joining (it).”
What Ivy didn’t know was, at the time they met, Khai was based in Australia. And only a few weeks after they first met online, “I decided to go to Philippines to meet and visit Ivy in person,” Khai said. That was on October 31, 2013.
But even before Khai’s coming over to visit Ivy, Ivy already fell for Khai. Asked when she knew she had feelings for Khai, Ivy said: “That was after she sent me flowers… because I saw her efforts. That was actually our third day of chatting and even talking on the phone. Khai researched everything about me – like where I was working at that time. I was even surprised because she unexpectedly sent me three dozens of roses. I really couldn’t believe it. She did that for me. I saw all the efforts from her.”
As for Khai: “It’s like love at first chat, actually. She caught my attention with her profile in ‘Brenda’. I was talking to myself, saying that there’s something in her that I like; something different about her that I couldn’t even explain.”
As a couple in a “gender non-conforming” relationship, both Khai and Ivy said that there aren’t too many challenges for them. “We think we haven’t really encountered any. Maybe because we really don’t care about what people say.”
The best thing in the relationship for Ivy is their openness to each other, with the best times “when my family met Khai, and that time we had our Holy Union ceremony last November.”
For Khai, “the best thing, of course, was me meeting Ivy who became the biggest part of my everything.”
Khai is happy that they had their Holy Union ceremony “because it provided us the opportunity to know that are both accepted and loved by our families and friends,” she said. “We also both felt that we’re officially committed to each other.”
Already, the two are planning to form their own family. And for that to happen, “since I’m based in Australia, I’ll apply for (Ivy’s) visa for her to be with me here,” Khai said, as they are already planning for their second Holy Union or commitment ceremony in Australia.
It truly is an inspiration to all of us, the love story of Ivy and Khai, and how the internet made all of this possible. This certainly is a real-life fairy tale and is clear just how deep their bond is where geographical boundaries would not stand in the way. When we take a look at some of the best chat rooms around, similar to Ivy and Khai, the internet provides infinite possibilities to create your very own love story too.
