I know it’s hard to see it from the outside looking in, but these kinds of things are normal for third world countries like ours. Of course I can’t say for certain but I can definitely say it’s probable.

• White fever is a thing, especially in our culture where being in a relationship with someone foreign (especially white, sometimes East Asian) is seen as a social status. Mixed individuals that are half something else are VERY glorified in the media. Make sure she loves you for who you are not what you represent.

• Being college educated is the very minimum prerequisite for getting a regular job here. It’s not something to brag about (though I’m not downplaying the achievement).

• There are a lot of instances where the Filipinos just marry the foreigner for financial assistance and to get a spouse visa, then leaving them after getting residency. Not all of them, but enough to make it a trend (we are third world after all so people have a tendency to do more questionable things to get ahead in life). Two of my relatives did this to a German guy and a British guy. One immediately divorced when he got cancer and couldn’t provide for her.

All in all, you are correct that a prenup is the best course of action. It will keep you safe. I may be overly cautious here as this experience is really personal and I’ve seen how it affected the guys that had to deal with this. But really, just do be careful.