I thought to open a topic about common mistakes that can arise from cultural differences, or simply to point out some red flags in a mixed relation.
According to my understanding, the person who comes to a site like this is a person who was hurt in the past and wants to realize a dream that seems impossible to realize where he/she is. The American teenager would not come here, he has still to do his experiences in his home country. So, it happens you usually meet guys 40+ (even 50+ or 60+). For the girls, some want a better living situation or just want another type of culture. So, you can find also younger Filipinas. Many of them also had some bad previous experiences and have kids.
So, while most would agree that a person, to start a new relation, must let go the past in order to live the future, I think this is a common mistake. We cannot just cut away part of our past and the other person should accept us as we are. Somebody might tell us: "Fix your things before. Then, we will talk, if it is God's will". It is very easy to take the good part and avoid the bad one. Well, I think like this: "If you are not with me in the troubled time, I don't need you in my good time".
Another thing that I look in a girl is if she works. There might still be some heavens where the woman can still be a housemaid, but in my country it is not an option. A family won't be able to live if the woman stays home. When I find a woman that is lazy to work, wants an easy life, all I think is that "she is not mature for a married life". There are many hard working filipinas, but I see that many also want to do nothing and only hang home. I consider this as a severe risk, because love is not only taking, but also giving. It cannot depend all on one person.
Finally, if there is commitment to build something (a stable relation, a future family), it is a hard work. Love is at the center, but the environment must be prepared. Waiting things to fall down from heaven or that it happens exactly how we dreamed is the ticket to failure. Both must show the interest factually and work for it.
Another thing is to keep always a good communication. If you are not there when the other needs, the relation won't last long. That's always part of the effort, but it should be natural if two persons are in love. If one finds only later something that happened to the other... well... maybe the bond was not such a big deal.