Couple with 44-year age gap | Image: Caters
Bacolod: A 69-year-old man who is married to a 25-year-old woman said that it is “love, not a money scam”.
Joop Evers, 69, and his wife Rona has lost family and friends to be together.
Joop, from the Netherlands, moved to his wife’s hometown Bacolod, Philippines, where their relationship is accepted. He said that his family didn’t accept Rona because she’s too young.
He said that relationships with age gaps are highly accepted in the Philippines.
Joop is divorced and has two children from his previous marriage.
People accuse Rona of using Joop to get a ‘green card’ and money.
“This is a real love story, not an attempt to get money or a Green Card. It’s true love, I know people won’t believe it, but there’s so much love and understanding between us. She doesn’t want a Green Card, you read a lot of people want them to go to the US but I’m from the Netherlands, we don’t have them there,” Joop was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.
Also Read: MP man with 2 wives decides to live with each of them for 15 days each every month
He added, “Rona has never asked for money unless it is to help other people who are in desperate need.”
Joop said that he and Rona are happy together.
Rona’s family has been supportive of their relationship.
The couple started talking on Facebook four years ago after Joop spotted Rona during a trip to the Philippines.
He continued, “We started to chat four years ago, when we finally met, she flew over and it was a huge culture shock for Rona because the Netherlands is so different to the Philippines, I know the people and culture of the Philippines, but she had never been to Europe, so it was a nice meeting but a lot to adjust to.”
Also Read: 62-year-old grandmother is planning baby with 25-year-old husband
The couple get a lot of stares when they are out together in public. However, it doesn’t bother them much.
Rona said, “I don’t care what people say about us, I love him very much. We are good people; we love and care for people and just want that love back.”
