Philippines – A 50-year-old Singaporean man who moved to the Philippines to marry his Filipina partner ended up broke, alone and sheltering in a mosque in Bohol after learning their marriage was allegedly not valid.
According to a news report, the man, identified only as Hasbi, is now in Manila trying to fix his papers so he can return to Singapore.
A Marriage That Wasn’t on Paper
Hasbi met his partner in Singapore and wanted to marry her there. He felt the process took too long, so the couple moved to the Philippines to wed. They planned a second ceremony in Singapore later.
That ceremony never happened. The relationship ended, and Hasbi later found out that the union he believed was genuine was allegedly fake.
“I don’t have my marriage certificate,” he admitted in an interview, laughing in embarrassment. When asked if he wanted to go home, his answer was simple: “Of course.” He said he no longer had any reason to stay in the Philippines.
Viral Video Sparks Help
His story reached the public through TikToker Carrie Laine Abad (@imcarrielaine04), who met him in Bohol and first posted about him on Sept 20. Her video showed Hasbi walking her around the mosque where he had been staying to avoid homelessness, his Singapore passport in hand. All his belongings fit into two bags.
The clip has drawn more than 120,000 views and nearly 2,000 likes. Many netizens have praised Abad for stepping in.
From Bohol to Manila
When Hasbi told her he had no money, the 24-year-old content creator offered to cover his airfare.
“I will pay for your flight from Bohol to Manila so we can fix your papers with Immigration and your embassy,” she wrote.
Since then, Abad has:
- Flown Hasbi from Bohol to Manila
- Brought him to the Bureau of Immigration Head Office, along with an American and a Nigerian reportedly facing similar situations
- Paid for his meals and accommodation in Manila
The group is now waiting for updates from immigration authorities.
Still Waiting for Answers
Abad said she chose to help because Hasbi genuinely needed it, and she hopes to see him back in Singapore soon. She has also posted videos of herself assisting other foreigners stranded in the country.
Hasbi told AsiaOne he was stressed and not ready to comment further. AsiaOne has reached out to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Singapore Embassy in Manila.
A Reminder for Couples Across Borders
Many Filipinos in Singapore build relationships across borders. If you are planning to marry a partner from another country, Hasbi’s case is a sobering reminder to make sure the marriage is properly registered and to keep a copy of your marriage certificate. A little extra care now can spare you and your loved ones a lot of heartache later.