A man has hit back at trolls who accused his 25-year-old wife of using him for money and claims his family and friends are not accepting of their relationship.
Joop Evers, 69, and his wife Rona have lost family and friends in their fight for love.
But the couple insist that money has nothing to do with their relationship and they are just like any other couple.
Joop, originally from the Netherlands, now lives in his wife’s hometown of Bacolod in the Philippines, where their relationship is widely accepted.
But Joop, who is divorced and has two children from his previous marriage, says his family does not accept Rona because of her age.
Joop Evers, 69, and his wife Rona, 25, have lost family and friends because of their relationship.
He said, “In the Philippines, age differences are very accepted, but I no longer have contact with my family and a lot of friends because they don’t accept my relationship.
“When I told them about my relationship, they just refused to accept my wife because of her young age.
“I’m already a divorced man and I have two children, so it was a big change, but it’s my life and they chose not to accept it.”
People have accused Rona of using Joop for a ‘green card’ and money, but he insists that’s not the case.
“Age is just a number and I know people think it’s for a green card or for money, but Rona has never asked for money unless it’s for help others who desperately need it,” Joop said.
“It’s a real love story, not an attempt to get money or a green card. It’s real love, I know people won’t believe it, but there are so many love and understanding between us.
“She doesn’t want a green card, you read a lot of people want them to go to the United States, but I’m from the Netherlands, we don’t have them there.
“We don’t care what people think or say, it’s our life and we’re really happy together. It’s not a problem for me or for Rona, she’s happy to have an experienced partner, balanced and who likes her as she is.
People have accused Rona of using Joop for a “green card” and money, but he insists that’s not the case.
Joop, who is divorced with two children from his previous marriage, says his family doesn’t accept Rona because of her age.
The pair met when Joop messaged Rona on Facebook after spotting her on a trip to the Philippines to visit his brother and wife.
The lovebirds then chatted via text before she flew out to meet him in person.
He said, “I used to travel a lot in the Philippines because I worked for a global call center organization. I also visit my brother and his wife there, so I know the country well. So we connected via Facebook, we had mutual friends.
“We started chatting four years ago, when we finally met, she got on the plane and it was a huge culture shock for Rona because the Netherlands is so different from the Philippines. I know the people and the culture of the Philippines, but she had never been to Europe, so it was a pleasant meeting but with a lot of adaptation work.
Joop also claims people are “jealous” of their relationship and says they are often stared at when they are together in public.
Joop, from the Netherlands, said his family refused to accept his new relationship because of Rona’s youth.
The pair met when Joop messaged Rona on Facebook after spotting her on a trip to the Philippines to visit his brother and wife.
Rona says her family is supportive of their relationship and the wide age gap is ‘much more normal’ in the Philippines
“If we go to malls we get a lot of stares because she’s so young, but she dresses different from other Filipinos too, I think it’s all just jealousy,” Joop said.
“I am part of an age gap relationship group on Facebook and there are always jealous people commenting on our relationship.
“Everything we are told comes from jealousy, but we are happy. It’s a better life for her, but it’s also a better life for me.
Rona said, “My family has been so supportive of our relationship. Obviously, the age gap is much more normal in the Philippines, that’s why they always supported us no matter what.
“I don’t care what people say about us, I love him a lot. We’re good people; we love and care for people and just want that love to come back to us.
