Why did she lie?

I would keep in contact with her if I was you.
She is young and didn't want to lose her new romantic friend and her age and lack of sexual awareness could have been a problem in keeping in touch with you.
She is very young after all and didn't want to scare you off.
Everybody makes mistakes and you both have your lives ahead of you and you never know what happens in life.
Stay friends and see how things develop over time but plan to visit when she is 18

This is how I see it.

She met you online and initially tried to give the impression of being a bit more worldly and experienced. She was probably trying to impress you.

As you got to know each other more, she opened up to you and told you the truth. This, to me, says she is thinking more seriously about you.

Why would you consider dumping someone for that? For demonstrating her inner feeling.

21 and 16 may seem a big age gap now, but in a few years 5 years will be nothing.

You say you love her? If you do then this really id something of nothing. Just take your time, get to know her, go visit her when you feel ready and be glad she feels enough for you to admit she wasn't initially truthful when you were nothing but a total stranger on the internet.

Oh, and you talk about trust. Did you tell her you set up an online vote to find out whether or not you should give her the elbow?

She's probably a member here already

thanks for the advise everyone its very appreciated. I guess I was looking at the gesture in a narrow minded way. This is my first online relationship and I guess media representation of such relationships has moulded my view on it more than I had realised.

I suppose all the media related headlines does make you wonder, keep it going, you have nothing to lose at this point in time.

Whats your feeling on the Euros next year? Care to name the winner?

Just relax and go with the flow...but put passing those exams first.

The young lady was probably just trying to impress you with how grown up she was...for fear of being given the brush off by an 'old man' of 21. lol.

Good luck anyway.

I dont know where on line you met that might be significant I would also ask myself what else might she be doing It has been known for young ladies to be "dating" online a posse of older guys who support in some way on dating sites its been known for both sexes to set up another account and try to make contact and see what happens , poisonous cynic that I am

Keith's advice is good.

Indeed I would always recommend that anyone who has only met "on line " does this.

I have to agree with Methersgate

Dont know should have been the third option in the survey

The fact is: noone knows. We don't know her, we haven't met her, we don't know the conversations, and if we did would we interpret them right? Only one person knows what she is like - she does.

I've got lucky. I asked strong direct questions with mine (which could have scared her off), and she was always honest from the start, and quickly honest about things most people would rather not avoid when trying to impress someone. I've seen her passport copy, I know her working history, her family history, all sorts of things. Even then, you can never be totally sure - especially when talking online. A person can be radically different in personality than what you think they will be. I took a chance and I am so glad I did - but it doesn't always work that way!

I think that a long time talking helps, time tends to break down lies and present cracks. Scammers don't tend to invest lots of time in someone. Also, it eliminates Keith's serial daters, because their free time is spent talking to you - if that is possible with your woman.

Yes, she has lied, probably to make her seem more attractive to you. But if she is capable of one, is she not capable of another?

You will be investing a lot of time and a lot of money into a prospective life partner. The time she will want you to spend talking to her, you could be talking to many, many other women (she will know that).

Do you think she is 'the one', rather than 'very good' or 'close to the one?' If you have any doubts that this is the case, I would suggest to move on.

If you spend more than a nanosecond answering that question, you have your answer. If you want to settle for second best 'for you' (as we are all different), then why go all that way and go through the complex marriage process that I certainly wouldn't do for anyone but my lady?

If you already care what people think of an age gap...I'm not sure that's good, as probably not everyone you know will approve of your relationship to a Filipina anyway, regardless of age. Get used to not caring what others think. You haven't broken any laws - end of.

Chances are, deep down you already know what you will do. Good luck with it

Not entirely true.

'the age of sexual consent is 12 for all, but contacts with minors (under 18) are an offence, if the minor consents to the act for money, gain or any other remuneration or as the result of an influence of any adult person.'

Source: http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/

So, actually kind of true in practice, as this open to interpretation (eg the label of 'a poor vulnerable young woman' being misapplied for advantage), as an accusation can be made. It happens. Then, a blackmail situation can ensue, with local police in on the lucrative moneymaking scheme.

"I think that a long time talking helps, time tends to break down lies and present cracks. Scammers don't tend to invest lots of time in someone. Also, it eliminates Keith's serial daters, because their free time is spent talking to you - if that is possible with your woman. "

Yes. Thats what I did.

You're right, scammers are often juggling with too many balls in the air at one time, that is why they are often caught out.

Bin and move on you'll end up in all sorts of trouble if under 18 and you DONT know this girl. Do you want to be locked up for a long time. Move on mate there is plenty of others over 18

They have been chatting for a year and he loves her now so it will not be easy to "bin" her!

The PS is cute. She probably thought that because you two have gone serious she can't continue to lie to you. So she came clean. Although deep inside she already hoped the first time you met online that eventually you would become something more than friends. Which is also why she lied- because she wanted to be somebody that's right for you. A lot of Filipina girls are mature for their age. I don't know her, but for me, her telling the truth means she's also getting serious, like really serious. Imagine how scared she could have been as she told you the truth.. she overcame the fear of losing you because she thought it's more important to be honest at this stage and this is her only chance of not losing you for good in the future.

She might be singing "We had the right love at the wrong time.." right now.

En

End up in a Philippines jail is another option