11 brides for 11 farmers: Philippines search begins

A GROUP of love-hungry Irish farmers are hoping to plant the seed of romance when they fly out to the Philippines today to find themselves a wife.

But the organiser of the matchmaking marathon was packing his bags last night without knowing if the path of his own true love would run smoothly after running into visa problems for his Filipino bride.

Chris Sexton, a 64-year-old farmer from Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, and founder of the East-West Matchmaking Agency, fell for 22-year-old nanny Mavric Tigbao while he was in the Philippines earlier this year making arrangements for today’s inaugural group trip.