Playing the dating game

MANILA, Philippines - Chloe Marie Dulay, 24, could have been Mrs. Raffy Tima by now. The pretty call center agent and the GMA news anchor were exclusively dating for five years, until they decided to break up only recently.

“He already wanted to settle down,” says Chloe, a Yasmien Kurdi look-alike, who is 10 years Raffy’s junior. Chloe thought she was not yet done with the single life. 

They parted as friends and Raffy knows she has joined the GMA reality dating show Take Me Out (daily at 5 p.m.) as one of the 30 girls in search of a special someone.

Janelle Olafson, whose looks and family name reflect her Filipina, American, Irish, Scottish and Scandinavian roots, has a different story. The 2008 America’s Perfect Teen title holder quit her job as bank supervisor in the US to live in her Pinay mom’s country for good.

“I worked like a robot in the US,” she says. She plans not only to have time to smell the flowers in the Philippines, but to find a gut who can make her happy.

Andrea Gregorio joined the reality TV show because she wants to prove that even ladies like her who “look better with makeup on” have a fighting chance to get the man of their dreams.

The Letran alumna once nursed a broken heart after her boyfriend dumped her for another girl who insulted her by downgrading her looks. The nasty girl even predicted Andrea will not get anywhere in life. Now, she wants sweet revenge, not only by getting herself a date, but by looking smashing on TV.

Geraldine Tan looks younger than her 40 years. The stage actress, opera singer and dancer with the most arresting eyes has not given up on love. She hopes to find it through Take Me Out.

This is a rough profile of the ladies who appear daily on the show hosted by Jay-R, not only to hog the limelight, but to put an end to their lonely days and nights.

All the girls went through the proverbial eye of the needle. They joined around 500 other wannabes who underwent audition master Virna Canete’s close scrutiny.

And what a scrutiny it turned out to be!

“We auditioned girls from all walks of life — call center agents, freelance writers, events organizers, students, etc.,” says Canete. “We wanted smart and pretty girls with ready answers to our questions.”

The girls, adds Canete, must also have a distinct look that makes them stand out. You can spot Jady Dy a mile away since her Korean-Chinese features make her stand out from the rest.

Now, the big question: Will they find The One through the show? There are no guarantees. As it is, only two things are for sure: Each of the girls will get their 15 minutes or more of fame on TV. And their choice date — a confirmed bachelor — is willing and able to know them more.

Along the way, shy girls learn to get out of their shell. They make new friends, gain more self-confidence. Fashion-challenged ones get tips on mixing and matching clothes and choosing accessories to bring out the best in them. The show’s resident stylist will take care of that.

After all, Take Me Out is not just about finding romance. It’s also about finding oneself and discovering inner strengths you never thought you had. With or without a date, it can be a ride you'd give your right arm for.