this is a news item captured from the TV (Channel 8, Singapore), it is about PMEB who are not successful in getting hitch, now reverting to the old way of praying to the deity.
Credit goes to Channel News Asia
Young Taiwanese seek partners at 'love' temples
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/265014/1/.html
By Channel NewsAsia's Taiwan Correspondent | Posted: 19 March 2007 2157 hrs
TAIPEI : Single, successful and available - Taiwan's busy professionals are having a tough time finding love these days.
Despite the slew of modern dating services, there are more singles in their 30s and the island's birth rate is at an all time low.
But more Taiwanese are looking for love in rather unexpected places.
Steeped in tradition and folklore, you wouldn't think of Taiwan's temples as hangouts of the younger and more well-educated generation.
But 30-year-old Alvin Chen, who has an MBA and works in a multinational firm, thinks otherwise.
A former religious cynic, he now prays faithfully to temple gods for the one thing he hasn't been successful with - his love life.
"When you spend all your time working, you don't have time to meet new people. But the God of Matchmaking here is very famous and after praying, I had many more opportunities to meet people," says Alvin.
Youths like Alvin are flocking to 'love' temples like Taipei's City God Temple
On a busy weekend, almost 3,000 young devotees would be jostling to pray for a partner.
"In the past, more educated people hardly come here. It's mostly mothers, villagers or elderly folks. But now many IT professionals visit us now, says Chen Huang Huang, administrator at the City God Temple.
According to the temple, over 6,000 couples last year found partners after praying to the Matchmaking God.
Their good fortune can be seen in the stacks of engagement cookies they bring back in thanks.
If you are sick of all that speed dating, bar hopping and want to find a mate the traditional way, this is how it's done in Taiwan.
First you have to buy some love products, which cost about US$10. And in the product, you'll find a red thread and lead money which symbolises love. Take these to the God of Matchmaking and before you pray, you have to introduce yourself, giving your name, age and address and most importantly, what you want in your partner.
Young Taiwanese are also flocking to Taipei's Longshan Temple to pray for love.
Even tourists from Japan and South Korea have also been coming to try their luck.
They pray to a deity called 'The Old Man under the Moon' who is believed to have helped thousands tie the knot.
"My friend found love after praying here, so he must be very effective," says one Taiwanese.
This method may not be scientifically proven but the government should take heart in this growing fervency.
After all, Taiwan is seeing plummeting birthrates and initiatives to encourage more babies haven't borne results.
Despite modern dating services, Taiwanese are also getting hitched much later.
The average marrying age in Taipei for men is now over 34 and women over 30 years.
So for Taiwan's busy young professionals, if modern methods of matchmaking don't work, maybe they're better off doing things the old fashioned way. - CNA /ls
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