A British man has been stranded in the Philippines for more than a year after his passport and wallet were stolen while on holiday.
Ainsley Cresswell, 55, from Wolverhampton, travelled to Boracay, a small island in the centre of the country, in May 2023 for a mental health break amid a family crisis.
But Ainsley’s spiritual retreat soon turned into a nightmare in July 2023 when his bum bag was snatched by a bandanna-clad man on a bike and his passport, driving license, debit card, cash, watch and reading glasses stolen.
He said that he contacted the Passport Office immediately to cancel his passport but had to wait to be able to afford to buy a new one.
Despite the turmoil, the locksmith said he has found love in the Philippines, with a local 20-years his junior.
‘Every cloud has a silver lining. I met the woman of my dreams here – she is the love of my life.’
Ainsley met Cassandra Ciprianollait, 37, through a friend and quickly struck up a romantic relationship.
Ainsley Cresswell, 55, pictured with his new partner Cassandra Ciprianollait, 37, who he met during his 13 months in the Philippines
Ainsley, from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, had his passport, driving license, debit card, cash, watch and reading glasses stolen in July 2023. He didn’t receive his new passport until July 13 of this year
Locksmith Ainsley travelled to the Philippines amid a family crisis. During his trip, he contracted malaria and his weight plummeted – but he also found love again with Cassandra
But it didn’t start of great for the the father-of-three.
Shortly after arriving, Ainsley was struck down with malaria, leaving him incapacitated for four months – by which time he no resources to get a new passport.
Eventually, Ainsley recovered and a German friend helped him to submit an online form for a new passport, at the cost of £88.50, on February 12 of this year.
Ainsley’s friend lent him a card for the online payment and a camera for the passport photo, while Ainsley’s doctor in the UK confirmed his identity.
The passport was delivered to his sister in the UK, who then forwarded it on to the Philippines where it was held for six weeks in Manila.
Ainsley received the new passport on July 13 and plans to return to the UK in September.
He said: ‘It was a waiting game. I didn’t have any energy. This could happen to anybody.
‘I went to the British Embassy in Manila but they turned me away.’
While Ainsley was forced to spend two nights on the streets of the capital city, he has since made friends and connections through Facebook for board and lodging.
Ainsley would like to show Cassandra the UK but ultimately wants to live somewhere else
The couple met through a friend and quickly struck up a romantic relationship
He said: ‘Filipinos are amazing people, their hearts are so, so big.’
Ainsley shares three children, aged 23, 28 and 29, with his ex-wife of 23 years – the pair divorced 15 years ago.
He found love again with a 48-year-old woman, but the relationship broke down in early 2023.
Ainsley said his mental health spiralled until he was advised by his doctor to take a trip abroad.
Ainsley’s trip extended to 13 months, during which time he lost four stone, taking his weight down to 11st 9lb, and caught malaria.
He also missed the funeral of his mother, Carol Mavis Cresswell, in January but he remains positive as Filipino are ‘amazing’.
He said: ‘They learn to cook, clean and wash at an early age out here, it is a completely different league.’
Ainsley lacked the right documentation to work in the Philippines and has had to rely on the kindness of strangers and donations from tourists to get by
Ainsley’s mother died during his stay in the Philippines and he was unable to attend the funeral. He intends to return to the UK to pay his respects
Ainsley has described his new partner Cassandra as ‘the woman of my dreams’. He has told how meeting her was the ‘silver living’ of his ordeal
Ainsley, who is a trained locksmith, is now determined to return to the UK to pay respects to his late mother and get his finances in order.
Without the right documentation, he has been unable to work and relied on the kindness of strangers and donations from tourists.
He said he was undeterred by potential repercussions for overstaying his holiday visa of 30 days.
He added: ‘I may be put on a black list and be made to hand over my passport but it will work out in the end.’
Ainsley wishes to show Cassandra around the UK but has long-term ambitions to leave.
He said: ‘I want to die in paradise.’
However, he recognises that unless he pays the amount assessed and receives the prior authorisation of the Board of Commissioner, he will be ineligible for readmission into the Philippines.
