This Survival Tip on Philippines marriage culture is more for the men out there. This is mostly because, in my experience, there are more foreign men that marry Filipina women than the other way around. In my Survival Tip #6, I mentioned online dating and some of the scams that have evolved from that. So if you think your girl is the one for you, what next? This is where it is very important for me to talk about another part of Filipino culture and that is the marriage culture.
Philippines Marriage Culture
A lot of people think that Filipinas marry foreigners after a short period of time because they are gold diggers or looking for money or looking for a green card or visa to get out of the country. However, this is not always necessarily the case. It is quite common for Filipinos to marry and have a baby very soon after meeting. In a lot of cases, the baby usually comes first! The reason for this, in my opinion, is a result of the Catholic Church and their stance on contraception (or lack thereof). This can and does, lead to some serious issues.
Unfortunately, due to the stance on contraception, there is a surprisingly large number of Filipinas who are single moms (statistics indicate 53% of babies born in the Philippines are born out of wedlock). What’s more, so many of these women are less than twenty years old. Usually, they have little or no education, and no job. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for Filipino men to abandon their partners if they become pregnant out of wedlock, as they can see this will tie them down. So this issue in itself is part of the Filipino culture.
Baby First, Marriage Later
Please don’t get me wrong here, as what I’m about to say isn’t always the case. As I mentioned earlier, it is quite common for Filipino couples to have a baby first and then get married (this is usually by accident and without any planning or contraception). However, should the woman fall pregnant, and they don’t get married, she will most likely be left high and dry by her partner. This can leave the woman in a tough position. The Philippines doesn’t have a strong social security system, particularly for the unemployed. And it’s pretty hard to work when you’re on the verge of giving birth or soon after the child is born. Therefore, this can lead to serious issues like begging, theft, prostitution and many other socioeconomic issues. Anyway, I could go on for pages about this particular topic, so enough said.
Like any nationality or gender, there will always be good people and bad people. Of course, this country is no exception. However, I will say one thing based on my own personal experience. That is, if you find the right woman, you will not find a better wife than a Filipina. Filipino women are among the most loving and caring people you could ever wish to meet. It is no wonder that men from all over the world are seeking a Filipina as a wife. Having been married to one since 1996, I can understand why. Naturally, there will be cultural clashes in the beginning. However, as each person gets to know each other better, these things smooth out over time.
Men from all over the world flock to the Philippines looking for a loving and caring wife. Filipinas certainly have a good reputation as loyal and loving wives, but there can still be cultural clashes.
Internet Dating – Take It Slowly
I am not going to delve into the intricacies of why Filipino women potentially make great wives. However, I’m sure it is this that has led to a rise in internet dating services for foreigners seeking Filipino women. Unfortunately, with even more online technology and social media to assist in meeting new people, including dating apps like Tinder, there is an increasing number of men being scammed.
As mentioned earlier, it is not uncommon for Filipino women to marry their partner after knowing them for only a short period of time. In essence, there is nothing wrong with this. However, my advice would be to not fall in love too soon with a Filipina. Take your time to get to know them, particularly if the relationship began online. As we have discussed already, Filipinos are not averse to marrying someone they have only known for a short period of time, so be aware that things can move pretty quickly. It is important that you take it slowly and make sure you are making the right decision.
Filipina women can fall heavily in love and wear their heart on their sleeve and believe in love at first sight. This may spring from the faith they have based on their religious beliefs, where they hope that there is happiness to come forever after. So for the men out there looking for love, take your time and take it slowly.
Filipinos are old romantics and really believe in love at first sight, so it’s important to take things slowly after you first meet them.
That brings us to the end of this series of Survival Tips in the Philippines. If you missed the previous survival tip on Corruption In The Philippines, click Survival Tip #15 to read more. If you have any comments or experiences you would like to share about the Marriage Culture of the Philippines, please feel free to leave your comments below. I would love to hear from you.
Philippines Fun Fact:
The world record for most women breastfeeding simultaneously was 3,541, set in Manila, Philippines, on May 4, 2006 (courtesy of https://www.factretriever.com/philippines-facts).