For Filipinos, love goes beyond grand gestures or words, it is shown through everyday acts of care and commitment. From preparing meals to running errands, these simple yet meaningful acts embody the Filipino way of expressing love.
In a culture where family and relationships are highly valued, love is often demonstrated through selfless service rather than mere verbal affirmations or material gifts.
A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that 67% of adult Filipinos express love through Acts of Service, making it the most common love language.
Everyday gestures like cooking, running errands, and helping with chores reflect Filipinos’ deep-rooted culture of care and devotion, where love is shown through actions rather than words or material gifts.
Words of Affirmation and Quality Time (both at 51%) followed as key ways Filipinos express love, while Giving Gifts (33%) and Physical Touch (29%) ranked lower.
This preference for emotional connection is also seen in Valentine’s Day wishes, with Love and Companionship (19%) surpassing Money (10%) as the most desired gift, marking a shift from last year’s results.
However, despite valuing love and companionship, relationship happiness is at its lowest in 20 years, with only 46% of Filipinos saying they are very happy in love, lower from the 58% in 2023.
The decline was observed across different relationship statuses, particularly among men with live-in partners, highlighting a growing challenge in maintaining fulfilling relationships.
The survey, conducted from December 12 to 18, 2024, gathered, responses from 2,160 adults nationwide, using face-to-face interviews as part of SWS’s standard methodology.
The findings highlight a unique contrast: while Filipinos continue to express love through acts of service and emotional connection, overall happiness in relationships is wanting.
Whether this trend is due to modern relationship dynamics, economic challenges, or shifting expectations one thing remains constant, Filipinos believe that love is best shown through actions, care, and genuine service to their loved ones. – AL
