MANILA, Philippines – Religion triumphs over romance among Filipinos, with 68% of adult Filipinos saying they will not change their religion in the name of love.

According to the Fourth Quarter Social Weather Survey conducted from December 3 to 7, 2011, only 31% said they will change their religion for love.

The survey also found that, when it comes to love, 54% of Filipinos would follow their heart, while 45% would follow their head.

In addition, 59% assessed their love life as very happy, 31% say it could be happier and only 9% do not have a love life.

Muslims more committed to faith

The survey showed that unwillingness to change faith for their loved ones is strong in all religions, but especially among Muslims, with 56% saying they who would definitely not change and 17% saying they are unlikely to change their religion for their loved ones.

Muslim women, in particular, are more steadfast in their faith with 92% saying definitely/likely not change their religion, compared to 52% of Muslim men.

Among Roman Catholics, 50% would definitely not change and 18% would likely not change their religion for their loved ones. Among members of the Iglesia ni Cristo, 44% would definitely not change their religion and 26% would likely not change their religion.

Among Protestants, 51% would definitely not change and 6% would likely not change their religion for love.
Willingness to change their religion in the name of love, however, is slightly higher among Protestants and Roman Catholics.

Among Protestants, 15% would definitely change and 24% would likely change their religion, while among Catholics, 18% would definitely change and 14% would likely change religion for their loved one.
 

Follow their heart

Following one's heart rather than mind over matters of love is more prevalent among married Filipinos and those with live-in partners than those who are single, the survey showed.

In particular, 64% of those with a live-in partner and 55% of those married would follow their heart than their mind in love matters.

In contrast, 52% of those who are single would follow their mind and 46% would follow their heart.

By age group, 54% among the youth (18-24), 56% among the intermediate youth (25-34), 57% among the middle age (35-44), and 54% among those aged 45-54 would follow their heart over their mind when it comes to love.

There are slightly more of the older 55 years old and above, however, who would follow their mind than heart, 51% to 48%.

The likelihood of following the heart rather than the mind in matters concerning love is higher among those from lower classes and those with less than college education.

Sixty-one percent of the very poor class E and 51% of the class D say they would follow their heart rather than mind when it comes to love. In contrast, majority (52%) of middle-to-upper classes ABC would follow their mind rather than their heart.

At the same time, 52% of the college graduates would follow their mind than their heart when it comes to love.

Majorities of those with less education, on the other hand, would follow their heart over their mind: 51% among the high school graduates, 60% among elementary graduates and 54% among the non-elementary graduates.

By sex, there are slightly more of Filipino men (56%) than women (51%) who would follow their heart rather than their mind when it comes to love.

Happier with love life

The number of adult Filipinos who are happy with their love life also continues to increase in 2011.

Fifty-nine percent in 2011 say they are very happy with their love life, four percentage points higher than in the 2010 survey.

The number of those who say their love life could be happier declined to 31% in 2011, from 34% in 2010 and 44% in 2004, while those who say they have no love life in 2011 declined to 9% from 11% in 2010, 11% in 2004 and 10% in 2002.

Married people and those who are with a live-partner say they have a happier love life than those who are single.

Three-fifths (67%) of those married and 58% of those with a live-in partner are very happy with their love life compared to only 34% of singles.

About two-fifths (38%) of singles say they have no love life.

Happiness with love life is high across all age groups. In particular, about three-fifths of those between ages 25 to 54 are very happy with their love life, 62% among those 25-34, 61% among those 35-44, and 65% among those 45-54.

There are slightly less of the youngest age group 18-24 (54%) and the oldest 55 years old and above (53%) who are very happy with their love life.

Survey background

The December 2011 Social Weather Survey was conducted from December 3-7, 2011 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The margin of error ±3% for national percentages, ±6% for area percentages.