Love and companionship top Valentine wishes, says SWS

(Image from Social Weather Stations)

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos are hoping for love and companionship this Valentine’s Day, but fewer are very happy with their love life, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The survey, conducted from December 12 to 18, 2024, found that 19 percent of Filipinos wish for love and companionship as a Valentine’s gift, making it the most desired present among both men and women.

This surpassed money, which was the top choice last year but now ranks second with only 10 percent of Filipinos selecting it.

Among men, 20 percent wished for love and companionship, followed by any gift from the heart at 9 percent and flowers at 8 percent.

Women also prioritized love and companionship, with 17 percent choosing it as their preferred gift, followed by money at 15 percent and flowers at 12 percent.

(Image from Social Weather Stations)

Amid these romantic aspirations, the SWS noted that only 46 percent of Filipinos said they are very happy with their love life, a 12-point drop from 58 percent in 2023 and the lowest recorded level in two decades.

Meanwhile, 36 percent said they “could be happier,” while 18 percent said they have no romantic attachments.

The decline in love life satisfaction was observed across genders and civil status, particularly among men with live-in partners.

READ: SWS: Fewer Filipinos feel better life quality

(Image from Social Weather Stations)

The survey also examined how Filipinos show affection, revealing that 67 percent express love through acts of service such as cooking, running errands, or helping with chores.

Words of affirmation and quality time both followed at 51 percent, while 33 percent of Filipinos preferred to show love through gift-giving and 29 percent through physical touch.

The fourth quarter 2024 SWS survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews with 2,160 adults nationwide.

Of the total respondents, 1,080 were from Balance Luzon (Luzon areas outside Metro Manila), while 360 each came from Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins were ±2 percent for national percentages, ±3 percent for Balance Luzon, and ±5 percent for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

SWS emphasized that the survey was non-commissioned and released as a public service.