Most Pinoys Believe in ‘forever’ – SWS

MANILA, Philippines - A majority of Filipinos still believe in “forever.”

According to the pre-Valentine survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS), 73 percent of adult Filipinos believe in “forever” or a long and lasting love, 16 percent said they do not believe in it and 11 percent are undecided.

Married respondents have a strong net belief in “forever” at +67 compared to +46 among those with live-in partners and +36 among singles.

Net belief was strong among both men and women, at +59 and +56, respectively.

Belief in “forever” was also very strong in all age groups, except among ages 18-24 or the youth, where it was a strong +45 among men and a strong +46 among women, the SWS said.

Long distance relationship

Taken from Dec. 5 to 8, the survey also found 67 percent of respondents who said they believe in long distance relationships.

Belief in long distance relationships is stronger among marrieds than singles and those with live-in partner, the SWS said.

Marrieds have a very strong +52 net belief in long distance relationships, one grade higher compared to the strong +37 among singles and strong +32 among those with live-in partners.

In general, net belief in long distance relationships was strong among both men and women, at +48 and +44, respectively.

Rizal Park ready

Lovers and other visitors will see a different Rizal Park on Valentine’s Day as the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) has spruced up the public facility to turn it into a romantic place for couples.

With the theme “Heart 2 Art,” the park entrance along Taft Avenue has been decorated with heart arches to greet visitors on Feb. 14.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year and Sunday has always been a busy day for Rizal Park, whether there is an occasion or not. This Sunday, the NPDC is expecting 150,000 to 200,000 visitors.

To highlight the celebration, the NPDC and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts have prepared activities for lovers.

There will be a special concert at the Open-Air Auditorium that will showcase the best of Filipino talents in music, dance and poetry.

Other activities are 3D art and chalk art demonstrations in front of the auditorium, art workshop at the Pathway to Glory and Sweety Sweaty Valentine’s Zumba at the Flower Clock area at 7 a.m.

The Kapisanang Diwa ng Panitik from the Philippine Normal University will recite poetry at 4 p.m.

There will be a “kissing booth” with lip-shaped rubber stamps. Visitors could also be treated to hugs in areas with signs that say “free hug.”

The NPDC also set up a “love lane,” “sweetheart street” and “cupid court” with photo booths and games for park goers.

Office romance boosts creativity?

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is pushing for a labor policy promoting romance in workplaces as love could improve the performance of workers.

“Many do not know that workplace romance can boost productivity and creativity of the employees,” the labor group said. 

Adopting the policy also discourages favoritism, sexual harassment, staves off abuse and minimizes miscommunication within the enterprise, TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

The TUCP has called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to come up with guidelines allowing commercial establishments to adopt a workplace romance policy.

“The DOLE must set the standard by issuing a workplace romance policy guideline so that workers, especially those without a union, will be protected from oppressive management prerogative actions,” he said.

“There are few companies with workplace romance provisions in their collective bargaining agreement…Our labor group encourages workplace romance because it is human nature for workers to fall in love with fellow workers and no one should hinder such relationship,” he added.  – With Mayen Jaymalin, Evelyn Macairan, Artemio Dumlao