Pinoy romance: Sense of humor trumps good looks

MANILA, Philippines - Nine out of 10 Filipinos find people with a sense of humor more attractive than those with just good looks, a survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed yesterday.

The survey, conducted face-to-face with 1,550 adults from Dec. 11 to 16 last year, said only 10 percent of the respondents chose “good looks” over “sense of humor” in finding a man or a woman attractive.

The question that was asked was: “Which of these two statements will you choose: ‘A man/woman who is ugly/unattractive but can make you laugh or has sense of humor?’ or ‘A man/woman who is good-looking but has no sense of humor’?”

“Approximately nine out of 10 respondents in all areas chose sense of humor, even if that person is unattractive,” the SWS said.

About 92 percent of respondents in Metro Manila chose sense of humor over good looks, 90 percent in Luzon, 90 percent in the Visayas, and 88 percent in Mindanao.

The survey found 91 percent in overall rural areas chose sense of humor, while it was 89 percent in overall urban areas.

SWS said stronger preference for sense of humor was highest among classes D and E.

Preference for sense of humor over good looks was 90 percent among class D and 91 percent among class, higher than the 79 percent among class ABC.

Conversely, the proportion of those who chose someone with good looks but lacks sense of humor was higher among class ABC, at 20 percent, compared to classes D and E, both at nine percent.

More women prefer sense of humor compared to men, the SWS said.

Ninety-four percent of women chose sense of humor over good looks, slightly higher than the 86 percent among men.

Those who chose good looks over sense of humor was 13 percent among men, two times higher than six percent among women.

While preference for sense of humor over good looks was dominant in all sexes and classes, more men in the upper classes prefer good looks than their lower class counterparts.