Can I Marry a Filipino Lady (Filipina) From the Philippines

The Filipino lady is often times conservative about how she conducts herself, particularly in public. A Filipino woman is usually prim and proper in her actions. This is because the Philippines is a country with many old fashioned ways.

Filipino girls always respect her elders. Most Filipino girls live with her parents and elders as long as she is still unmarried no matter how old she is. Filipino women have close family relationships. She have strong bonds with extended family members like her aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and even neighbors!

Filipino girls have strong religious beliefs. Many Filipino women are Catholic or Christian in faith, and they usually regularly go to church every Sunday with family members or friends. It will mean a lot to her if you can go to church with her too. However, she is also open minded and is willing to accept your religion and your faith if someday she will become your wife. Filipino women are brought up to respect her husband and always support him and be there for him.

Filipino ladies take her relationships seriously. Being in a relationship is a serious matter with Filipino girls. They see a relationship as a step towards marriage, so that is why she must consider a man very well before choosing him as a boyfriend. That is why many Filipino ladies are expected to be playing hard to get. It is also one way by which the Filipino woman can measure the sincerity of her man. She will also take a man seriously if only he is really willing to visit her family and introduce himself formally to her parents.

It is considered disrespectful if a man courts a Filipino lady without informing her parents! In the Philippines, you should know that it is always expected that the man must show his face to the Filipino girl's family or else her whole family will not approve of you!

Love and romance is really a very serious matter with conservative Filipino ladies, whether they are from a city like Manila or Cebu or from far flung provincial areas.

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Filipina Woman for Marriage From the Philippines

If you are looking to meet a Filipina woman for marriage, then you should know that marriage is a very serious thing with Filipina women, especially for Filipina women who grew up in the Philippines. There is no divorce in the Philippines, so people get married there seriously.

It is easy to meet Filipina women online. You can now join Filipino online dating sites and start communicating with members. If you are eager to meet Filipina women from the Philippines only, then you have the option to do so. Usually, they are the ones interested to meet a guy like you looking for a serious relationship leading to marriage.

So, how do you find the Filipina woman who will be your Filipina bride?

First, know what are your interests. Does it matter to you if she has the same interests with you or no? Do you have a college education, and do you want her to be college educated too?
After you figure out the most important things to you, then show it in your profile. Indicate your hobbies and interests. Write down your college degree. Specify your religious beliefs. You will discover that these things matter a lot to a Filipina girl. It will also help you choose the right Filipina woman to marry.

Your online dating profile will attract and gain interests from Filipina girls who are college educated, have the same religious beliefs as you, and shares your hobbies and interests.

Many Filipina women in the Philippines are college educated. Every family works hard to get everyone finished a college education. English is widely spoken and is the official language in most schools and institutions. If you can speak English, then you will be able to converse with anyone.

A Filipina woman who is college educated will most probably want to marry a guy who has a college education and a job. She will also be more serious in her relationship with you. She will ask you to visit her in the Philippines and meet her family. This is a good sign that she is genuine. If she invites you to meet her parents, then she is really serious with you!

Be prepared though, once you are in the Philippines, you will meet not only her parents but other family members and probably the whole neighborhood as well. You will be welcomed with a warm hospitality. Surely, you will enjoy your stay in the Philippines, so make the most of it! You will even wish that you could extend your stay for a few more weeks than planned.

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How to Find Filipina Women Interested in Marriage

Are you looking for Filipina women interested in marriage ? Would you like to know what are Filipina women like? If you are curious about Filipino women and hopefully want to marry a Filipina someday, you might want to know some of their qualities.

If you have a chance to go to the Philippines, you will realize that Pinay Girls have several endearing qualities that will surely win your heart forever.

Pinay Women have close family relationships. She has strong bonds with extended family members like her aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and even neighbors!

Filipina Girls have strong religious beliefs. Many Filipina Girls are Catholic or Christian in faith, and they usually regularly go to church every Sunday with family members or friends. It will mean a lot to her if you can go to church with her too. However, she is also open minded and is willing to accept your religion and your faith if someday she will become your wife. Pinay Ladies are brought up to respect her husband and always support him and be there for him.

Philippine Women have strong religious beliefs. Many Filipina girls are Catholic or Christian in faith, and they usually regularly go to church every Sunday with family members or friends. It will mean a lot to her if you can go to church with her too. However, she is also open minded and is willing to accept your religion and your faith if someday she will become your wife. Filipina girls are brought up to respect her husband and always support him and be there for him.

Many Philippine women have a heart of gold. If you are lucky to win a Filipina's heart. They are also very sweet, loving, romantic, loyal and really faithful to the man they love. So, if you want to marry a Filipina lady, you should focus to win her Filipina heart, and you can have a faithful and loving beautiful Filipina girl as your Filipina bride. However, you have to be really patient in your courtship and really sincere in your intentions so you will win the love of her Filipina heart.

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Win the Filipina Heart of a Philippine Girl for Life

Filipina girls are popular for their exotic beauty and warm smiles. There are many beautiful Filipinas who are internationally famous. Philippine girls are not only beautiful, but they are also charming and cheerful. The Filipina heart is often sincere and faithful in her relationships.

Philippine girls always respect her elders. Most of the time, she will seek approval from her parents before she can accept any suitor to court her. Filipina women in the Philippines live with her parents for as long as she is still unmarried no matter how old she is.

To win her Filipina heart you should be really willing to visit her family and introduce yourself formally to her parents. It is disrespectful if a man courts a Filipina girl without informing her parents! In the Philippines, you should know that it is always expected that the man must show his face to the Filipina girl's family or else her whole family will not approve of you!

Many Filipina women have a heart of gold. They are also very sweet, loving, romantic, loyal and really faithful to the man they love. So, if you want to marry a Filipina lady, you should focus to win her Filipina heart, and you can have a faithful and loving beautiful Filipina girlfriend. However, you have to be really patient in your courtship and really sincere in your intentions so you will win the love of her Filipina heart and make her your Philippine bride.

It is often thought that having a serious relationship is a stepping stone to marriage. Therefore, a boyfriend must meet all the requirements of the family before he can marry a Philippine girl. The Filipina girl is also expected to guard herself and to be very strong and do not surrender to temptations so she can be pure for her future husband. It is also because most Filipino men in the Philippines usually are not willing to marry a Filipina girl who is not pure anymore. Her family will also feel ashamed of her disgrace. That is why for Philippine girls, a relationship is taken very seriously and marriage is a lifetime commitment.

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Learn Cebuano for Courting Cebuana Girls

So, you are keenly interested in dating Filipina Cebuana girls? Would you like to tell her romantic love phrases in her own Cebuano language? For sure, you already have heard several Cebuano phrases spoken by your Cebuana girl every now and then, whether on the phone or online, while you are talking to her or chatting with her.

Use some of these Cebuanas love phrases to win the heart of the Cebuana girl you love. These are just simple phrases that you can memorize and later tell her how you feel about her. Surprise her, you will be rewarded with a very wonderful smile on her face!

1) I like you very much - Nakagusto kaayo ko nimo.
2) Will you be my girlfriend? - Gusto ko manguyab nimo.
3) I want to court you - Gusto nako ka pangulitawhan.
4) I want to marry you - Gusto ko magpakasal kanimo.
5) Will you marry me? - Makigminyo ka kanako?
6) Marry me - Pakasal kanako.
7) I love you - Nahigugma ko nimo.
8) I love you very much - Gugmahan kaayo ko nimo.
9) I am in love with you - Gihigugma ko ikaw.
10) I miss you - Gimingaw ko nimo.
11) I miss you very much - Gimingaw kaayo ko nimo.
12) Take care - Pag amping

Here are also some basic everyday greetings in Cebuano language:
1) Good morning - Maayong buntag!
2) Good noon - Maayong udto!
3) Good afternoon - Maayong hapon!
4) Good evening - Maayong gabii!
5) Happy trip - Maayong pagbyahe!

Cebuana girls will admire you to find that you know some of these Cebuano love phrases. You are now a step ahead in winning her Filipina heart! Keep on delighting her heart, and you will find happiness with your Filipina bride.

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Philippine Ladies as Foreign Brides for Western Men

Filipina Ladies are known worldwide for their exotic oriental beauty and sweetness. There are many beautiful Filipinas who are internationally famous, and have won crowns in global beauty contests. Philippine ladies are not only beautiful, but are also charming and cheerful. Filipinas have a positive disposition in life making them friendly and easy to get along with.

Pinay ladies have close family relationships. She has strong bonds with extended family members like her aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and even neighbors!

Filipino ladies have strong religious beliefs. Many Philippine women are Catholic or Christian in faith, and they usually regularly go to church every Sunday with family members or friends. It will mean a lot to her if you can go to church with her too. However, she is also open minded and is willing to accept your religion and your faith if someday she will become your wife. Filipina ladies are brought up to respect her husband and always support him and be there for him.

Philippine ladies take their relationships seriously. Being in a relationship is a serious matter with Filipina ladies . They see a relationship as a step towards marriage, so that is why she must consider a man very well before choosing him as a boyfriend. That is why many Philippine Women are expected to be playing hard to get. It is also one way by which Filipina girls can measure the sincerity of her man. She will also take a man seriously if only he is really willing to visit her family and introduce himself formally to her parents.

Most Filipino ladies are very sweet, loving, romantic, loyal and really faithful to the man they love. So, if you want to marry a Filipina girl, you should focus to win her Filipina heart, and you can have a faithful and loving beautiful Filipina woman as your Filipina bride. However, you have to be really patient in your courtship and really sincere in your intentions so you will win the love inside her Filipina heart for life.

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What to Expect When Marrying a Filipina

What makes Filipina women so right for marriage? If you're thinking about marrying a Filipina, then here are ten reasons why you should do exactly just that.

Filipinas are hospitable. When they have guests over, you can be sure that you are treated like a VIP. They take pride in their homes. For them, building a warm, safe and loving atmosphere is an important part of being a wife. The home is a symbol for them, so screaming or breaking furniture is not really a Filipina's cup of tea.

Filipinas value family. Filipinas give the utmost importance to family. The value of having a loving family has been instilled in the hearts of Filipinas growing up. The family serves as a cornerstone for them. Once committed, the Filipina would put her family first before anything - career, money, or friends. Rest assured that a Filipina will do everything to protect and keep her family together.

Filipinas are God-fearing. More than ninety percent of Filipinos are Christians or Catholics. Usually, Filipino children are brought up going to church or knowing the concept of fearing God. So, most Filipinas are definitely devoted to their religion, using God as their anchor and not money or power.

Filipinas have high regard for marriage. Whether you were married in the church or by a judge, the Filipina will always value the sanctity of marriage. In the Philippines, there is no law for divorce - just annulment or legal separation. This makes sense with a culture that gives utmost worth to matrimony and the union of two souls. Marriage to a Filipina is a life-long commitment - once she sets her heart upon marrying someone, chances are, she will be sticking to him for life. Filipinas think that marriage should not be played around with because it is a gift from God.

Filipinas are educated. Filipinos think that having a good education is as important as eating right. Filipino parents would say that they are blessed when all of their children have graduated college. Filipinas are proud of their accomplishments. Unlike other Asian societies, the Filipinos are open to females doing well in any field - business, medicine or male-dominated fields like engineering or information technology. It is common for Filipinas to juggle both being career women and being homemakers - they do quite a good job at the balancing act.

Filipinas know when to be submissive. They say Asian women are submissive. Filipina women are submissive too - but not all the time. Filipinas know their place when it comes to the household, but they won't be afraid to step up when their family needs it. Filipinas will show you their care and love openly and will provide quiet understanding to their family. Filipinas are very tactful - they know how to be composed especially during social situations. They speak politely and carefully but not without substance.

Filipinas are naturally beautiful. Most Filipinas are a mix of Spanish, Chinese, Malay and other races. The Philippines is a melting pot of different races and that makes a Filipina beautiful and unique.

If you are considering marrying one, these reasons will give you an idea about your future with a Filipina wife. If you are looking for a marriage that you can cherish forever and if you want a loyal companion in life, you'll never go wrong with marrying a Filipina.

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Definitive Love - Filipina Lady Dating

Many times, an online dating member wants a very specific and definitive answer to their questions about their relationship. It usually can’t be done. For example they may give a few details and then ask if that person loves them. At best, an online dating webmaster can provide his opinion but he should do so cautiously. If there is one definitive rule about love it is “there are no definitive rules.” Everyone’s circumstances, personality and experiences are different. What may be considered an act of love for one, may not for another.

When two people are interacting, their circumstances and experiences are unique to their interplay. When you meet someone, you are dealing with a unique personality that may or may not connect with yours. A lot of American men believe that foreign women all have the same characteristics and traits. Why is this? For example many believe that all Filipina Ladies are docile and gentle. Believe me; they do not all fit this mold. There may be some identifiable traits that seem to fit one culture more so than another, but to believe that every individual from a certain country have the same characteristics is a mistake. A personality develops from many variables and for an online dating webmaster to know before hand what exactly makes two personalities click, especially when it comes to love, is impossible. Think about it. Their environment and emotional experience is part of what makes them who they are, now add to the mix another person with different experiences and you have a formula that may or may not work. Usually time is the only way to be sure if two people have enough spark to explore each other’s personalities to see if they are a match.

When I met my wife, she had many suitors. A lot of them flowered her with gifts. To some this may mean love. To my wife, it felt as if they were trying to buy her affection. When I met her, we spent hours chatting and getting to know each other. In our conversations she once told me how she loved different tea flavors. One day, I sent her a small gift of different tea flavors in a wooden box. It wasn’t the gift that mattered; it was the fact I was listening that touched her heart. So when someone asks me what is important to a Filipina Lady, I usually tell them that listening is important to finding love, but obviously that was my experience and may not be the key ingredient for all relationships.

The best an online dating webmaster can do is talk about their experiences without any guarantees. There is no way of knowing exactly what makes another person fall in love or why they may reject one person over another. This is especially true when we are talking about cultures that are foreign to yours. In the Western world, men may think looks or material things weigh heavy in their courtship success, while romancing a lady from the East, it may be simple words of kindness that wins her heart. There may not be anything wrong with trying to find a focal point in your search for romance as long as you remember there is an individual beneath any stereotype in your search for love. Keep an open mind and find the individuality that exists in all of us, no matter where they are from.

When meeting someone online, it is still prudent advice to get to know them over time and not jump into an immediate romance. Let time be your ally and don’t let cultural stereotypes be your only guide to finding romance – look into their heart and learn who they are, not what you want them to be. There is no mathematical formula for romance. It begins with two people and usually on the road of discovering each other determines where it goes. If all goes well, the best romantic math is – 1 + 1 = one love, one heart, beating as one. How they found this incredible feeling they may not even understand. They probably don’t even care. All they know is what they feel – love

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Illusions of a Filipina Lady Coming to America

Most Filipina Ladies, who meet an American at an online dating site, believe the USA is the land of easy living. It is far from that. Most Americans have to work hard - really hard - to make a living. The cost of living in the U.S. is much higher than most countries so even basic necessities can be quite expensive. It shouldn’t be that way, but because of political greed the average American family has to work hard to survive.

The U.S. is a land that is govern by a body of politicians that have considerable influence over how the average American lives. In today’s political climate, most Americans believe the politicians’ work for large corporations or special interest groups and are not concerned about the individual rights of the average American. Laws are passed to assist corporations or to favor special interest groups that increase the average American’s cost of living and tax burden. Usually politicians try to gift wrap their rhetoric so it sounds as if they are doing an average American a favor but when you read the fine print it is all about self-promoting their career, catering to lobbyists’ whims and taking care of corporate America. Most politicians do what they do to promote their career, not what is best for average Americans.

Shockingly, for the average American necessities are costly. Laws are passed so Americans have to pay lofty fees for insurances that rarely pay back. By law Americans have to pay these insurance premiums while the customer usually has to pay legal fees to get paid for insurance claims that is rightly theirs. This is just one example of where laws are passed to favor insurance companies, special interest groups, and corporations while hard-working Americans’ needs are ignored. Utility CEOs and school administrators live in luxury homes paid by American labor and tax dollars while Americans worry about heating their house for the winter. Politicians’ medical care is paid for by American tax dollar while millions of children are under nourished and suffer medically. Federal judges are appointed for life and are more concerned about political aspirations than individual rights. This is the way of the land and many Americans are tired of it. It is a land of plenty that goes mostly to the privilege paid for by the American tax dollar - OR - laws are passed to subsidize utility and insurance companies’ inept management of resources that are paid for by Americans so they can live better life than most. It isn’t about FREEDOM in America, it is about money. If you have it, you can buy all the freedom you want. With a country as rich as ours who waste millions on useless programs to self promote political careers or to appease special interest groups, no American should have to pay exuberant dollars for the necessities to survive. But we do pay – political greed trumps necessities for living every time.

Middle America is fading away. You are either a hard-working puppet of the political system or part of the privileged who live off the puppet’s hard labor. American caste system is fueled by politicians who put their careers above individual rights and the constitution. It is greed at its best. Andrew Jackson said: “It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.” This is more true today than ever. I might borrow Jackson’s foresight and say “It is to be regretted that corporate America, special interest groups, lobbyists and politicians bend the acts of government to their own selfish purpose while stomping on the livelihood and individual rights of average Americans. The fact that politicians can give themselves raises of 30, 40 or even 50% while the rest of America goes without and is asked to keep sacrificing isn’t evident of political selfishness and greed, I don’t know what is. Most politicians live in suits and get hair cuts that cost more than a month worth of groceries for average Americans. For a politician to even think they understand the plight of an average American is a joke. If current politicians’ experience is the type of political experience that is governing America than we need less experience and more political empathy for the average American.

There is something wrong with a government that is more concerned about insurance companies than medical needs. There is something wrong with a government that passes’ laws that can take-away individual property in favor of economical greed run by non-trusted politicians. There is something wrong when local and state government is more concerned about Americans paying their sewer and utility bills than passing laws to protect the average American from greedy, utility CEOs. None of the privilege is expected to learn to budget their money or make sacrifices as the average American is expected to do to survive. The privilege simply raises taxes or pass laws to take care of their greed, they don’t budget, cut waste that benefit their careers or know what it means to sacrifice. A politician couldn’t live in my shoes for one month. They couldn’t survive because they wouldn’t have the government, special interest groups, or political favors to bail them out when they couldn’t live within their means. It is wrong and one day America will stand up and shout “enough, we are not ignorant and are wise to your ways.

I can go on about the state of financial survival for the average American, but my point here is that most Filipinas have an unrealistic view of life in America. My wife soon learn that everything is costly and most of the cost is based on political greed be it at local, state or federal government. Americans already pay enough taxes, but inept politicians waste our tax dollars on programs that are NOT necessary to appease special interest groups and provide funding. Taxes never need to be raised, taxes are plenty. We need politicians who get rid of the waste and spend our taxes on what is needed for Americans, not waste our tax dollars on special interest groups, or corporate CEOs. Today Americans don’t’ need a political leader who will pass more laws, but instead we need a leader who will get rid of the waste and corruption that exist in the political environment. Unfortunately politicians simply pass laws to make their corruption legal....most laws are political favors and unnecessarily add to the burden of surviving financially in America.

I once read an article where a politician was criticizing another politician for not authoring new laws. I say we should applaud the politician who doesn’t add to the already over regulated state of affairs in our country. Most laws are passed to put a feather in the politician’s hat, not because of necessity. Most laws are passed to appease special interest groups or corporate America for political campaigns or reelection favors. What is needed is a politician to get rid of laws that waste our tax dollars. What is needed is to outlaw special interest groups and have politicians be elected solely on their merit. Politicians don’t need to raise taxes – what is needed are better politicians.

If a Filipina Lady meets an American man on an online dating site, marry him for the right reasons. Marry him for love and he will work hard to take care of you despite the government favoring the privileged over his sacrifices and the burdens he bears to live in America. If you marry for love, you will survive together and be happy.

If you would like to contribute your thoughts, check out the Filipina Lady Forum or if you are looking for that special someone, please go to Filipina Lady Dating 

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Philippine Love - so you Want to Marry a Filipina?

Getting wed to a Philippines lady is a great thing but not always powerful for everyone, it's that old story, a Philippines girl can be all things to a man, but not every Philippines woman can be all things to every man, in other words it's not a good idea to stereotype Philippine girls.

Very often Philippine women are shoved in the same pigeon hole as all other women from the South East Asian countries, such as China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea.

The ladies from these countries, tend to have largely different languages, different religions different cultures, different ways of eating food, the only thing they share is the Pacific Ocean if they can travel to their local beach.

In that sense, if I am honest, I really ought to divert British Men from marrying Philippine girls simply because they are 'Filipina' perpetuated by most mythical notion that Filipina's are wonderful, submissive wives that never answer back, and are fantastic in the bedroom!

So I have set a little test for the prospective husband to see if he really knows anything about his possible future wife, country, culture and customs. There are no fixed answers to the questions, but they will assist you to see beyond the tunnel vision of love.

The Test:

1. Can you find the Philippines on a map?

2. Do you know what is the Capital City of the Philippines?

3. Do you know what are the main regions of the Philippines?

4. Do you know who is the President of the Philippines?

5. Do you know what are the main languages spoken in the Philippines, and your potential wife's local dialogue?

6. Do you know what the main religions practiced in the Philippines?

7. Do you know why various Filipinos have Spanish names?

8. Are you prepared to have children, if so, are you prepared for innumerable children?

9. Are you prepared to provide 'Sustento' (alimony) for your extended Philippine family for education and other expenses, if they need your benefit?

10. Are you fairly tolerant of superstitions?

11. Do you like fish products?

12. Do you know what eating implements are preferred? Chopsticks, cutlery or fingers.

13. Do Filipinos bow to each other?

14. Do you expect your Philippine wife to be submissive and obedient after the marriage?

15. Are you just getting wed for sex? Be honest about this.

16. What is the difference between Tagalog, Filipino, Bisayan, Cebuano, Ilongo?

17. What do you think the differences are between a Thai woman, A Japanese woman or a Philippine woman?

18. Are you wanting to marry a Philippine woman because you think you dislike British women? Be honest with yourself.

19. Do you like hot climates or hate them? Mosquito's? Poisonous snakes & spiders?

20. Are you tolerant of Bureaucracy or are do you not suffer fools gladly ?

21. Are you prepared for the costs involved? At least one visit to the Philippines plus all the visa fees (UK presently over �1000).

22. How long are you prepared to wait to get her to the UK? It can be done within 6 months from earliest contact, but usually a year. If they are already married, this can take as long as two years to get an annulment (usually a few thousand pounds). If they have children they wish to bring with them, and the farther is named on the birth certificate, this can cause further delay and costs.

Remember one very authorized point. A very small minority of Asian girls are out to get hard cash off you nothing else. If a Filipina ever asks for bankroll before you have met, move on, or you will find yourself with more problems you can handle. You can tell a true Filipina, they will NEVER ask for bankroll.

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Filipina Dating Tips: 20 Tagalog Dating Phrases You Should Know

If you are interested in dating a Filipina lady, here are some Filipina dating Tagalog phrases which can help you in courting the Filipina woman of your dreams!
The Filipina lady you are dating will be really impressed if you know some of the following Filipina dating phrases translated from English to Tagalog or Filipino language.

1) I like you - "Gusto kita"
2) I like you very much - "Gustong-gusto kita"
3) I have a crush on you - "May gusto ako sa iyo"
4) Take care - "Ingat"
5) You take care - "Ingat ka"
6) I think about you - "Iniisip kita"
7) I think about you all the time - "Iniisip kita palagi"
8) I dream about you - "Nasa panaginip kita"
9) I miss you - "Miss kita"
10) I miss you very much - "Miss na miss kita"
11) I am in love you - "Iniibig kita"
12) I am falling in love with you - "Nahuhulog ang loob ko sa iyo"
13) I love you - "Mahal kita"
14) I love you very much - "Mahal na mahal kita"
15) I want to marry you - "Gusto kitang pakasalan"
16) I want you to be my wife - "Gusto kitang maging asawa ko"
17) I want to see you - "Gusto kitang makita"
18) Will you marry me? - "Pakakasalan mo ba ako?"
19) I will marry you - "Pakakasalan kita"
20) You are the only one I love - "Ikaw lang ang mahal ko"

Any Filipina woman, no matter what island she lives in the Philippines, will surely appreciate all the efforts you did to research these Filipina dating endearments from English to Tagalog. So, you are lucky you got the chance to read this article. Bookmark it on your favorites. Good luck in your search for your Filipina lady dream girl!

If you have not found your Filipina girlfriend yet, then meet a real beautiful Filipina woman who is single at FilipinaKisses.com right now.

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Filipino (Filipina) Wedding Superstitions

Many Filipinos (like most people in the world) adhere to numerous folk beliefs and superstitions. Some are practiced primarily because of an “there's nothing to lose if we comply” attitude while others are totally ignored for they seem downright ridiculous. Here are some of the Filipino wedding superstitions:

• Brides shouldn't try on their wedding dress before the wedding day or the wedding will not push through.
• Knives and other sharp and pointed objects are said to be a bad choice for wedding gifts for this will lead to a broken marriage.
• Giving arinola (chamberpot) as wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to newlyweds.
• Altar-bound couples are accident-prone and therefore must avoid long drives or traveling before their wedding day for safety.
• The groom who sits ahead of his bride during the wedding ceremony will be a henpecked husband.
• If it rains during the wedding, it means prosperity and happiness for the newlyweds.
• A flame extinguished on one of the wedding candles means the one on which side has the unlit candle, will die ahead of the other.
• Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their life.
• The groom must arrive before the bride at the church to avoid bad luck.
• Breaking something during the reception brings good luck to the newlyweds.
• The bride should step on the groom's foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree to her every whim.
• A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be an unhappy wife experiencing many heartaches and tears.
• Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.

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Filipino (Filipina) Wedding Customs

Asking for the Girl’s Hand

Pamanhikan

After being a couple with your Filipina for quite a time and decide to cross over from being single to getting married, the first thing you should do is Pamanhikan or ask the girl’s parents for her hand. Pamanhikan is a tradition where the groom and his parents visit the bride's family to formally ask for her hand and to discuss plans for the upcoming wedding over lunch or dinner. It is customary that the the visiting family bring a gift (often, the mother's best home-cooked specialty) for the hosts. Pamanhikan can be a really uneasy situation if it's the first time for both sets of parents to meet; moreover matters like the wedding budget and the guest list have to be discussed.

Wedding Announcement

Pa-alam

Though less formal than the pamanhikan, pa-alam is still a gesture appreciated by Filipino elders as a sign of respect. It is a custom where the couple pays some visits (mostly to elder relatives not present during the pamanhikan) to inform about the upcoming wedding (they may choose to hand over the wedding invitation at this time). Since the “hard time” is over with after the pamanhikan, pa-alam should be a breeze, though some elders may ask about the couple's love story or ask the groom about his work or family background.

Wedding Outfits

Brides wear a white wedding dress that has become popular in the last hundred years or so with America's influence in the Philippines. For men, the barong tagalog is the traditional Filipino formal wear. It is a cool, almost transparent, embroidered shirt, made from silky pina or jusi, two native ecru fabrics. It is worn untucked, over black pants, with a white t-shirt underneath. These days, a Filipino American groom might wear the conventional black tux, but Filipino male wedding guests will usually show up in their finest barongs.

The Wedding Ceremony, the Filipino Way

In pre-colonial days, a wedding ceremony lasted three days. On the first day, the bride and groom were brought to the house of a priest or babaylan, who joined their hands over a plate of raw rice and blessed the couple. On the third day, the priest pricked the chests of both bride and groom and drew a little blood. Joining their hands, they declared their love for each other three times. The priest then fed them cooked rice from the same plate and gave them a drink of some of their blood mixed with water. Binding their hands and necks with a cord, he declared them married.

The majority of Filipino weddings are now Catholic weddings, but some native traditions remain. Most have special "sponsors" who act as witnesses to the marriage. The principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors handle special parts of the ceremony, such as the candle, cord and veil ceremonies. Candle sponsors light two candles, which the bride and groom use to light a single candle to symbolize the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life. Veil sponsors place a white veil over the bride's head and the groom's shoulders, a symbol of t wo people clothed as one. Cord sponsors drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord) in a figure-eight shape (to symbolize everlasting fidelity) over the shoulders of the bride and groom. The groom gives the bride 13 coins, or arrhae, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his dedication to his wife's well-being and the welfare of their future children.

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Is a Filipina Wife right for you?

So you want a Filipina wife. Why?
Don't get me wrong, this is a great decision for many men, but is it right for you?

First and foremost you should toss away most of the rumors you grew up with. Those misperceptions of Filipina women just won’t help you find the right answer. Secondly, keep in mind that we are discussing an entire race of people and of course there are exceptions to every rule. Last but not least, accept that your success or failure will have to do more with your actions rather than those of any Filipina you meet.

Do Filipina women normally marry men 20 or 30 years older than them?

This is an interesting question with an answer that will surprise some readers. Statistically, Western men who venture out of our home country to seek a wife in the Philippines are above the age of 35. What makes them more desirable is that they are settled; they have a better than average income, a college education and most have been divorced once and are seeking a stable lasting life-long relationship. In fact, it’s often suggested that Filipinas actually prefer husbands who are many years their senior, because such men are perceived as more mature, less promiscuous, and financially stable.

Is it true that Filipinas possess a mysterious tribal lust that makes them bedroom dynamos?

The conflict here is obvious. Many western men in pursuit of a Filipina wife place a high regard on their future wife’s sexual innocence, yet are unwilling to accept the limitations that such virtue implies. Movies and war stories of the Japanese Geisha have formed the notion that Asian women have nothing else on their mind other than to please a man. Well, here’s the news: these stories are not indicative of Filipina women. Each and every Filipina you may meet is a woman, each with their own special quirks, preferences and personality and to generalize would be a huge mistake.

In reality many Filipinas have advanced degrees of education and professional lives. It could hardly be presumed that their only purpose in life is to fulfill some man's wildest dreams. What the Philippines does have is a huge emphasis on family and a successful marriage. A Filipina wife will be dedicated to this.

How are you with large families?

To the Filipina, family will always remain a great priority; and not just a family, but a large extended family. Many Filipinos still live in the extended family structure of 2 or 3 generations living under the same roof. Great respect for family elders is taught at an early age and in fact your eligibility as a perspective spouse may depend on your acceptance by her family.

And again – how are you with large families? And more specifically how many children do you want to have? Because Filipino women want big families with many children. It is like the culmination of everything they have been taught that provokes these maternal instincts. The desire to have children and family of their own is almost universal in the Philippines.

Are you religious?

There are three primary religions in the Philippines: 83% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant and 5% Muslim. The odds are that she's more devoted to her religion than you are to yours, so be prepared for some soul-searching on this matter.

Are you marrying a Filipina because you pretty much hate the women of your own country?

You have to realize that hating an entire gender, even within the confines of a single country, just isn't reasonable. It's one thing to say that you believe that you'll have a greater chance of finding the woman you want in the Philippines, but it's quite another to say that all the woman from your own homeland are unworthy of marriage. If you're marrying a Filipina, it should be because of who she is, not who she is not.

And after all, a Filipino woman is still a woman, including all the variety of types of personality that that encompasses!

Are you a generous person?

The common spirit of survival has united the Filipinos for centuries and they are very generous to each other. Ancient folklore of the Philippines and the Philippine adaptation of Christian holidays often eulogize the rewards of the generous spirit. Now where Western society has great difficulty with this Filipino spirit of generosity is in the subject of remitting money to the Philippines.

Don’t get me wrong, I am most certainly NOT advocating you send money to any Filipina girl you meet over the internet. But should you be engaged to or married to a Filipina, you should be prepared to provide financial assistance to your new, extended family when they need it (for schooling, medical care, or food). If you are reluctant to accept your new wife's family as your own, your lack of generosity would certainly create some turmoil in your relationship.

You will intuitively know when you share your wife or fiance's family obligations and once having visited the Philippines you will fully understand the reasons this occurs.

So you still want a Filipina wife?

The best way to meet a Filipina is through another Filipina. Do you know any? If so, odds are she knows a Filipina girl in the Philippines who is open to foreign relationships. If you don't know any Filipinas, your next best bet is obviously a dating service. Choose a respectable one like FilipinoFriendFinder that offers free trials and start writing - not just to one girl, but several – in search of your best match. And here you are on your way. Hope this is of help to you. Good luck!

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Relationships between Filipino Women (Filipina) and Western Men

You have probably read articles about Filipinas and got to know their culture a little better. You have probably used your own judgment and decided that you would like to build a relationship with a Filipino girl. But why would a Filipino lady suit you? And why would a Filipino woman prefer a western man to a Filipino man?
First, the Filipino man is a problem. Women here get the dirty end of the stick, like in many Asian countries. In these Asian countries where it happens it is not considered the "dirty end," but a duty. So Filipina women have a lot to contemplate when considering marrying one of the available males in her country. Will he be able to support me and our family? Will he keep a mistress? Well he beat me and having no right to divorce I will have no alternative but to stay with him?
In other words Western men are far more desirable for a life companion than Filipino men. Western men are perceived as being very loving, and more modern than Filipinos. This means the woman can look forward to more freedom and a more equal relationship with a Western man.
As for fat and age, they are both pluses in the Philippines. Both women and men have the highest respect for age and age difference is not important to Filipino women. You don’t have to worry if you are overweight, like half the population of the western world since weight is a status symbol. If you are overweight, you virtually lose twenty percent of your weight when you step on Philippine soil. Most Filipinas even prefer men with a little, or even a lot of, meat on their bones. In Asian cultures generally, being overweight is a sign of substance and wealth.
Finally, just as many Westerners are attracted to women of different races, many Filipino women find the physical appearance of Westerners to be attractive.
That basically should answer your question why would a Filipino girl want a relationship with a western man. But you still have some other concerns, right?
First, you may have some concerns about why a woman would place her profile on a dating site. You may worry that perhaps she only wants to get married to obtain the right of abode in a Western country, then to divorce you and take all the money she can in the settlement. There are always exceptions, but to the overwhelming majority of Filipinos this is the furthest thing from their mind. If you have ever witnessed a Filipina crying her eyes out with home sickness then you would know she would gladly trade in the Cadillac and steak dinners for a ride in a Jeepney down to get some Halo Halo any day of the week. The Philippines might not be one of the richest countries in the world, but Filipinos love their country, their home and their family. The most important thing by far to most Filipino women is to have a stable family, including a husband and children. Money, although of course desirable, is very much secondary to the stability of a loving marriage.
Other concern you might have is that being so attached to her family she might want to bring all of them over. For one thing, we already mentioned that Filipinos love their country and it's a little too egocentric to presume that all of her family desire to leave their homeland in favor of yours. But even if that were the case, a Filipina can't bring anyone over until she is your country’s citizen (which usually takes 3-5 years). For another, only parents and siblings are eligible for petition but the wait for that is too long. In most cases, it takes ten to fifteen years before family members are granted visas. So even if your Filipina wanted to bring over a single family member it would be 15-20 years before he or she arrived.
We hope we have given you some clarification for your concerns. Of course we have made some generalizations so please remember that Filipino ladies are women first and foremost, including all the variety of types of personality that that encompasses. If you are confident that you want to build a relationship with a Filipina, a nice place to find your charming Filipino lady would be FilipinoFriendFinder.

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Filipino Courtship Customs - Courting a Filipina

Courting is far more indirect in Filipino culture than in most Western societies. Filipino relationships pass in several stages, usually lasting for a long period of time. An engagement, for example, often lasts for several years and as far as marriage is concerned, it is viewed as a lifetime commitment.

The Friendly Beginning

Often the starting point of a relationship is a friendly date. The couple will go out together in public places as friends only and will be accompanied by other friends. During this stage of courting there will be no public displays of affection, the man has to be discreet and friendly or he will be accused of being too arrogant. It is too early for kissing or holding hands at this point.

Discreet Dating

That is the second stage of Filipino courtship and now couples may go out together without the company of their friends. Again, the keyword here is “discreetly”.
Filipino women cannot afford to be fast, they are expected to be pakipot (hard to get) because it is seen as an appropriate behavior when they are courted. A Filipino girl never shows her admirer that she is also in love with him immediately.

Playing hard to get is one way by which the Filipina can measure the sincerity of the man interested in her. It also lets her show the man that he has to work hard to win her love. Some courtships may last for years before the woman accepts her admirer’s love and they become magkasintahan, a term for boyfriend-girlfriend.

Taking the Relationship Public

After some time the couple may decide to come out in the open about their romance. At this time they will inform their family and friends about their relationship. Every man who wants to be taken seriously by a Filipina is obliged to visit her family and introduce himself formally to her parents. It is rather inappropriate to court a Filipino girl and formalize the relationship without informing the girl’s parents.

There is a tacit rule here that says: “When courting the Filipina you are not courting just her, you are courting the entire family”. Following this rule will help you earn her respect by entrusting her family with high regard.

There are certain traditions that have to be observed when visiting the Filipina’s family. For example, if the man wants to be acceptable to the girl’s family, he has to give small gifts (pasalubong) every time he drops by her family's house. If you have any questions regarding which traditions you should observe, you may discuss them with the older siblings.

Engagement and Marriage

After being a couple with your Filipina for quite a time and decide to get married, the first thing you should do is pamanhikan (ask the girl’s parents for her hand). More about this tradition and those following it you can find in our article “Filipino Wedding Customs”.

When courting a Filipino woman you will find that she is shy and reserved even when holding great feelings for you. This is a part of her culture and even for a Western man there is no way around that. You should treat your Filipina with respect, lead the courtship with your heart and you may find a lifetime partner that will enrich your life as you have never imagined.

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Understanding the "True Filipina" Culture

Filipino Families

A romantic relationship with a Filipina has a better chance of success if you understand her culture. Filipina women live in a culture focused on the community, with the family as the core social unit. Here faithfulness to the family is a tradition.

In the Philippines, it is important to meet a woman’s family because the family is so important to her. If a man wants to be taken seriously by a woman, he has to visit the latter's family and introduce himself formally to the parents of the girl. It is rather inappropriate to court a woman and formalize the relationship without informing the parents of the girl.

Filipino children are committed to their parents who usually went through a lot to raise them. Their desire is to make their parents' life easier. If you are capable and refuse to help support her family who may need help, she may not say anything, but she will neither respect you nor understand. Sometimes the family is more important than you. There is an Asia saying, that is accepted in the Philippines, "You can get another wife or husband but not another mother or father" . This family loyalty is also apparent in the fact that Filipino families keep elderly (such as grandparents) instead of sending them to any institution.

Filipinos and Filipinas are communal, interdependent people, not dependent, like in western cultures. They are so by choice and because of their cultural needs. When you marry one you marry the family at least the mother and the father, the siblings too usually. That is trite, indeed, but true. If you can't deal with that let it be known from the start of your relationship with your Filipina. If she is a "true Filipina", the relationship may not develop. If it does she may not be happy in it, but you will never know.

Filipina Sexuality

Sexuality in the Philippines is distinguished by a double standard that expects women to remain virgins until marriage while men are allowed to enjoy sexual freedom. Young women who lose their virginity before marriage, whether through rape or in a relationship, diminish their chances for a "good" marriage, while young men can "sow wild oats" with abandon and be even admired for being so "manly".

In the Philippines Virginity is sacred. The culture and the family lets the girl know it is her responsibility to keep her virginity as soon as they are old enough to understand what virginity is. Filipino men are reluctant to marry a non-virgin even if they are the one who took the virginity! Filipino woman may not even be forgiven if she is raped. Yes, this is extremely unfair but that is the way it is and the Filipina girls know it.

Love, Romance and Marriage

As far as courting is concerned, Filipinas are expected to be pakipot (playing hard to get) because it is seen as an appropriate behavior in a courtship dance. It is also one way by which the Filipina will be able to measure the sincerity of her admirer.

In order to legalize sexual relations or to avoid the stigma of becoming "old maids" young Filipino women feel pressured into early marriages. Unlike women, young men, on the other hand, are allowed to express their sexuality freely, and are sometimes initiated by fathers who take their sons to brothels for sexual intercourse with women.

Traditionally, in Filipina families the husband is expected to be the main breadwinner, chiefly responsible for the financial sustenance of the family, and the wife is "queen of the home". Filipino ladies equate domestic responsibility with being a good wife. They put their family first and they are more willing to sacrifice their career than their family.

There is no divorce in the Philippines. Filipino couples have only three ways to change the status of their marriage: legal separation, declaration of nullity, and annulment. Legal separation allows spouses to live separately but they may not remarry. Declaration of nullity presupposes that the marriage is void from the beginning and the court declares its non-existence. Annulment legally cancels the marriage and both spouses are restored to their single status.

Filipino girls, are not only beautiful women but a delight to be around because of the famous Filipina disposition and personality. Many men who have chosen a Filipina for their wife swear that they are loyal, loving and faithful past death. Now that you understand a little better the Filipina culture it is up to you and your common sense to find your loving Filipina using an online dating service like FilipinoFriendFinder or visiting the Philippines.

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Why Choose a Filipino Girl (Filipina)?

Perhaps you are one of the men who have already heard about the beauty of Filipino girls but continue wondering what makes Filipino women that special. Here are some reasons for dating a Filipino Girl that may give the answer to your question:

1. Filipina girls are renowned for their beauty.
   Filipinas stand out among Asian women in terms of charm and femininity.
2. Filipino women are naturally romantic, loving and caring.
   They are not only beautiful women but a delight to be around because of the famous Filipina disposition and personality. Many Filipinas have instilled in them since birth a sense of honor called Delikadesa. It is this sense of Delikadesa that gives them such fine admirable qualities you just won't find in ladies of the western world. You will never find a proper Filipina lie, cheat, or steal – it will bring shame upon her and her family.
3. Filipino women put family first before money.
   To the Filipina, family will always remain a great priority. The Filipina, whom many would consider as having come from a relatively poor country, will view the close loving bonds of the Filipina Family as her wealth. The Filipina women are more willing to sacrifice career than a family.
4. Filipinas are religious.
   Phillipines is the only christian nation in the far east.
5. Filipina women believe in a one-man one-woman relationship
   An interesting fact is that there is no "absolute divorce" in Philippines. There is only "relative divorce" in a form of "legal separation” (husband and wife are only separated from bed and board but marriage remains in full force). Marriage in such a country where they simply do not have divorce laws is always considered a life long commitment. Filipinas welcome their responsibilities towards keeping her husband happy and strive to never lose his attention. Luckily for her most Filipina Ladies are often petite tender beautiful warm loving creatures you will never tier of giving your affection to.
6. Filipino girls are understanding, patient and supportive.
   Even loud verbal arguments or fighting would be to de-face her self and most Filipinas would simply never engage in any such acts. This soft spoken, quiet, understanding nature of the Filipina Ladies is a desired trait many of them strive towards.
7. Filipinas are optimistic and have flexible personality.
   They have a great sense of humor.
8. Filipino women are excellent home keepers.
   Filipino ladies equate domestic responsibility with being a good wife (or potentially a good wife). Philippines practices "patriarchal" form of society and traditionally husbands are providers while wives are meant to stay home to keep the family in order and look after the children.
   The Filipina Lady's home is a great source of pride for her. For the Filipina girl to yell in her home is to de-face her home so you will never find her screaming or breaking dishes.
9. Filipina girls are well educated.
   The Philippine culture places a huge emphasis on a college education. An environment of importance towards education and pride in accomplishment at school is instilled in the Filipina's family.
10. Offers very high respect to partners or provider in the family.
    Some, actually many who marry these Filipina beauties, swear they make the best wives in the world, not only beautiful, but loyal, loving and faithful past death.
11. Filipina-American marriages are more successful than American-American marriages.
    It is interesting to note that Filipina girls - American men marriages arranged through dating services, such as FilipinoFriendFinder, would appear to have a lower divorce rate than the nation as a whole. The divorce rate of these marriages is 20% while the standard American- American marriage of today has about a 40% chance of divorce, though the statistics vary wildly according to which source you use.

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10 Important Tips for Men Who Wants to Date a Filipina

Dates can offer a range of emotions from thrilling to terrifying. With that in mind, it is vital to be fully prepared to make a great impression on each date you go on. Here are 10 tips for men that will help things go smoothly:
1. Have a Bath and Shave

One of the worst things you could do when going out on a date (especially if it is your first date) is to turn up unshaven, looking dirty and smelling. Women will partly judge you on how hygienic you are. After all, you would be appalled if she turned up for the date looking like a mutt dog with tangled fur that hadn't bathed for days.

Do a "personal check" before the date - are your fingernails clean, hair neat, clothes ironed, shoes polished, and any odors under control (including breath)? Women look at these things and are aware if they aren't in check. You should be too!

It doesn’t cost anything to take a bath and to make an effort to look and smell nice. Remember, bad breath and body odor are an instant turn off and she will assume that this is how you are all the time even if you are just having a bad day. As a result, she won’t be able to see beyond your appearance.
2. Be on Time

Whatever you do, don’t turn up late. Turning up late will send out all the wrong impressions. At first she may think she's been stood up, but after arriving late her opinion will change to you being unreliable or not caring enough about her to be on time. If you are picking her up from her home then it is advisable to turn up five minutes before you are due. Any earlier and you might catch her adjusting her makeup or still getting ready. Five minutes early is the earliest you should arrive. But never be late.
3. Give Her a Thoughtful Gift

A woman feels special when the man she is with gives her a thoughtful gift. What is a thoughtful gift? Well, you obvious know some things about a woman before a first date that came from phone conversations, emails, etc. Take what you know and buy her an appropriate date gift. For example, let's say that the woman really likes golf. There are companies that make chocolate golf sets - a miniature chocolate club with a chocolate tee and chocolate golf ball. This would make a great first date gift. For a generic thoughtful gift, buy a chocolate rose. That's always appropriate without being overboard.
4. Be a Gentleman

Hold the door open for her, let her walk through the doors first, pull her chair, and be polite to her along with the people around you. Women like to feel special and by treating her like a lady she will think you are fantastic.
5. Compliment Her

The first thing to say to her is "you look beautiful" before you even ask how she is. Keep up the compliments throughout your date, but do not go over board (3-4 for the night should be more than enough). A woman loves to be complimented, to feel beautiful and to think that you are attracted to her. The more sincere and observant your compliment, the bigger impact it will have. But remember again not to go overboard. More than four compliments may make you appear fake and not real.
6. Listen to Her and Ask Questions

Nobody wants to spend the whole night listening to someone talk about themselves. But you do have to get to know each other. Ask her questions, but more importantly listen to what she has to say. A woman is attracted to a man who is genuinely interested in hearing what she has to say. Spend a lot more time asking her questions and letting her talk than talking yourself.
7. Prepare for the Conversation

The last thing you want is to be sitting at a meal with nothing to talk about. Think about your date and what you would like to know about her. You may think that it is easy to talk and that you will not run out of questions to ask or that you will automatically have the answers but until you are in the situation, you have no idea what it will be like. Avoid talking about past relationships or other women while on the date. Keep your focus, attention, and conversation fully on her.
8. Pay for the Date

It's virtually always appropriate for a gentleman to offer to pay for the date. When a man takes it upon himself to pay for the date, he is displaying that old act of "chivalry" that is missing from many men these days. However, some women feel more comfortable going "dutch" and if she insists on this, then don't resist. To avoid awkwardness, make sure you let her know before the date that you plan on paying for it.
9. The Goodnight Kiss

Some women prefer not to kiss after a first date, while others may be disappointed if the guy doesn't even try. There is no easy answer to this question. Body language and chemistry throughout the night is key in the decision you make. If it feels right, then you may want to consider making the move. If it doesn't feel right then a friendly hug may be more appropriate.
10. I'll Call You

Only tell her that you will call her if you mean it and intend on seeing her again. Do not, under any circumstances, tell her you will call her if you are not interested and have no plans to call her. In this case, when saying goodbye, just say, "It was nice meeting you" and wish her luck. Or you could just say good night, smile and walk away. But if you do like her and are interested, then you must let her know.

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Gifts to a Filipino or Filipina Business Partner

Small, inexpensive gifts with a personal touch are always appreciated. Find out what your recipient’s interests are. Attach a card with a personal message to your gift. Be careful not to give gifts that are too personal such as lingerie and perfume (Added: unless your business partner is also your lover).

Don’t expect that your Filipino or Filipina business partner will open the gift in front of you. Likewise, you should not open the gift in front of the giver, but wait until they leave.

Traditional Filipino Wedding Customs

Filipino wedding customs combine both colonial influence and traditional beliefs. The more common Filipino wedding customs include choosing where to hold the wedding church and who the officiating priest will be. Couples who belong to prominent families usually prefer holding the wedding in an ancient Spanish-time church and enlist a well-known personality for an officiating pastor. Some say the ambiance generated by a Spanish-era church adds to the grandeur and solemnity of a wedding.



On the eve of a wedding, the bride-to-be is forbidden to see the groom-to-be. She likewise cannot try her wedding dress for fear that the wedding may not push through. On the wedding day itself, the bride usually wears a white-blue gown. There is preference for one that is borrowed. On exit from the church, the newlyweds go through the traditional throwing of coins, rice grains and flowers. This practice is said to induce abundance or wealth, as well as promote loyalty and abiding love between the couple.

There are sights of a wedding that make them distinctly Filipino. Example is the overflow of crowd witnessing the wedding rite, from the church to the reception. A Filipino wedding is never good enough if the crowd is not big enough. Filipinos after all are clannish people.

Post-wedding rites continue with undiminished festivity. The father of either bride or groom reads a wish list and toasts the wine, all in a gesture of ushering in a bright future for the new couple. The wedding dance brings the clan together, latching money bills of different denominations to various parts of the newlyweds’ clothes. It is a sign of sharing responsibilities among family members.

While some customs are unique to a certain province, the traditional Filipino wedding remains as one of the most valued occasions in the Philippines.

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The Filipino Family: A Family Like No Other

The Filipino family is a unique family. Here, most households do not simply comprise what is considered the normal composition or make-up of members seen anywhere else around the world. While most families elsewhere are composed of a father, a mother or the parents and their children, a Filipino family would normally go beyond that structure in one household.

The grandparents of one of the parents are sometimes part of the Filipino family. Even nieces and nephews of the parents or uncles or aunts of the children may live in one household apart from the “basic family”, that is, the parents and their children.

Further, it is not unusual especially in the rural areas for two or more Filipino families to share a common house or attend to common household chores. They may also be found working together in livelihood activities like farming, fishing or small family enterprises.

The father in the Filipino Family often takes the role of primary provider. He is the authority figure, the acknowledged counselor and disciplinarian. The mother or wife takes the key responsibility for homemaking or household management. She is the moral compass and the children’s first academic mentor. But there have been changes in the home front. Parents today seem more open-minded, having evolved from being too disciplinarian to being an older type of friend for their children.

Although some parents these days still get a little uneasy with this “leveling-off” behavior towards their children, more and more of them have seen the positive impacts, like closer ties, better communication lines, higher levels of mutual trust and, more importantly, deeper respect and love for one another.

While some grandparents and other members of the “extended” Filipino family gets drawn to this relational unraveling, in some cases it is still on a much more conservative level. This is understandable since grandparents were born and reared in family traditions and culture steeped in more conservative and stringent manners.

Nevertheless, it is an amazing discovery how the Filipinos, with both their traditional “extended” family structure and continuing social evolution are able to survive in spite of these seeming incongruent characteristics of both the old and the new.

But then again, the Filipino family is unique.

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Through The Years: Filipino Customs And Traditions

Like most any other country, the Philippines is rich in customs and traditions handed down from generation to generation. While Filipinos were able to preserve most of these olden and even revered practices, some of the were products of foreign influence, assimilated in the native culture and nurtured through time.

Filipino customs and traditions evolved from religious beliefs and/or superstitions. They find expression in a wide range of daily activities, from farming to commerce, courtship, birth, marriage, family, death, relationships, among many others.

Interestingly, every region, province and even municipality in the Philippines has two or more customs or traditions that are uniquely their own. This is especially true in the countryside, where customs endure on the strength of collective acceptance by their people. Some of them have been institutionalized as annual events or festivals.

Two classic and popular examples of these showcased customs and traditions are the fiesta celebrations and the cenaculo. While the former takes on a variety of forms, themes, creativity and normally project a festive mood, the latter is a more subdued practice depicting the life and death of Jesus Christ. Both, however, have religious gist and history. Fiestas honor and thank the saints for a plentiful harvest and the cenaculo serves as venue for remembering the life, suffering and death of Christ. Both are occasions for collective or individual piety.

Other well-known Filipino customs and traditions include the selection of godparents along with marking the significance of baptism as one’s anointment into the Christian world. In courtship, the serenading and voluntary housework of young men as a way to win their lady’s affection was common in the olden times.

 In marriage, the groom-to-be is restricted from seeing or speaking to his soon-to-be bride on eve of their wedding day, in the same way that the wife-in-waiting is restricted from trying on her wedding dress on that same day, for fear that the wedding itself may not materialize.

These and other customs and traditions define the uniqueness of the Filipino people. They reflect their history and the social evolution they went through.

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Virginity As Part of Filipina Culture

Virginity used to be associated with life itself for Filipina girls and women. You only lose it to your husband and you do not lose it before marriage. The moment a Filipina breaches this standard, it would be like virtual death for her. Losing virginity at the wrong time and letting people know it are an affront to family pride more than they offend personal well being.


In the Philippines, family reputation is sacred. Her family, friends and community would ostracise her. She could not look forward to a bright future. Flipino men, even those who engage themselves in pre-marital sex, would not find her worthy of attention.

That was then. It is quite different now. Today’s youth engage freely in sex. Girls hardly mind losing their virginity like they used to. Men are not as stringent in rejecting a non-virgin for a wife.

Cases of teenage pregnancies and single parents are on the rise. The phenomenon is significant enough to move the Philippine government to enact a law protecting the interests of single parents. Surveys after surveys are confirming research data that show majority of young people aged from 15 to 35 have engaged themselves in pre-marital sex for at least once in their lives.

Losing virginity and ending up a single parent, along with poverty, have been recognized as the single strongest force that pushed Filipinas to seek employment in the country and overseas. The rise in number of single parents has impacted on the workplace and on the dating habits of Filipinas.

Today, Filipina workers outnumber their male counterparts, and have proceeded to earn a distinct reputation for their diligence. Unfortunately, some of them could not do better than take refuge in girlie bars and prostitution joints.

Filipina single parents also comprise a large segment of the online dating community. Despite rapid changes in Philipine culture particularly in relation to virginity, Filipinas still find it culturally liberating to date with foreigners online.

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Gift Giving Etiquette for Philippines: What to Give a Filipino or Filipina

Here are general guidelines on what to give to a Filipino or Filipina when you visit them.


General Guidelines
    * Giving gifts, particularly flowers and food, is especially popular in Filipino (Filipina) culture. Moreover, exchanging gifts is an essential step in solidifying business ties.
    * Once a contract has been signed, prepare to give your new partners a gift of greater value. These gifts include dinner at a fine restaurant, whiskey for men, and perfume for women. Whatever you decide, avoid being so extravagant in your selection that your gift is perceived as a bribe.
    *  When selecting wrapping paper for a Filipino recipient, you may use any colour you wish, which makes the Philippines somewhat of an anomaly among other Asian countries.
    * When invited to a Filipino home, bring a gift of flowers, candy or chocolates. Another option is to arrange to have these items sent before your arrival. Avoid bringing alcohol or heavier foods as these gifts may imply that the hospitality is inadequate. Allowances are made, however, for a specialty dish or food that is unique to your home region. Be sure to send a thank-you note afterwards; another small “thank-you gift” is also a thoughtful gesture.
    * At Christmas, you will be expected to give a small, modest gift to practically everyone you encounter in a business context. This includes everyone who works for you and all service personnel you depend upon regularly.  
    * When you receive a gift, follow the Asian custom by not opening it in front of the giver. Instead, wait until you are alone.
    * During certain family events, particularly baptisms, it is customary to toss a handful of small coins to any children present.
    * At weddings, guests will sometimes use pins to attach money--typically bills in small denominations--to the clothing of the bride and groom.

Appreciated Gifts
    * a gift item related to the country or city you inhabit
    * fine pens
    * stationary imprinted with your company logo
    * dinner at a fine restaurant
    * whiskey [for men only]
    * perfume

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