Why is Filipino music always love songs?

 

Ronna Lou

 

 · 

Following

Filipina Writer and Matchmaking Consultant at Philippine-Women.ComAug 10

Actually you know what? It kind of is! When you look at OPM or Original Pilipino Music, there are many love songs, and you can’t have a karaoke without someone singing an Aegis song about heartbreak and a Regine Velasquez or an OPM band song about yearning.

It’s probably because we Filipinos are big romantics. Even in our movies and TV shows, we love watching love teams and hoping the actor and actress are also dating in real life hahah!

To be fair, we also have music that isn’t about love, at least not romantic love.

We have Freddie Aguilar’s music that’s usually about family and Philippine pride.

We have rock and rap songs by icons like Bamboo, Gloc-9, and the late Francis M. that are about politics and social issues.

We also have a lot of folk songs about simple Filipino life, nature, and local traditions.

Filipinos joke all the time about being “senti” (sentimental) or “maoy” (Bisaya word that means extra emotional or heartbroken) so it’s not surprising that our music reflects that.

But if you think about it, anything can be about love. So any song can be a love song if you try, and it looks like we Filipinos try all the time!

If, in traditional Filipino courtship, a woman is supposed to say no to a man approaching her even if she likes him, then how can you make the difference between that and a real no?

 

Filipino Relationship and Dating

 · 

Answered by 

Ronna Lou

 

Mon

Hahaha the pakipot strikes again!

By the way, pakipot means playing hard to get in Filipino. Like how the question describes it, it’s when a Filipina acts like she’s not interested or says no to a man trying to court her even if she really likes him back. And I get it, this can be very frustrating.

I think I already talked about this before here on Quora. Remember, traditional Filipino courtship or panliligaw is focused on making sure the man courting the Filipina is sincere and determined. Playing hard to get is one way of “testing” how patient and committed the guy is.

You can read more about this practice here

[1]

 and here

[2]

.

Just to be clear, a Filipina is not “supposed” to do this. It’s just a common practice because it’s the usual way of checking if a guy is really sincere or not. It can be very frustrating sometimes because when you look at it, there’s some manipulation going on and it’s unfair to the men.

But some men also like the chase, and I think a big part of it is knowing that the woman likes you back even if she’s playing pakipot.

So how do you know that a Filipina actually likes you if she’s playing hard to get?

Well a big sign is how much attention she’s giving you. If a Filipina really doesn’t like you, she probably won’t spend a lot of time entertaining you. She’d rather spend more time with the man she actually likes. But if she’s always being maldita or enjoying all the attention you’re giving her, then it’s probably because she likes being chased by you.

Another sign is if she actively offers you opportunities to prove your feelings. A Filipina who isn’t interested will usually just stop you. But if she’s secretly interested, she will tell you what you can do to prove yourself. Maybe she’ll tell you to get this type of flower instead or challenge you to talk to her scary father. She doesn’t want you to get her sweet yes so easily, but she will tell you how to do it.

You can also just look at her body language. She will probably roll her eyes and pout, but you can see that she’s smiling and sometimes even laughing at your flirty jokes. She might even flirt back but pretend she’s just being strict.

Again, this is an old tradition that some Filipinas don’t really practice, but it can also be a fun way of getting to know each other. Just make sure you know your limits, and that she’s not actually taking advantage of you. If you do this song–and-dance properly, it can be very fulfilling when she finally admits her feelings for you.

Footnotes

[1] https://islandladies.medium.com/why-are-filipina-women-playing-hard-to-get-2a373caec37c

[2] https://www.discoverphilippines.org/p/from-torpe-to-pamamanhikan-the-unique

Is it safe for foreigners to travel through all parts of The Philippines? What are some places that tourists should avoid and why?

 

Ronna Lou

 

 · 

Filipina Writer and Matchmaking Consultant at Philippine-Women.Com

It’s not even safe for Filipinos to travel through all parts of the Philippines hahah!

But that’s usually the case in ANY place and not just because the Philippines is some scary crime-ridden country. We’re not even at war, so that’s an advantage.

Ok let’s look at the basics. Tourists find the Philippines a great travel destination because it’s quite inexpensive, there’s a lot of beautiful tourist spots, and a lot of people speak English (not to mention Filipinos are just nice to foreigners).

But like any country (especially developing countries), there’s still crime and other risks. In urban areas, you have pickpockets and other petty thieves. You can also fall for scams if you’re not careful. But again, that can also happen in places like London or Paris.

In rural areas, you’re also at risk of getting lost since most tourist spots are far from each other. If you’re the type to believe in folklore, you can also be at risk of malevolent spirits or “engkanto” (fairies) in jungles and forests. That kind of thing.

And of course there’s the occasional civil unrest in some areas, like Mindanao.

But it’s generally safe to visit the Philippines. The U.S. Department of State puts it under a Level 2 Travel Advisory

[1]

 which is the same as France, Spain, and UK.

So if you’re in the city, avoid informal settler areas. If you’re in the province, stick to popular tourist spots where there are guards and police nearby. If you’re adventurous, just make sure you have a reliable local to serve as your tour guide.

Footnotes

[1] https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/philippines-travel-advisory.html

How do I find and succeed in marriage with a Filipina?

 

Ronna Lou

 

 · 

Following

Matchmaking Consultant at Philippine-Women.Com

Okay, let’s start with the first step: how to meet and start dating a Filipina.

My advice is always for guys to go to the Philippines. Unless you know the people in your closest Filipino community, your best bet is to actually travel to the country and put yourself in a position to meet the local ladies. Online dating will only take you so far.

Next, you have to look past the stereotypes. Relying on what you know from the internet or from popular media will not help you when you realize that not all Filipinas are the same. Yes, having general knowledge will give you a place to start, but successfully dating a Filipina means getting to know that specific woman based on who she is and not just on her being from a certain country.

So, how do you find a Filipina wife?

• Go to the Philippines.
• If you want to do online dating first, make sure to avoid scammers.
• Go beyond stereotypes.

Marrying a Filipina is just an extension of all that. It also means dealing with the reality of having a Filipina wife (something even my husband took years to truly grasp! haha).

Key things to keep in mind:

• Family is VERY IMPORTANT for Filipinas. If you want to marry a woman from the Philippines, prepare to have a huge (and often busybody) family.
• If she wants to settle down in the Philippines, make sure you’re comfortable with the idea of living in the country.
• If she’s open to moving to your home country, make sure you’re prepared to help her adjust.
• As with any interracial marriage, you need to find a way to deal with the cultural differences (especially in things like lifestyle, food, and long-term goals).
• Even though Filipinos are good at English, the language barrier can still surprise you even years into your relationship.
• If you’re planning to have kids, your wife being a Filipina will also be a HUGE factor. Be prepared for that too.

Sharing here a photo of me (Filipina) and my husband (American) during our second wedding, and another photo of a former client (Danny, from Singapore) with his wife Marilyn (also a Filipina):

What are some pictures of beautiful women?

 

Ronna Lou

 

 · 

Following

Matchmaking Consultant (2016–present)

Allow me to share photos of beautiful Filipino women from our social events in Cebu:

I’m probably a little biased because I am also a Filipina, but I really believe that the Philippines has some of the most beautiful women in the world. It’s why a lot of foreign men visit the country: to meet their life partner in the Philippines.

And it’s not just their physical appearance that makes them beautiful. Filipinas are also kind, loyal, and passionate—qualities that prove their beauty is not only skin-deep.

Which Philippine destinations are most worth visiting for long-term residents?

 

Ronna Lou

 · 

Following

Matchmaking Consultant (2016–present)1y

I guess it depends on your preferences.

For example, if you like the beach vibe, you can visit Siargao, Boracay, or Palawan.

El Nido, Palawan

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

If you are into fresh mountain air and the smell of pine, Baguio or Banaue are good destinations.

Banaue Rice Terraces

Photo by John Renzo Aledia from Pexels

For a more modern feel, with a skyline that can compete with other beautiful cities around the world, Metro Manila and Cebu City should be on your list.

Downtown Cebu

Photo by Gil Aguirre from Pexels

But if you prefer an open wilderness and experience exotic wildlife with the amenities of a developing city, Bohol or Davao are your best options.

Chocolate Hills, Bohol

Photo by Jondave Libiran from Pexels

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, offers a wide variety of destinations that even locals will want to visit soon. Whether you go to the beach, explore a modern city, or hike up a mountain, you’ll get to experience firsthand the rich culture, history, and heritage that the country is founded on.