Men weigh in on Filipina beauty

Krista Garcia

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Men weigh in on Filipina beauty
Do men still go after the 'dalagang Filipina?' 5 modern men speak up
 

MANILA, Philippines — A woman must always be beautiful for herself first and foremost.

But once in a while, receiving affirmation from others can be a confidence booster, especially if it’s from the opposite sex.

How do men define beauty? If we’ll judge all those ads, movies, and beauty products, it belongs to those who have a great body, nice smile, and smooth, flowing hair (among others).

But when we asked 5 guys with different backgrounds, they hardly mentioned anything about skin, teeth, or waistlines in their perception of women. Is “Dalagang Pilipina” (Filipina Lady) still the men’s standard for beauty? Yes and no.

Sweet, caring

Filipinas are known for their “malambing,” or sweet disposition. The guys say it’s the trait they value most. 

“They’re sweet and really know how to brighten up one’s day. A simple text or unexpected hug can brighten my day,” says LA Aguinaldo, a student and model in Manila. Matteo Guidicelli, an actor, says that he’s attracted to a Filipina’s inner traits: “The morals and values that a Filipina has in her is something very special: soft-spoken, caring, loving and God-fearing.”

Women certainly don’t need to fit the malambing mold just to get attention. But perhaps these men found this sweet side attractive because it reminded them of their mothers: the women they regard as most beautiful.

For Deo Seguinal, a defender for the UP Pachanga football club, his mom is beautiful because she’s a role model for other women. “[She’s] maalaga (caring), down to earth, and she prioritizes family over everything,” Deo says.

Tom Naval, a surgeon currently training in Brazil, says all mothers deserve to be called beautiful. “Sacrifice is a word synonymous with motherhood. I think they are the most beautiful women in the world.”

Multi-faceted

Another thing these guys agree on is that it’s impossible to have a single concept of Filipina beauty. 

Centuries of social interaction with Americans, Chinese, and many other races led to our current set up where beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some studies claim that “race-mixing” makes the next generation not only healthier, but also more attractive.

“Physically, the population is getting more and more mixed-race,” Tom said. “In the next 20 years or so, the world will have [a] more beautiful population due to racial intermarriages.”

The influence isn’t just physical either. As the world gets smaller, our culture veers more and more away from traditional values. Hence, we’re also becoming more open to different ideals.

BEYOND FILIPINA. Mark admires the east-meets-west sensibilities of his girlfriend, Millie. Photo courtesy of Mark Orosa

Mark Orosa, a law student living in Sydney, says his girlfriend’s mixed features make her beautiful. But he also admires her multi-faceted personality: “It is her strong conviction and belief in social justice, hewn from a sharply intelligent mind and articulated through the elegant expression of her words that I find most beautiful. It is something uniquely Filipino, from our confrontation with inequality through Bayanihan spirit.”

So just as conservative, sweet Filipinas are called beautiful, men also say that a woman who is outspoken is attractive. Who says these two traits can’t mix? We’ve seen many a Filipina who can be both.

These men define Filipina beauty through the women in their life. If we keep asking around, we’ll get a longer, and possibly endless, list of answers.

At the end of the day, what’s beautiful should not be limited by one definition. Looks play a part, but it’s also Filipina’s disposition, values, talents and abilities that make her beyond beautiful.

What’s your take on this topic? How do you define Filipina beauty? Let us know. — Rappler.com 


Creamsilk goes #beyondbeautiful as it celebrates the irresistible power of every Filipina. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share your own story of amazing transformations.

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