MANILA, Philippines – It’s the latest buzzword among young Filipinos – “magpakailanman” or “forever.” It turns out, a big majority of adult Filipinos also believe in that concept when it comes to romantic relationships, a recent survey showed.

The poll, conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), also revealed that 67% of adult Filipinos strongly or somewhat believe in long distance relationships, and a little over half of Filipinos (51%) are very happy with their love life.

The survey was conducted nationwide among 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above. The face-to-face interviews were done from December 5 to 8, 2015, and 300 respondents were chosen from each area: Metro Manila, Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The survey has a ±3% error margins for national percentages, and ±6% error margins each for Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The results were released on Thursday, February 11, or 3 days before Valentine’s Day.

So what do Filipinos think of “forever”?

#MayForever

A big majority of the Filipinos (73%) strongly and somewhat believe in “forever,” or a relationship that will last a lifetime:

• 50% strongly believe
• 23% somewhat believe
• 11% undecided
• 5% somewhat do not believe
• 11% strongly do not believe 

Belief in “forever” is stronger among married people (+67 net belief) than those with live-in partners (+46 net belief) or those who are single (+36 net belief). (Net belief is the percentage of those who believe minus percentage of those who do not believe.)

It is also stronger among those who are very happy with their love life (+66 net belief) compared to people who wish their love life could be happier (+54 net belief), or those with no love life (+26 net belief). 

Meanwhile, the belief is strongest among people who believe in a long distance relationship (+72 net belief) than those who are undecided (+44 net belief) or do not believe in it at all (+17 net belief). 

Long distance relationships

According to the survey, a big majority of Filipinos (67%) also believe in long distance relationships. 3 out of 7 Filipinos (43%) say they had experienced such a relationship:  

• 39% strongly believe
• 28% somewhat believe
• 8% somewhat do not believe
• 13% strongly do not believe
• 11% undecided

Belief is very strong (+64 net belief) among those who had been in a long distance relationship, and strong (+33 net belief) among those who had not. 

Love life and happiness

The percentage of Filipinos who are very happy with their love life increased from 49% in 2014 to 51% in 2015.

Meanwhile, less Filipinos say they do not have a love life (10%, compared to 11% in 2014) or wish they could be happier with their love life (38%, compared to 40% in 2014). 

Those who are married are the happiest with their love life (59%), followed by people with live-in partners (54%), and those who are single (25%). 

– with Kaye Cabal; graphics by Mara Mercado/Rappler.com