Understanding Filipina Dating Customs: Going Out

Courtship customs pervade all cultures. In the Philippines, dating is a practice integral to the whole marriage process, and it is largely influenced by Spanish tradition. This is because the Philippines was under Spanish domination for more than three hundred years. Spanish customs and traditions have impressed upon Filipino culture, finding but a shade or two of their own expressions in today’s modern lifestyles.

It used to be that society considered it improper for a girl and a boy to be alone together without the presence of adults. Whenever a boy courted a girl, it was always done at the girl’s home, under the watchful eyes of her parents, or at a public place or promenade in the company of chaperones. Time for courtship demanded courtesy; it was deemed very rude if a visit went beyond 9:00 in the evening or encroached on the hours the host family was supposed to be resting.

With increased modernization and the changing lifestyles, time-honored Filipina dating customs also evolved. These days it is not uncommon to see boys and girls as young as their mid-teens going on dates by themselves. The current practice undoubtedly has Western influence, especially through media, written all over it. What young people see in movies and television shows, for example, gets emulated in real life.

Common dating places are houses of mutual friends, moviehouses, parks and plazas, malls, restaurants and eateries, as well as the girl’s home. More affluent couples travel to nearby tourist spots like beaches, resorts and other lavish places. Wherever they go, people who are dating always tend to go somewhere that would make the occasion worth remembering.

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