8 quirky (but good) things you can expect when dating a Filipina

By Doug •  9 min read

If you’ve ever wondered what to expect when dating a Filipina, I’ve got really good news for you. It’s likely going to be a very good experience! Women from the Philippines are incredibly kind and good-hearted. And even though you may have to deal with feisty arguments every now and then, she isn’t going to ridicule and birate you when she proves you wrong (and she will – they always do).

The excitement (and satisfaction) you’ll feel while dating a Filipina is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life. And who knows? If the relationship progresses in the right direction, you’ll then have to know what to expect when marrying a Filipina (warning: there are major disadvantages too).

These are 8 things to expect when dating a Filipina

For the record, chances are pretty good that you’re going to be experiencing more than just the eight things I list here. Everyone is different, and believe it or not, not all Filipina’s are the same. Weird, eh? Anyway, these are the 8 things you’ll be most likely to experience:

1. Expect to eat well

One of the first things you’re going to learn about dating a Filipina is that is that they love to eat. Seriously. Some of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life have been with my Filipino friends, andit’s why I always look forward to traveling to the Philippines.

Food is very much a part of the culture in the Philippines, and children learn from a very early age how to cook amazing things from scratch.

Contrast that the way that I was brought up here in the mid western United States, and it’s embarrassing to say the least. I could barely throw together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I was 10. However, every Filipino that I’ve ever known could cook an entire meal from scratch. Not just any meal, but one that would rival some of the best restaurants here in the United States.

The bottom line is that you can expect to be eating very well when you’re dating a Filipina. I highly recommend your first date to be highly centered around food, as that’s going to be the fastest way to get (and hold) her attention.

After that, it’s likely that she’s going to drive all meal-related decisions in the relationship from then on . Don’t worry. She’ll make amazing choices.

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2. Expect to spend lots of time with her friends

Close friendship is highly regarded in the Philippines, and your Filipino girlfriend will likely have an entourage of friends that she takes everywhere. It’s OK. She’s not doing it because she thinks you’re boring.

As a matter fact, if she include you with her get together‘s with her friends, it most likely means that she likes you enough for you to be included in her closest group of acquaintances. As a matter of fact, doing this is one of the signs that a Filipina likes you. It’s a good thing!

While some guys may not have a problem going on group dates with her Filipino girlfriends (and their boyfriends), introverted guys may not like this so much. If you’re the kind a guy who likes to be alone with the woman that you date, dating a Filipina may not be for you.

Her friends will be included in everything, and if you show any resistance to that, it’s going to be seen as a major negative in her mind. She wants to include you. She wants you to like her friends (and vice versa).

what to expect dating a Filipina

Sure, she may enjoy a hand-in-hand walk with you on the beach, but…chances are pretty good you’ll be going back to spend time with her family after this.

4. Expect to spend even more time with her family

Not only are friends extremely important two people from the Philippines, family is as well. Your Filipino girlfriend is likely to introduce you to her family relatively quickly after she sees how you interact with her friends.

If you like them, and they like you, chances are pretty good that a fair number of your future dates with her will be spent with her family in some way or another.

Family gatherings will be common Not only that, you can expect frequent family meals together. Remember what I was saying earlier about Filipino culture and food? It’s what bonds families together, and if the relationship is serious, you’re going to get to know them very quickly.

The good news is that you’ll be getting more of the most difficult aspects of dating out of the way really quick.

In western culture, meeting the family of your girlfriend is often something that happens once the relationship is well-established. However, this is not what you can expect when dating a Filipina. Assuming that you don’t botch it with her friends, she’s going to introduce you to her family relatively quickly. Get ready.

5. Expect to argue (at least a little)

Yes, the rumors are true. Filipinas can be a bit feisty at times, and you can absolutely expect there to be some disagreements during the dating process. Of course this is to be expected when dating a woman of any nationality, but it’s going to be somewhat amplified when dating a Filipino girl.

Filipinos are opinionated and strong. And that’s not a bad thing! They hold true to their beliefs, and have the kind of conviction that should be enviable to many. It’s very rare for them to back down in an argument, and you’ll need to defend yourself like you would if you were standing trial for murder over the simplest of things.

This isn’t a bad thing! After all, Filipino women are some of the nicest and sweetest people on the planet, and they’re not going to rub your nose in the dirt if (and when) she proves you wrong on something.

You can expect arguments with your Filipino girlfriend to be short, vigorous, and to the point. She likely won’t hold a grudge afterwards. A good meal (of her choice) will usually end the argument quick.

6. Expect to feel loved

As I just eluded to, women from the Philippines are amazingly kind and thoughtful. They cherish the feeling of love, and they give what they get. If you treat her well, she’s going to treat you just as well – if not better.

The only downside to this is that you may feel that she’s being too sticky yes you come from an American or European background. She’s not being sticky: she’s showing you her love for you. Cherish it. Embrace it. And give it back to her. It’s what she wants.

On the flip side, too much attention too soon is a warning sign. Filipina scammers are easy to spot, as they will often seem overly interested in a guy upon first meeting him.

7. Expect to make a commitment

You can fully expect your Filipino girlfriend to force you into a long-term commitment relatively quickly. It’s rare for them to drag out a relationship that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, and most of them won’t be afraid to ask you point-blank where the relationship is going if she’s feeling if it’s stagnating slightly.

Consider this a word of warning to all you guys out there who are only looking for short term fun. Filipino women are typically far more traditional than western women, and the won’t tend to deal with guys only looking to get laid. If that’s all you want, dating a Filipina is likely not for you.

8. You won’t have to spend lots of money to make her happy

Not only are Filipinos more traditional than their western counterparts, they are also far more modest and simplistic. A lot less materialistic as well.

This stems from the fact that wages are typically very low in the Philippines, and it’s extremely difficult to earn a good living there. People have had to make due with very little for centuries in the Philippines, and this is a trait that hasn’t faded much from generation to generation.

Just being a good guy who is there for her is all she needs to feel safe and happy. You’ll earn bonus points for bringing her good food too, of course.

Final thoughts

Knowing what to expect before dating a woman from the Philippines is vitally important. I have two close friends who dated Filipinas for the first time without knowing what was coming their way. Guess what? The relationships didn’t last very long.

Both were expecting a very “western” style relationship. The constant inclusion of her friends and family in the dating process was bothersome, mainly since they both thought that their girlfriends were avoiding having to spend time with them.

Not only that, they both had no idea how traditional Filipinas can be.

If you know what you’re getting into (and you like the idea of being with a woman who holds strong family values), dating a Filipino girl just may be one of the best experiences of your life. Be respectful, make an effort to learn the things she’s going to teach you, and just be there for her.

Assuming things go well, you might start asking yourself silly things like: how much does it cost to marry a Filipina?

Doug

My name is Doug, and I'm an ordinary white guy living in the US. 10 years ago I married a Japanese woman that I met online, and it's been an adventure to say the least! I started AsiaGraphix.com as a way to share all the lessons I've learned about dating (and ultimately marrying) an Asian woman.

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