For Filipinos, family comes first

MANILA, Philippines – Family, health, and religion or spiritual work are the top 3 things that make Filipino men and women happy, according to a poll conducted by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) to determine the Philippine Happiness Index (PHI) for 2010.

“One finding from our studies that corroborates what we probably already know, is that the family is definitely a very (if not the most) important source of happiness among us Pinoys. It is therefore important that we preserve the family as the social unit that can bind us together,” wrote Dr. Romulo A. Virola, secretary general of the NSCB, in an article entitled “What Makes Women Happy?” published in the NSCB website.

The poll also showed that work ranks 4th, and peace is 5th among the factors determining happiness.

It is interesting to note, though, that income and financial security merit a 9th ranking among both men and women, meaning that just having work–and not necessarily getting rich–can already make Filipinos happy.

The poll, conducted in August 2010, also revealed that food is the 6th factor that can make Filipinos happy.

Here are the top 10 factors that determine the happiness of both Filipino men and women, according to NSCB:

1. Family
2. Health
3. Religion and/or spiritual work
4. Work
5. Peace and security
6. Food
7. Education
8. Love life
9. Income and financial security
10. Environment

Among low income groups

The PHI results also showed that among low income Filipino males, sex life ranked first in the list of factors making them happy. For women, it’s at 7th place.

Family ranked first among poor Filipino women, and 10th among men.

Love life, for both males and females belonging to this bracket, is both at 2nd place, with food occupying the 3rd slot for both men and women.

Health ranked 5th among women, and 4th among men.

Income and financial security, on the other hand, ranked 11th among women, and 12th among men. –Karen Galarpe, abs-cbnNEWS.com