Is love sweeter the second time around? Half of Pinoys think so

A little over half of Filipinos, or 51 percent, believe that love is sweeter the second time around, according to a survey by pollster Social Weather Stations.

Only 29 percent or slightly fewer than three out of 10 Filipinos do not believe in this saying, the SWS said in its survey conducted last Nov. 27 to Dec. 1.

"The December 2014 survey also found 27 percent saying they have already fallen in love the second time around, and 49 percent saying they have a very happy love life," added the SWS, which released the results on Wednesday, three days before Valentine's Day.

The survey involved interviews of 1,800 adults in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Sampling error margins of ±2 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and Mindanao areas percentages, and ±3 percent for Visayas area percentages applied to the survey.

Second time around

Here are the replies to SWS' question "How much do you believe or not believe the saying that love is sweeter the second time around? (Gaano po kayo naniniwala o hindi naniniwala sa kasabihan na mas matamis daw ang pag-ibig sa ikalawang pagkakataon o 'love is sweeter the second time around'?):

• 20 percent strongly believe it (lubos na naniniwala)
• 31 percent somewhat believe it (medyo naniniwala)
• 20 percent are undecided (hindi tiyak kung naniniwala o hindi)
• 12 percent somewhat do not believe it (medyo hindi naniniwala)
• 17 percent strongly do not believe it (lubos na hindi naniniwala)

Falling in love the second time around

When the December 2014 survey asked, "Have you already fallen in love the second time around or not yet?" (Naranasan na po ba ninyo na umibig sa ikalawang pagkakataon o hindi pa po?), 27 percent said they have already fallen in love the second time around.

SWS said the belief that "Love is sweeter the second time around" is stronger among those who experienced it.

It said the percentage of those who believe that "love is sweeter the second time around" are:

• 72 percent among those who have experienced it, and
• 43 percent among those who have not.

The "net belief"—or percentage of believers minus that of non-believers—is +55 among those who had experienced it, compared to only +10 among those who had not.

SWS said the net belief for the entire sample is +22.

Happiness with love life

However, the SWS noted happiness with love life is below average in 2014.

It said that of the six SWS surveys about happiness in love life so far—in 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014—an average of 54 percent have said it is very happy (napakasaya), 36 percent said it could be happier (sana mas masaya pa) and 11 percent have said that they have no love life (walang "love life" o buhay-pag-ibig).

Also in 2014, 49 percent considered their love life very happy, 40 percent said it could be happier, and 11 percent said they have no love life.

Live-in partners

SWS also said the belief "Love is sweeter the second time around" is stronger among those with live-in partners.

It said the December 2014 survey sample included 21 percent single adults, 63 percent married adults, and 16 percent adults with live-in partners.

Belief that "love is sweeter the second time around" is:

• 65 percent among those with live-in partners
• 53 percent among singles
• 47 percent among marrieds

By gender

SWS said men and women equally believe that "love is sweeter the second time around."

It said that in the 2014 survey, of the men interviewed, 24 percent are single, 63 percent are married, and 13 percent are with live-in partners.

Among the women, 19 percent are single, 63 percent are married, and 18 percent are with live-in partners.

Belief that "love is sweeter the second time around" is:

• 51 percent among both men and women
• 74 percent among live-in men
• 58 percent among single men
• 44 percent among married men
• 58 percent among live-in women
• 50 percent among married women
• 47 percent among single women.

The survey also found the belief that love is sweeter the second time around is stronger among the young.

Highest among live-ins

Falling in love the second time around is highest among live-ins.

SWS said 49 percent of live-in men have fallen in love the second time around, compared to 41 percent among single men and 20 percent among married men.

Among women, 41 percent of women with live-in partners have fallen in love the second time around, along with 29 percent among single women and 18 percent among married women.

Falling in love the second time around is slightly higher among men, as 29 percent of men have fallen in love the second time around, compared to 24 percent among women.

"For both men and women, the experience has a slight tendency to be higher among the young than among the old," the SWS said.

Married couples the happiest in love life

Meanwhile, 60 percent of married men have a very happy love life, along with 48 percent among live-in men and 33 percent among single men.

SWS added 57 percent of married women have a very happy love life compared to 40 percent among live-in women and 17 percent among single women.

"Happiness with love life is somewhat similar among married men (60 percent) and married women (57 percent)," it added.

The SWS also said the proportion of those who say their love life could be happier is slightly higher among women with live-in partners (59 percent) than men with live-in partners (52 percent).

It added 58 percent of single women say they do not have a love life, while only 37 percent of single men say so. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News