Love in the Time of Pa-load in the Philippines

Jollibee Dates, Endless Texts, and the Power of Kilig

In the Philippines, love doesn’t just blossom—it load-bursts into your inbox faster than you can say “Pa-load nga po!” Forget grand gestures of roses or fancy dinners; nothing says true love like a surprise GCash transfer, or better yet, a good ol' sachet of 3-in-1 coffee on a rainy day.

Swipe Right or Left, But It’s All the Same Face

Tinder and Bumble, the battlegrounds of modern Filipino romance. You’ll swipe through profiles filled with "loves to travel" (which means they’ve been to Tagaytay), "coffee addict" (translation: Starbucks is life), and "gym buff" (let’s be honest, it's just one selfie from the one time they went). If you’re lucky, you’ll match with someone who claims to work at "self-employed" or the mysterious "freelancer" that no one truly understands.

Once you finally secure that match, the conversation usually opens with: "Hi, can I ask a question?" Spoiler alert: the question is almost always “Are you free later?” which is code for "Do you want to hang out in Jollibee?"

Dates Sponsored by Jollibee

When it comes to choosing a date spot, nothing says "I value you" quite like Jollibee. Whether it’s a cheap yet satisfying Chickenjoy, or the thrill of sharing a plate of Jolly Spaghetti—you’ll know things are serious if they offer you the last bite.

Of course, if you want to get fancy, you can always splurge on Samgyupsal. Forget chocolates or flowers; in the Philippines, a bottomless buffet of grilled pork is the ultimate aphrodisiac. There’s nothing quite like the sight of your date stuffing their face with unlimited pork belly to ignite that spark of romance.

The Texting Marathon

Forget lengthy phone calls; modern Filipino dating relies on never-ending text exchanges. And no, I don’t mean thoughtful messages or deep conversations. I’m talking about the traditional “Good morning, ingat ka” texts sent every. single. day. And at night, “Goodnight, sweet dreams” in all its repetitive glory. It’s like a never-ending game of SMS ping-pong, where everyone wins, except your mobile data.

The ultimate milestone? When they start sending you memes. Filipino memes are the love language of a generation raised on WiFi and GCash. If they send you a TikTok video of a guy doing a budots dance in the middle of the street, congratulations, you're basically in.

The Power of "Kilig"

Kilig—the untranslatable Filipino word for that fluttery, heart-pounding feeling when your crush does something as simple as wave at you, or send you an emoji. It’s so powerful that even the sight of their name in your notifications can make you feel like you’ve won the lottery. A "seen" status is practically a dagger to the heart, though.

But perhaps the ultimate kilig comes not from heartfelt moments, but from the legendary harana—except, in 2024, the serenade is done via Spotify playlist. If your crush sends you a playlist called "Songs that remind me of you," brace yourself—it’s going to be a series of Ed Sheeran hits that are entirely too sentimental for people who've only been dating for a week.

The Ghost of Exes Past

Dating in the Philippines also means navigating the complex world of exes. Whether it’s their ex, your ex, or the ever-present "ex who’s now just a friend"—you’ll eventually cross paths with these ghosts. And let's not forget, in true Filipino fashion, every ex must be followed by a dramatic post on social media, complete with song lyrics from Moira Dela Torre. It's like a national pastime.

The Family Judgement Day

If you survive the ghost of exes and endless Jollibee dates, you're one step closer to the Final Boss: meeting the family. This is where things get real. And by "real," I mean you’ll be scrutinized like a reality show contestant.

Aunts will ask you about your job ("Are you planning to work abroad?"), cousins will grill you about your intentions, and grandmothers—bless them—will just ask outright when the wedding is. Because in the Philippines, if you’re dating for more than six months and there’s no engagement ring in sight, you might as well start writing your "break-up" Facebook post now.

Love Takes on a Unique Twist

In the end, dating in the Philippines is a beautiful, chaotic mix of low-budget dates, endless text conversations, and family expectations. But it’s also filled with laughter, kilig moments, and that undeniable connection built on shared Jollibee meals and random "kamusta" texts.

Because in the Philippines, love doesn’t have to be grand—it just has to have good WiFi, a generous pa-load, and maybe a few unlimited chicken wings.

And now that you've read this article down to this part, congratulations—you've just spent a few minutes inside the writer's brain! Just remember, some of this may be true, some may be exaggerated, and some may have been inspired by a half-eaten balut:-)...

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