Family, not sex, is Pinoys’ No. 1 source of happiness

By Kate V. Pedroso
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Family, health and religion are the three most important sources of happiness among Filipinos, while sex, sports, politics and cultural pursuits rank among the least important, according to a recent study by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

But sounding incredulous, the NSCB official, who released the results of the study Tuesday, observed: “Could it be that the respondents were just too shy to reveal their true feelings about sex? Or (is it) time to shift stories away from the birds and the bees?”

Romulo Virola, NSCB secretary general, reported that Filipinos ranked family as the most important source of happiness, with a score of 9.45 on a scale of 10. Health came next with 8.95, while religion ranked third with 8.59.

Other important sources of happiness include friends (8.57), financial security (8.3), education (8.25), love life (8.2) and work (7.94).

The study was based on a nonrandom poll of 167 respondents conducted during the National Convention on Statistics held on Oct. 1-2.

Nonrandom sampling means that the questionnaire was given only to those who wanted to answer it during the convention without a specific target group in mind, Jessamyn Encarnacion of the NSCB Social Statistics Office explained in a phone interview.

‘Quite surprising’

In a statement, Virola said it was “quite surprising” that sex (6.39) was not an important source of happiness, and that at 14th place, it was ranked among the five least important.

“Also, leisure and sports, surprisingly, is the sixth least important domain. I thought we loved Manny Pacquiao,” he said, referring to the Filipino boxing sensation who posted his latest ring conquest on Sunday.

Politics was the least important source of happiness with 5.84. “I wonder if our congressmen and senators realize this,” Virola noted.

Other unimportant domains of happiness are cultural activities (5.88), community and volunteer work (6.24), and government (6.53).

“The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency and related (offices) obviously need to do something if they want our countrymen to appreciate what they are supposed to promote,” the official remarked.

Levels of happiness

In terms of “level of happiness,” the NSCB study also found that Filipinos were happy with their family lives with a happiness index rating of 88.5 percent. They were also happy with friends (83.6 percent), religion (79.8 percent) and love lives (79.4 percent).

“Health, which is supposed to be the second most important source of happiness, unfortunately gets only 78 percent, meaning that people are not getting any healthier or that we worry too much about our health,” NSCB noted.

While sex life did not rank as an important source of happiness, the respondents gave it an index rating of 72.6 percent, meaning they were happier with sex than they were with work (71 percent), leisure and sports (70 percent), financial security (68.8 percent) and cultural activities (66.6 percent).

The study also found that people were happier “with domains that are within their control than those not within their control, like politics.”

Six out of 10 respondents also agreed that “progress is synonymous with happiness.”

Women happier

The study also showed that Filipino women tended to be happier than men, and that “happiness rises with income.”

Encarnacion also coauthored a paper, “Measuring Progress of Philippine Society: Gross National Product or Gross National Happiness,” which was presented during the convention.

The questionnaire listed the following factors: family, friends, religion, love life, health, education, sex life, work, leisure and sports, community and volunteer work, technological know-how, income and financial security, cultural activities, environment, economy, government and politics.

The NSCB conducted two pilot tests of the questionnaire, which was formulated in relation to a proposed Philippine Happiness Index.

On a list of 95 countries, the Philippines had landed on the “middle-range” of the World Database of Happiness Index. From 1995 to 2005, the country’s average rating of 6.4 placed it in about the same bracket as India (6.2), Iran, (6.0), Poland (5.9) and South Korea (5.8.)

The WDHI is currently topped by Denmark, with a rating of 8.2.

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