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The Philippines is a rich source of courtship rituals. Although some of the traditional ways of courting are no longer observed, given the Western influences, there are still those that persist particularly in the rural areas.
Filipinos are very romantic when it comes to the affairs of the heart. Serenading was one of the most popular forms of courtship to show that a man is very serious with his intentions to a woman right up until the 1950s. A serenade would require the young man to sing a love song in front of the young lady's house. Normally, he was accompanied by his male friends who acted as back-up singers. The man himself or his friend played the instrument, usually a guitar, that provides the background music to his song. They would have to wait until the young lady opened a window to listen. It would be up to her if she wanted to invite them in for some refreshment and to chat after the song. Even if they had been asked to come in, the suitor would not expect that he could have the chance of a private moment with his object of affection. It was highly likely that the parents would also be there to entertain the man and his friends. Years ago, it was unheard of to see a man and a woman going out by themselves on a date. A chaperone was required since it would be distasteful on the part of the woman to be seen along with her suitor. A third party would make sure that the pair keep their distance from each other and appear respectable at all times. The chaperone was generally an older, female relative of the young lady. There were instances that even when the pair were already a couple or engaged, a chaperone still escorted them until they were married. For the ardent suitor, one way to prove your sincerity and true love for your beloved is to perform all the difficult tasks in housekeeping. This refers to the following activities - chopping wood to be used by her family to cook their food, fetching water from the well and delivering it to her house, helping her father perform farming activities if he has farmland and other household chores. By doing all these responsibilities, this signifies that you are willing to serve and do anything just to win the love, not only of the young lady concerned, but her family as well. Writing love letters is definitely a sweet way of winning the heart of your ladylove. Through poetic writing, a man is able to express his heart's desires. He is given the chance to pour out his emotions with the use of pen and paper. Many women have been wooed and consequently, won by their suitors through the art of love letter writing. A love letter shows the sensitive side of the man, which the woman is likely to appreciate to see from him. The traditional Philippine courtship is definitely passionate. Fortunately, some Filipinos are still observing these courting and dating customs. |
