There's nothing wrong with being single. In fact, there are a lot of benefits that come with being unattached, whether it's financial, professional, or even psychological.
There are approximately 34 million single people in the Philippines, according to the 2015 Philippine mid-decade census. Discounting those who are below 20 years old, there are around 14.8 million Pinoys who are unattached. Within Metro Manila, there are a total of 4.8 million singles, with 2.5 million people between 20 to 80 years old. Quezon City takes the crown of having the highest number of singles with 1.1 million in total, 576,095 of which are between 20 to 80 years old.
In a GMA News report by Ivan Mayrina, Professor Nimfa Ogena of the UP Population Institute explains that many young people actually choose to be single, despite all the hugot on social media. "It's not really a disadvantage, and it's probably a change in perception," she notes, going on to say that single people are more likely to finish higher levels of education and find good jobs with great pay, allowing them to have the choice to grow their wealth. This independence affords increased happiness.
This matches with previous research: in another article, we've mentioned that "single people find contentment in themselves and in doing things that they love, and since they’re more likely to feel free to spend their time as they please, they are able to give ample focus on passions." Moreover, the single life gets better with age, as social psychologist and author Bella DePaulo Ph.D. shares one possibility from her book Singled Out:
“Financial freedom—women’s, in particular—is high on the list of social changes that have empowered many single people... There are currently sizable numbers of women who earn enough money on their own to support themselves, and maybe even some kids. They are no longer tethered to husbands for economic life support.”
Hair flip, single ladies. You're doing fine.
H/T: We The Pvblic
Sources: Philippine Population Surpassed the 100 Million Mark (Results from the 2015 Census of Population), GMA News
