MANILA, Philippines - Nearly seven of 10 adult Filipinos (68 per cent) would not change religion in the name of love, according to the latest survey by Social Weather Stations.

The fourth quarter survey also showed that 54 per cent would follow their "heart" while 45 per cent said they would follow their "mind" when it came to love matters, and that the majority of adult Filipinos (59 per cent) are "very happy" with their love life.

The survey, done from Dec. 3 to 7, posed the question: "In case you and your loved one do not have the same religion, will you definitely change/likely change/likely not change/definitely not change your religion in the name of love?"

Among the 68 per cent who said they would not change their religion, 50 per cent answered they would "definitely not change" and 18 per cent said they would "likely not change."

Thirty-one per cent were willing to change their religion for love-14 per cent said they would "likely change" and 17 per cent said they would "definitely change."

"Unwillingness to change their religion for their loved ones is strong in all religions," SWS said yesterday, eve of Valentine's Day.

Men follow their hearts

More Filipino men (56 per cent) than women (51 per cent) would follow their heart than their mind when it comes to love, SWS also noted.

While 52 per cent of younger men aged 18-24 said they would follow their mind rather than their heart, the majority of older men said they were more likely to follow their heart-59 per cent among those aged 25-34, 58 per cent among those aged 35-44, 58 per cent among those aged 45-54, and 54 per cent among those aged 55 and older.

"Quite the opposite, following their heart over their mind in matters of love is higher among women aged 54 years old and below," SWS said.

Fifty-one per cent among women aged 45-54, 56 per cent among those aged 35-44, 54 per cent among those aged 25-34 and 59 per cent among those aged 18-24 said they would follow their heart in matters of love.

The noncommissioned survey used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide. It had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

Love and faith

Unwillingness to change their religion for love was strongest among Muslims, where 56 per cent said they would "definitely not change" and 17 per cent said they would "likely not change" their religion for love.

Among Roman Catholics, 50 per cent said they would "definitely not change" and 18 per cent said they would "likely not change" their religion, compared to 18 per cent who would "definitely change" and 14 per cent who would "likely change" religion for the sake of love.

Among Protestants, 51 per cent would "definitely not change" and 6 per cent would "likely not change" their religion for love, while 15 per cent would "definitely change" and 24 per cent would "likely change."

Willingness to change their religion in the name of love is slightly higher among Protestants and Catholics, SWS noted.

Married ones

"Following one's heart rather than mind over matters of love is more prevalent among married Filipinos and those with live-in partners, than those who are single," the survey also showed.

The majority of those with live-in partners (64 per cent) and those who are married (55 per cent) said they would follow their heart rather than their mind when it came to love.

On the other hand, the majority of those who are single (52 per cent) said they would follow their mind, while 46 per cent would follow their heart.