4 Reasons That May Explain Why Filipinos Are Generally Happy

When in Manila, one of the things you will notice is that the people are generally happy and in
good spirits. Even through difficult times, Filipinos never seem to lose the ability to smile and
remain optimistic. The Philippines is populated with plenty of sweet and pleasant folks whose
positive outlook and patience are not easily exhausted. As a Filipino-American who moved here
not too long ago, the Filipino state of mind was something I quickly admired.

In 2010, I moved to Metro Manila for school and the experience so far has been a stark contrast
from living in the New York Metropolitan area where you are likely to run into miserable and
cranky people at any given minute. After seeing how the crowds of Metro Manila are pretty
much the opposite from those of New York, I became fascinated in what exactly the people in
the Philippines are doing differently that has them in a good mood on a regular basis. What’s
behind the light-hearted quality that the majority of the population in the Philippines share?

Unfortunately, I am neither a scientist nor a sociologist. I can, though, be a passionately curious

person and so I decided to delve into a bit of research. During my attempt to dig up information,
I was actually successful on coming across several plausible reasons. I gathered the ones I
thought readers out there might find interesting, but could also possibly provide some valid
explanations, here on this post. Hopefully you find them as interesting as I did.

1. Fish and Rice Diet

If you didn’t already know, our bodies have “feel-good” chemicals that can actually enhance our
mood and behavior. One of which is called serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in our brain
that plays a big role in regulating our mood. Our bodies produce serotonin out of essential amino
acids called tryptophan, which can be found in protein-rich foods. Although tryptophan can be
found in practically all protein-rich food, fish has been regarded to contain higher levels of it.
When your digestive system breaks down fish, tryptophan gets in our bloodstream where some
of it makes its way to our brain. While in the brain, tryptophan is then turned into serotonin. The
more fish we eat, the more serotonin we produce to boost our mood.
But wait, there’s more. Carbohydrates, from food such as rice and vegetables, stimulate a larger
uptake of tryptophan from our bloodstream into our brains. With larger amounts of tryptophan
entering our brain, even more serotonin can be made that can be used to make us feeling good.

Doctors who treat patients battling depression often encourage this kind of diet as a part of their
health plan. Yet, here in the Philippines, fish and rice are regularly consumed all year round.
And, since the islands of the Philippines are sitting on rich Pacific waters, fisheries are
everywhere providing a wide variety of fish harvest. This makes various local fish very
affordable and can be easily prepared into many different types of delicious dishes. And of
course, a Filipino meal is not complete unless it is eaten with rice. So, whether it’s tilapia,
bangus or galunggong; customarily eating fish and rice is actually a good contributor to our daily
dose of Filipino happiness.

2. Tropical Weather

Most Filipinos try to avoid the Sun but, believe it or not, being exposed to sunlight increases our
brain’s production of serotonin. Not only that, sunlight also causes our bodies to produce vitamin
D, which helps our body make sure that enough serotonin is doing its job of keeping you happy.
Awesome, right? But wait, there’s more.

Aside from production of serotonin and vitamin D, sunlight also controls the production of a
hormone called melatonin. Melatonin helps us fall asleep and regulate our sleeping pattern.
When exposed to sunlight, our body produces melatonin, but secretes in minimally during the
day. When the sun is down or if sunlight is absent, melatonin secretion is increased to help us fall
asleep and get a good night’s rest. If a person does not produce enough melatonin though, they
can develop an abnormal sleeping pattern and depression. The good thing for people living in the
Philippines is that healthy production of melatonin all really depends on one thing. Geographical
location.

3. Close-knit Families

A strong relationship can be one the best protections you can have from everyday stress.
Whether we’re aware of it or not, it contributes a lot to our emotional (and even physical) well-
being. Having someone who provides support and comfort plays a big role in being happy and,
ultimately, improving our quality of life no matter how difficult it is at that moment. It doesn’t
matter if we form these bonds with our colleagues, friends or family, a strong relationship with
someone has more therapeutic value than any medication, diet or exercise can provide.

In the Philippines, keeping families intact and close together is rooted deep in Filipino culture. It
is common for entire complete families of several generations to live together under one roof. In
Western culture, parents encourage their children to move out when they’re in their 20’s and
grandparents are sent to nursing homes once they’re too old. For Filipinos, however, it is
perfectly acceptable for anyone in the family to live together in the same house for as long as
they want. Even after being married with children, it is normal if you, your spouse, and your
children still live in the same house as your mother, father, siblings, or even your siblings’ own
families.

For Westerners, it may seem like asking for trouble to have an entire family crowded in one
house, but Filipinos look at it is as having warmth and unity. In a Filipino household, the family
works together in harmony to provide for each other. The adults care for the elderly, the children
carry out chores, the elderly care for the children; it’s like a well oiled machine. The biggest
benefit of all though is that there are many strong relationships developing and made within the
family. The support and comfort needed to alleviate stress and sadness are easily accessible.
Someone will always be there for you if you ever need help or just to vent out frustrations. Even
simply being around caring family members is enough to boost a person’s mood. Their presence
can make you feel safe, comfortable and sheltered from harsh reality. Essentially, just being a
part of close-knit Filipino families can contribute in boosting your mood and keeping you happy.
So, next time you see a caring family member of yours, give them a hug and thank them for
being your walking-talking serotonin.

4. Religion and Spirituality

Filipinos are largely religious and spiritual people. Regardless of which religion you belong to,
faith runs deep in communities throughout the country. It has a powerful impact on the public
and many consider it as a big part of their lives.

In the Philippines, it is ordinary to see folks pray and worship in the company of family and
friends. If not at home, there are many places for Filipinos of different religions to go to for
mass and worship. So much so that even most shopping malls have places for worship. Through
prayer, meditation or other spiritual practices (what ever yours may be), the hardships of life are
made easier. It is capable of giving life a deeper meaning and valuing the positive aspects of life
instead of the negative. A spiritual connection can also fuel a person with purpose and hope even
if there is very little to be hopeful about. After prayer or worship, people leave with a feeling of
being whole and at peace. Ultimately, religious and spiritual practices are effective forms of
coping. They are helpful to contributing to our quality of life and preventing misery and
depression from manifesting. So, even if we belong to different beliefs, the important thing is to
stay in touch with our spiritual side. Having a spiritual side can keep that happiness strong and
last longer.