Number of Filipinos marrying foreigners rising – CFO

MANILA, Philippines — There is an increase in the number of Filipinos who marry foreigners, Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Romulo Arugay said.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Tuesday, Arugay noted that the trend of Filipinos marrying foreigners has been on the rise since 2007.

This slightly declined at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but rose by 20 to 30 percent in 2022, resulting in over 6,500 marriages.

Of these, approximately 6,000 are females and about 600 are males, according to Arugay.

“Social media is number 1, mga matching, ‘yung mga letters, mga introduction ng mga kanilang mga kaibigan,” he said, when asked for the possible reasons why Filipinos opt not to may their countrymen.

(Social media is number 1, like matching, the letters, the introductions of their friends.)

He said that Americans top the list of foreigners who married Filipinos, followed by Japanese, Germans, Canadians, and Australians.

Arugay also reiterated the CFO’s role in facilitating these interracial marriages.

“Ang mandato po nito ay ‘yung interes at karapatan, para sa kasaganahan ng mga Pilipinong umaalis na [ng Pilipinas],” he said.

(Our mandate is to protect the interests and rights for the welfare of Filipinos leaving [the Philippines].)

“Bago pa sila umalis kumpleto na sila ng mga papeles, may visa na sila hinggil sa kanilang pag-aasawa abroad. Dadaan po sa masusing guidance and counseling program ng ating opisina,” he explained.

(Before they leave, they will  have complete documents, and a visa regarding their marriage abroad. They will go through a thorough guidance and counseling program provided by our office.)

He said the CFO orients Filipinos who are about to marry foreigners on what adjustments they are about to face once they live in another country.