Abstract:
Filipino youth who engage in sexual activities often experience unwanted pregnancies and
sexually transmitted diseases, according to 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey.
This often is the effect of not having enough knowledge in engaging in sexual activities.
Also, in the Philippine context, saying “no” or refusing to certain favors finds it difficult to
do so. This study aimed to determine how the Filipino youth respond to sexual invitations
from their romantic partners. Three hundred and eighty six Filipino youth aged 18 to 25
years, residing in Metro Manila and who have been engaged in a romantic relationship
were asked about the history of their romantic relationships, attitudes toward sexual
invitations as well as their experiences. With a sequential mixed methods design, two case
studies were also presented. Results showed that the attitude of the youth towards the
sexual activities was leading to positive perspective. More than half of the population
believed that they have the right to engage in sexual activities, given the following
conditions: it is consensual, one should not be forced to do so, and both have their right to
their own bodies. Most of the participants who said yes immediately to sexual invitation
(n=197) reasoned that they love their partners (76.65 %) Out of 53 participants who firmly
stand in saying no, 24.53 percent said that they were afraid to get pregnant or impregnate
their partner. The stigma experienced by those who engaged in sexual activities before
marriage was associated with one’s self-respect. Further studies are still needed in order to
understand the present generation’s take on sex, and how the intensity of one’s love to a
romantic partner can greatly affect an individual’s decisions.
