PH named the 'world leader in love'

The number of Pinoys who claim to be "loveless" reportedly rose, but data from a global poll show that the Philippines is the country with the "most widespread feelings of love."

The Philippines topped what U.S.-based pollster Gallup called the "most comprehensive global index of love ever constructed."

The global survey, conducted in 136 countries in 2006-2007, asked respondents: "Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about love?"

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"The world leader in love is the Philippines, where fully 93 percent of the population reported feeling love," Gallup said in its blog.

"Rwanda isn't far behind at 92 percent, and Puerto Rico is the only other population surveyed where at least nine in 10 respondents reported feeling love," it added.

Rounding out the list of 10 countries with the most widespread feelings of live are Hungary, 89 percent; Cyprus, 88 percent; Trinidad & Tobago, 88 percent; Paraguay, 87 percent; Lebanon, 86 percent; and Costa Rica and Cambodia, tied at 85 percent.

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The Philippines' new title as world leader in love comes after a local survey showed that nearly four out of five Pinoys said they have no love life.

The Social Weather Stations survey results also showed that nearly four out of five Pinoys believe that "love cannot be planned and pursued, it just comes to a person."

But Gallup noted that "love" felt by respondents are not necessarily the romantic kind but "may also be the love of a child, a parent, family, or good friends."

"On a typical day, around 70 percent of the world's population report that they experienced love the day before," Gallup said.

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While more than nine out of 10 Pinoys say they experience love, in some countries, the figure drops to less than three out of 10.

Armenia is at the bottom of the list of countries in terms of feelings of love at only 29 percent, followed by Mongolia and Uzbekistan, both at 32 percent.

Also in the bottom 10 are Kyrgyztan, 34 percent; Morocco, Belarus and Georgia, 43 percent; Kazakhstan, 45 percent; Moldoca, 46 percent; and Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, 47 percent.

But Gallup said "it is important to note that differences between countries may be due to how cultures define "love" and not in actual day-to-day experiences.

For example, in some countries, the idea of "love" is restricted to a romantic partner, while in others it extends to one's family members and friends.