Finding the perfect gift for your Filipina girlfriend that makes her feel loved and appreciated can be a challenge. You want to give her something heartfelt and meaningful, but also useful and interesting. She likely values thoughtfulness over extravagance, and remember, it doesn’t need to be over the top.
When shopping for the perfect gift for a Filipina girlfriend, consider jewelry, flowers, watches, perfume, women’s cosmetics, chocolate, sweets, and stuffed toys. For special occasions like birthdays or holidays such as Christmas, you can’t go wrong with flowers, a cake, and some cash.
There was a woman I met in the Philippines whom I liked very much, but struggled to secure a second date with. She didn’t seem interested in me. My expat friend advised me to buy her a gift, have it wrapped, and then let her know I had bought it for her. Later on, she told me that it was that gift that made her attracted to me.
-Eric James
The key is to choose a gift that shows you listen to what she cares about, understand what she needs, and appreciate the traditions she grew up with. Make sure to pay close attention to the details, the subtle things she mentions about her life and use them as the indicators in which to base your gift on. Also, any gift that is given in a surprising manner will take it to the next level.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Dating Women in the Philippines
1) Bring Her A Gift From Your Home Country
When traveling from another country to meet your girlfriend or potential partner in the Philippines, I highly recommended to bring her a gift from your homeland. This approach has proven to be very successful for me in the past.
After spending some time in Thailand, I took a trip to the Philippines to meet a woman I was interested in. I brought her various souvenirs from Thailand such as a fan, inexpensive jewelry, and elephant souvenirs. Needless to say, she greatly appreciated the thoughtful gesture.
On another occasion, I purchased perfume, scented lotion, and a necklace from the United States before traveling to the Philippines. This gift selection was well-received and significantly contributed to her attraction towards me.
2) Cosmetic Care Package From Watsons
For men already in the Philippines, I stumbled upon an extremely effective gift-giving solution from the advise of a fellow expat. I mentioned earlier that a thoughtful gift is what turned things around for a prospective Filipina girlfriend. The gift was a simple care package that I put together of various cosmetics, none costing more than 5 dollars. It was a variety of nail polish, eyeliner, makeup, lipstick, and scented lotion. Here is the simple strategy:
- Go to Watsons convenience store in a mall
- Tell the women in the store that you need help picking out some things, they will be eager to help you
- Pick out a variety of cosmetics (lipstick, makeup, lotion, nail polish, scented lotion, etc.)
- Take the cosmetics over to National Bookstore
- At National Bookstore get the gifts wrapped in a box together
In the Philippines, Watsons is an extremely popular convenience store, similar to Walgreens or CVS. They are in every mall, in fact, sometimes there may be multiple Watsons in one mall. They have a huge variety of cosmetics and lots of staff just waiting to help customers.
National Bookstore is the top chain bookstore in the Philippines and most malls have one. Inside the store, there is a gift wrapping section where an employee will help you pick out a box, wrapping paper, and bow, and then wrap it up beautifully.
At Ayala Center Cebu in Cebu City, Philippines, Watsons and National Bookstore are on the same floor and only a few meters away from each other.
Also see: How To Maintain A Long-Distance Relationship With A Filipina
3) Jewelry or Watch
You can never go wrong with jewelry as a gift choice for many Filipina women and other women all over the world. They love wearing beautiful earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more. Jewelry that uses traditional Filipino designs is especially meaningful. Some popular traditional styles include filigree, which delicately weaves fine metal threads into gorgeous patterns. South sea pearls and shells are also commonly used in Philippine jewelry design.
4) Perfumes and Fragrances
Perfume is one of the most appreciated gifts for Filipina women. Filipinas love feminine fragrances like fruity, floral, and musky scents. Popular perfumes and fragrances gifted include:
- Floral perfumes like Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, Nina Ricci’s Nina, and Issey Miyake’s L’Eau d’Issey
- Fruity scents like Marc Jacobs Daisy, Clinique Happy, and Escada Island Kiss
- Sweet fragrances like Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb and Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium
When choosing a perfume for your Filipina girlfriend, consider her unique tastes and personality. Does she like light and energetic scents or richer, muskier notes? If you don’t know, feel free to ask her. It can still be a surprise later on.
5) Stuffed Toys & Plushies
Filipinas love cute and cuddly stuffed toys, especially those with a soft and fluffy texture. Consider getting your girlfriend a stuffed animal or pillow that she can hug and snuggle with, particularly when you aren’t physically together.
Popular options include teddy bears, pandas, rabbits, dogs, cats and cartoon characters. You can find a wide selection of stuffed toys in various sizes and designs online at stores like Shoppee and Lazada. Customized stuffed toys where you can record a loving message are also appreciated. Just holding a stuffed toy you gifted can comfort her when she misses you.
6) Flowers
Flowers are a classic and romantic gift that will surely make your Filipina girlfriend’s heart flutter. Flower giving is ingrained in Filipino courtship culture as an expression of love. Some beautiful blooms to consider are:
- Roses – The quintessential flower gift, red roses signify romance, passion, and love. Go for a dozen or two dozen long-stemmed roses for a special occasion like her birthday or your anniversary. Opt for pink or peach roses for a more playful and feminine vibe.
- Orchids – Orchids are a popular gift in the Philippines as they symbolize refinement and thoughtfulness. Have them arranged in a bouquet or potted plant.
- Sunflowers – Sunflowers radiate cheer and positivity. A bouquet of sunny sunflowers will instantly put a smile on your girlfriend’s face. For added meaning, give her 12-13 sunflowers to represent the months you’ve been together.
I have sent flowers to girlfriends in the Philippines and fortunately, it is very easy and can be done from your home country. There are reliable online flower shops like flowerstore.ph and Flower Chimp. All you need to day is pay online and they will hand deliver the flowers to your Filipina woman.
7) Chocolates & Sweets
Filipina women love receiving chocolates and sweets as gifts. Some quintessential Filipino delicacies to gift include:
- Polvoron – A crumbly, powdery Filipino shortbread made with flour, milk powder, and powdered sugar. Extremely popular gift to give during the holidays.
- Ube halaya – A vivid purple yam jam made from ube (purple yam). Has a vibrant color and smooth, sweet taste.
- Mango delicacies – Dried mangoes are a popular exported Filipino delicacy. Also consider mango jam, candy, and chocolate covered dried mangoes.
- Tablea – Filipino drinking chocolate tablets made from roasted cacao beans. Can be prepared into hot chocolate drinks.
Locally made artisanal chocolates also make thoughtful gifts. When gifting chocolates and sweets, opt for high-quality Filipino brands showcasing unique native ingredients.
Also see: 8 Reasons Why Filipinas Are So Desirable for Foreigners
8) Handbags & Accessories
There may be no better gift than a fashionable handbag for a Filipina girlfriend, they adore them. Personally, with handbags, I always let Filipinas pick out the ones they want instead of trying to guess. It’s hard to go wrong with flowers and chocolates, but it can be easy to go wrong with a handbag.
If it fits your budget, consider gifting your girlfriend a designer bag from brands like Michael Kors, Coach, Kate Spade or Tory Burch that have boutiques across the Philippines. You will be a hero. However, there are much cheaper options if you are already in the Philippines. Local Filipino bag brands like Aranaz, Aromatica, and Marione also offer beautifully crafted bags at various price points.
Other accessories like wallets, sunglasses, scarves, and jewelry also make excellent gifts. Get her a nice wallet that matches her favorite bag. Look for sunglasses from Rayban, Oakley or other luxury brands. Silk scarves and pashminas can add a stylish touch to her outfits. Think about a handbags and accessories that might match a pair of earrings that she regularly wears.
9) Sentimental Gifts
Filipinas love sentimental gifts that have special meaning and commemorate your relationship. Some ideas for sentimental gifts include:
- Scrapbook or photo album of your memories together. Decorate pages with ticket stubs, notes, and other mementos from your relationship. A scrapbook lets you relive your best experiences.
- Framed photos from special occasions like your first vacation together or when you first met. A collage frame with multiple photos can work nicely.
- Personalized jewelry or ornaments with your names or initials engraved.
- Custom artwork depicting something meaningful in your relationship.
- A thoughtful handwritten love letter recalling favorite moments and expressing what she means to you.
Sentimental gifts show you cherish your memories together and care enough to create something heartfelt. Pick a gift that reflects your unique story as a couple.
Also see: The Top 7 Reasons Why Foreigners Love The Philippines
10) Electronics
Getting a smartphone for a Filipina girlfriend as a gift is a great idea for various reasons. Firstly, smartphones have become a necessity more than a luxury nowadays. They are a vital part of daily life, including in the Philippines. By giving her a smartphone, you are not only offering her a device for communication but also granting her access to information, entertainment, and various helpful apps that could really open the world up to her.
11) Gifts for Special Occasions
When it comes to special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, and anniversaries, you’ll want to find a gift that expresses your love and makes her feel extra special. Also, birthdays and Christmas are huge in the Philippines…definitely mark it down in your calendar so you don’t forget to do something special for her.
Here are some ideas Filipinas tend to appreciate for the three most common occasions:
- For birthdays, jewelry like earrings or a bracelet is always appreciated. Designer handbags and gadgets like smartphones or tablets are also popular birthday gifts. If you want to give an experience, tickets to a concert, amusement park, or comedy show can make for a memorable birthday.
- Christmas gift ideas – Filipinas love include jewelry, perfume, luxury items like branded bags or shoes, and tech gadgets. Gift cards to her favorite stores are also useful. Holiday-themed decor and baked goods are festive gifts. And of course, cash gifts in either Philippine pesos or US dollars are always welcome for Christmas.
- Mark anniversaries by gifting jewelry, especially if they have birthstones or diamonds. Perfumes and fragrances also make romantic anniversary presents. For major milestones, you could plan an overseas trip, spa getaway package, or surprise romantic dinner.
No matter the occasion, her favorite chocolates, flowers, and heartfelt love notes or cards will surely make your Filipina girlfriend smile. Focus on gifts that convey your feelings and celebrate your relationship.