MANILA - Despite a predominantly Catholic population, more than 4 of every 10 Filipino couples tied the knot outside the Church, according to the National Statistics Office.
The NSO recorded 482,480 marriages in 2010, down two percent from 492,254 in 2009.
Of the 2010 tally, 209,952 ceremonies were performed through civil rites or a 43.5 percent share of the total that year.
Marriages solemnized in Catholic rites reached 169,034 or 35 percent of all marriages in 2010, the second straight year that the Church played second fiddle to civilian officiators.
Marriages solemnized in Islam, tribal and other religious rites reached 103,299 or 21.4 percent.
The 2010 data also showed that February was that year's "love month," with 53,443 couples taking their vows for a daily average of 1,909 marriages.
Besides February, the next two popular months for marriages were April and December. In contrast, August marked the lowest number of marriages.
source: interaksyon.com
