BACK when my grandparents were still kids, it wasn’t uncommon to share the same roof with 6 to 11 siblings. It staggers my mind to think parents in the 50’s were able to mentally handle and even afford to have that many children. These days, parents usually get along by having three kids, max. 

     And Gen Z’s? Many consider becoming a DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) with their future partners, creating a major shift in Filipino culture – which is to not have any children at all. Is this because Gen Z has grown to become weak-minded? Nope. It could’ve played out differently if it weren't for this broke-core reality that we live in! 

     According to an article by GMA News, Bumble, an online dating application, conducted a study in 2023 and found that 59% of single Filipinos are looking to have a child-free lifestyle. Featuring 500 single participants,  the study discovered that 62% of women are more interested in having a DINK set-up than 55% of males. In addition, 60% stated that the participants chose to prioritize personal development and travel without childcare constraints, while 40% pursue personal goals and dedication to their careers. 

     Why is this happening? Well, for the average Filipino, 2025 is a broader challenge to sustain a child and much more to make room for leisure and relaxation. With the unsurprising rise of inflation and recurrent fluctuations in the economy, married couples are scared to bear the responsibility of not being able to properly provide for their children and risk losing precious time for themselves. Aside from personal reasons, globalization and social media have exposed Filipinos to different married lifestyles and set-ups, making them rethink their long-term choices of having a family. 

     Basically, the goal of being a DINK is to secure economic relief. If a person deducts the overall expenses of bearing a child, like food, education, time, and personal needs, this means couples can invest more in themselves instead of burning cash on diapers and the ridiculous amount of emotional investment that comes with having kids. Don’t get me wrong – these are just facts as to why having a DINK lifestyle is appealing to a lot of Gen Z’s. Financial strain could be one reason, but it sometimes could mean having more opportunities to live on your own terms without having to think of a completely dependent human being. 

     As someone who is graduating in a few months from now, I don’t feel interested in having children anytime soon – even after marriage. I’m not really in love with the whole idea of starting a family, but it could just be my financially unstable college self talking.  Who knows what my biological clock will tell me? I recall my parents having me a year after marriage in their mid-twenties, definitely something I couldn’t see in myself, especially now that I just turned 23 a few days ago as of this writing. 

     That said, I am committed to ensuring that any future decision to have children will be based purely on my own choice without the influence of financial constraints. I aim to build a stable career from the degree I am about to earn in about three months. 

     To everyone who sees themselves embracing the DINK life – whatever reason you must have on not having children, it shouldn’t be a problem as long as nobody's shoes get stepped on. Choosing your own happiness should always come first.