ISSN: 2782-893X
eISSN: 2799-0664
ISSN: 2782- 893X
—— Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) relationships are distinct from the status quo in the Philippines, where monogamy is the rule. CNM is a type of non-monogamous sexual relationship where both partners know and agree to it. This kind of relationship can look different, with polyamory being one of the most common. In these situations, two or more people have romantic or sexual relationships with each other, usually in a trio or quad. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to get information from 10 Filipinos who are currently in polyamorous relationships. The goal was to shed light on the rarely studied reality of polyamory in the Philippines and fill a research gap. With the help of a semi-structured conversation, the researcher looked into how a polyamorous relationship works and what people think about it. After employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the main tool for analysis, the research found eight themes: (1) agreement on the start of a polyamorous relationship, (2) the foundations of polyamorous relationships, (3) the challenges of being in a polyamorous relationship, (4) the skills needed to handle multiple relationships, (5) the basis for making decisions, (6) misconceptions about polyamory, (7) perceptions of polyamory, and (8) perceptions of monogamy. As expected, the study shows that Filipino polyamorous people have to deal with a lot of misunderstandings and abuse, which hurts their emotional and mental health. In conclusion, the study gave suggestions for creating an environment that encourages openness and where emotional and mental support is available, even for people who have been mislabeled as taboo in the past. Keywords — Polyamory, IPA, Consensual Non-Monogamy, Relationship Dynamics, Perspectives, Polyfidelity