Peekawoo: A dating app for the modern Maria Clara

Most twentysomething Tinderellas are in search for true love, but usually, men who use dating apps want a different kind of “happy ending”.

Fueled by their own frustrations with the Manila dating scene, Filipina entrepreneurs Valenice Balce and partner Mara Ang created Peekawoo, a dating app that’s made to fit the conservative Filipino culture where sex is taboo.

Peekawoo swims against the tide of popular Western-made apps like Tinder, where easy hook-up is the norm. 

Instead of using proximity-based matches, Peekawoo uses “would you rather” type questions to see which users have a potential to get along. Users are encouraged to submit their own questions based on their hobbies, interests and lifestyle. 

Taking it to the next level, Peekawoo also arranges group get-togethers and chaperoned dates to provide a safe and wholesome environment for meet-ups. 

They even arrange events where they teach women the protocols of basic dating. 

In an interview with ANC, Balce said that they currently have about 12,000 users, with about forty percent coming from the Philippines. 

Interestingly enough, Balce said that usage of Peekawoo spikes right after Valentine’s day. 

Balce and her team are coming up with more social apps to cater to the needs of modern Pinay millenials. 



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