Manila, Philippines – Ninety-six percent of adult Filipinos are entering the New Year with hope rather than fear, a nationwide Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted December 8-11, 2023 found.
The said figure is above the 95% in 2022 and the highest since the pre-pandemic 96% registered in 2019.
Meanwhile, 3% will enter New Year with fear, down by two points from 5% in 2022.
The hope for the coming New Year has always been higher among those who expected a happy Christmas than those who expected a sad one.
The percentage of those who are entering the New Year with hope rather than fear is higher among those who expected a happy Christmas (98%) and those who expected neigther a happy nor a sad Christmas (95%) than those who expected a sad Christmas (84%).
Geographically, as compared to end of 2022, hope for the coming New Year increased slightly from 93 to 97 percent in Metro Manila from 93 percent to 96 percent in Mindanao.
It stayed at 97% in Balance Luzon while it slightly fell from 95% to 93% in the Visayas.
The survey was conducted from December 8 to 11, 2023 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), the Visayas, and Mindanao.
The sampling error margins are ±2.8% for national percentages, and ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. (Marlon Luistro)
