NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Filipinos Face 2025 With Hope - But Optimism Slightly Dims
Photo credit: SWS
As the clock ticks closer to 2025, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from December 12-18, 2024, reveals that 90% of adult Filipinos will greet the New Year with hope rather than fear. While this optimism remains high, it’s worth noting that it’s a noticeable dip from 96% in 2023 and the lowest since 2009’s 89%.
Still, hope remains the dominant sentiment. Only 10% of Filipinos are entering 2025 with fear, up from 3% last year—the highest level of apprehension since 11% in 2009.
A Strong Tradition of Hope
Filipinos have long been known for their resilience, and this survey confirms it. Since SWS began tracking this sentiment in 2000, hope has consistently outweighed fear. Over the years, optimism has hovered in the 90% range, except for a few dips, like in the early 2000s and 2009.
Christmas Cheer Fuels Optimism
Interestingly, the survey also found a strong link between holiday cheer and New Year hope. Among Filipinos who anticipated a merry Christmas, 94% said they were hopeful for 2025. In contrast, hope dipped to 87% among those who expected a neutral holiday and further down to 74% for those bracing for a sad Christmas.
Hope Declines Across Regions and Educational Levels
Hopeful sentiments have taken a slight hit across all regions:
• Balance Luzon: Down to 92% from 97% in 2023
• Metro Manila: 91%, also down from 97%
• Mindanao: 89%, compared to last year’s 96%
• Visayas: 87%, from 93%
Similarly, hope is higher among those with more education but has dipped across all educational levels. College graduates remain the most hopeful at 96%, while non-elementary graduates are at 83%.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Despite these slight declines, the survey highlights Filipinos' enduring optimism even in the face of challenges. SWS’s methodology—a robust sample size of 2,160 respondents nationwide with a ±2% margin of error—ensures a reliable snapshot of the national mood.
As we step into 2025, Filipinos continue to embrace the New Year with a hopeful heart, a testament to the enduring spirit of resilience and positivity.
Still, hope remains the dominant sentiment. Only 10% of Filipinos are entering 2025 with fear, up from 3% last year—the highest level of apprehension since 11% in 2009.
A Strong Tradition of Hope
Filipinos have long been known for their resilience, and this survey confirms it. Since SWS began tracking this sentiment in 2000, hope has consistently outweighed fear. Over the years, optimism has hovered in the 90% range, except for a few dips, like in the early 2000s and 2009.
Christmas Cheer Fuels Optimism
Interestingly, the survey also found a strong link between holiday cheer and New Year hope. Among Filipinos who anticipated a merry Christmas, 94% said they were hopeful for 2025. In contrast, hope dipped to 87% among those who expected a neutral holiday and further down to 74% for those bracing for a sad Christmas.
Hope Declines Across Regions and Educational Levels
Hopeful sentiments have taken a slight hit across all regions:
• Balance Luzon: Down to 92% from 97% in 2023
• Metro Manila: 91%, also down from 97%
• Mindanao: 89%, compared to last year’s 96%
• Visayas: 87%, from 93%
Similarly, hope is higher among those with more education but has dipped across all educational levels. College graduates remain the most hopeful at 96%, while non-elementary graduates are at 83%.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Despite these slight declines, the survey highlights Filipinos' enduring optimism even in the face of challenges. SWS’s methodology—a robust sample size of 2,160 respondents nationwide with a ±2% margin of error—ensures a reliable snapshot of the national mood.
As we step into 2025, Filipinos continue to embrace the New Year with a hopeful heart, a testament to the enduring spirit of resilience and positivity.
Dec 27, 2024
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