Nearly all Filipinos are welcoming the New Year with hope, instead of fear, based on the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The 96% score is considered the highest since the question was first asked by SWS in 2000, surpassing the 95 percent achieved in 2002, 2011 and 2016.
The group interviewed 1,200 adults nationwide from Dec. 8 to 16, with only four percent saying they would enter the New Year with fear, the lowest recorded score since 2011.
After dipping to 89 percent in 2009, the rating recovered to 93 percent in 2010 and stayed in the 90s level ever since.
The latest survey showed hopefulness for the new year rising in all socio-economic classes, climbing to 97 percent among classes ABC, 96 percent among Class D and 97 percent among class E.
“New Year hope continues to be widespread in all areas: it was highest in Balance Luzon at 97%, followed by Metro Manila at 96%, Mindanao at 95%, and Visayas at 95%,” SWS said.
Results from one-on-one interviews also showed that hope for 2018 is greater among those who expected a “happy” Christmas this year.
Hope for the new year among those who looked forward to Christmas rose by two points – from 96 percent in 2016 to 98 percent in 2017, while it fell by four points among those who expected a “sad” Christmas – from 92 percent to 88 percent.
Of the 46 percent of Filipinos who made resolutions for 2017, 12 percent said most of their New Year’s resolutions have been fulfilled.