3 in 4 Filipinos expected “happy” Christmas this year – SWS survey

December 25, 2017

About three in four Filipinos expected a "happy" Christmas this year, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.

Results of the SWS survey conducted on Dec. 8-16 among 1,200 respondents nationwide and released on Dec. 23 said the 77 percent of adult Filipinos who expected a happy Yuletide celebration was the highest since 2003.

Five percent of the respondents expected this year's Christmas to be "sad," while 18 percent, "neither happy nor sad."

In 2017, 84 percent of those who expected a happy Christmas were from Mindanao, followed by 80 percent in Visayas and 75 percent in Balance Luzon.

The survey showed that in 9 out of 10 surveys since 2002, expectations in Mindanao have been higher than in other areas. Compared to 2016, it also further improved in Mindanao, from 75 percent in 2015 to 84 percent in 2017.

SWS said this was the third highest after 89 percent in 2002 and 87 percent in 2003.

Expectations in Visayas rebounded to 80 percent after a decline to 74 percent in 2016. While Balance Luzon was the same as the 74 percent in 2016. The National Capital Region recovered to 69 percent from 66 percent in 2016.

The survey results also showed that expectations were higher among the Class D at 78 percent, and Class E at 75 percent, while a decline of 15 points or 71 percent in Classes ABC.

Also, 81 percent of Filipinos believed that it was "better to give" Christmas gifts, the highest since 2006.

The figure was up by six percentage points from 2016's 75 percent.

Meanwhile, 19 percent said it was "better to receive" Christmas gifts. Ella Dionisio/DMS