Fewer Filipinos Feel Joyful This Christmas

MANILA, Philippines — A recent survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) shows that fewer adult Filipinos are expecting a happy Christmas in 2024 compared to the previous year.

What the Numbers Say

The survey, conducted from December 12 to 18, 2024, revealed that:

• 65% of Filipinos believe this year’s Christmas will be happy.
  • This is a drop from 73% in both 2023 and 2022.
  • It matches the 65% recorded in 2021 during the pandemic.
  • The number is still 15 points higher than the all-time low of 50% in 2020 but remains 14 points below the pre-pandemic level of 79% in 2019.

On the other hand:

• 10% of respondents expect this Christmas to be “sad.”
  • This is unusually high, as expectations of a sad Christmas typically range from 2% to 9%.
  • Double-digit levels of sadness were previously recorded in 2004, 2009, 2011, 2020, and now, 2024, with numbers ranging from 10% to 15%.
• 26% of Filipinos expect Christmas to be “neither happy nor sad.”

Regional Insights

The survey highlighted differences in how Filipinos from various regions feel about Christmas:

• Mindanao: The most optimistic, with 73% expecting a happy Christmas.
• Metro Manila: The least optimistic, with only 58% feeling positive about the holiday.

What Filipinos Are Grateful For

Despite the mixed feelings about Christmas, Filipinos continue to find reasons to be thankful as the year ends. The survey showed the top sources of gratitude:

1. Good Health – 47% of respondents said this was what they were most thankful for.
2. Family – 25% expressed gratitude for their loved ones.
3. Being Alive – 24% felt blessed just to be living.

How the Survey Was Conducted

SWS carried out face-to-face interviews with 2,160 respondents across the Philippines.

• The margin of error is ±2% for national data.
• Regional margins of error are ±3% in Balance Luzon and ±5% in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

What This Means

The downward trend in optimism for a happy Christmas reflects the lingering challenges Filipinos face, from the aftereffects of the pandemic to current economic difficulties. However, the continued gratitude for health, family, and life shows the resilience of the Filipino spirit, even in uncertain times.

Takeaway

While fewer Filipinos are feeling the holiday cheer, the season still brings moments of reflection, gratitude, and hope for brighter days ahead.