Most Filipinos are thankful for good health this holiday season as in previous years, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) even as the latest PAHAYAG survey indicated widespread pessimism amid persistent corruption scandals, declining trust in top national leaders, and fragile business and investor confidence.
The SWS poll conducted on Nov, 24-30, showed 45 percent of respondents saying they were thankful for good health during this Christmas and New Year.
The research included an open-ended question where respondents could provide up to two answers regarding what they were thankful for.
Around 29 percent of the respondents said they were thankful for the family, while another 28 percent were grateful just to be alive.
Meanwhile, 10 percent said they were thankful to God.
Additional responses include being thankful for having food to eat (six percent), being able to cope with daily hardships (five percent), job or career (four percent), happy life (three percent), prosperity two percent), education (two percent), as well as peace and safety (two percent).
Finally, about one percent or fewer said they were thankful for having no worries or problems, a house, good friends, a love life or spouse, and surviving an illness or tragedy.
The PAHAYAG survey showed that six in10 respondents or 58 percent expressed displeasure over the country’s state of of affairs even during the holidays.
While the negative reactions marked an improvement from 70 percent last quarter, it remained significantly higher than the 49 percent recorded a year ago—underscoring that pessimism, though easing, continues to dominate public sentiment.
Optimism has rebounded to 42 percent, up from 30 percent during the last quarter, but still below last year’s 51 percent.
This improvement is largely driven by more favorable expectations for the national economy and household finances, which appear to be cushioning the negative effects of ongoing political and governance concerns.
Despite improving economic expectations, Filipinos increasingly view the current state of the nation as weak and moving in the wrong direction, with both indicators now at their highest levels since tracking began.
Only 24 percent described the country’s condition as strong (down from 27 percent during the previous quarter, while 49 percent consider it weak (up from 45 percent).
Similarly, only 31 percent believe the country is headed in the right direction, down from 33 percent in Q3.
Notably, this pessimism was not primarily driven by economic anxiety. Looking ahead, 37 percent expect the national economy to improve in the next quarter, while an even higher 55% anticipate better household financial conditions—clear signs of short-term economic optimism.
The disconnect points instead to a deepening erosion of public trust, fueled by unresolved corruption controversies, weak accountability among top officials, and uncertainty over political leadership. These governance issues continue to undermine confidence despite improving economic signals.
Pessimism is most pronounced in the Visayas and Mindanao, among the youth sector (ages 18–20), high-income earners, government workers, non-OFW households, and respondents with no formal education or a college background, reflecting stronger dissatisfaction with governance and national direction.
South Luzon and Visayas registered the highest optimism regarding economic and household prospects for the first quarter of 2026, highlighting a growing divide between economic expectations and confidence in national leadership.
