Filipinos were split on whether this year’s Christmas celebration would be “more prosperous” or “same” as last year, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.
At least 52 percent of the respondents of Pulse Asia’s “Ulat ng Bayan” survey said they will be celebrating Christmas this year the same way they did in 2021.
Of this number, 42 percent said the holiday celebration would be the same as last year while 43 percent said it would be more prosperous.
Some 10 percent said the celebration last year was not prosperous and would remain the same this year.
The remaining 6 percent of respondents said their Christmas celebrations would be poorer than last year.
“Most Visayans (66%) will have a more prosperous holiday celebration this year while a small majority of Metro Manilans (58%) say their celebration this year will be just as prosperous as what they had last year,” Pulse Asia said.
Pulse Asia also noted that a huge majority of Filipinos said they would face the new year ahead with hope.
“Virtually all Filipino adults (92%) will face the year ahead with hope, a sentiment echoed by 89% to 99% across geographic areas and by 86% to 94% in the various socio-economic classes,” the survey firm said.
The survey was conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, with a sample of 1,200 adult respondent interviewed in person.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. renewed his commitment to provide overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with more quality jobs in their home country, saying it is the “best Christmas gift” the government could give them.
“The best gift we can give to our OFWs is to further improve the condition of our country to have more opportunities for every Filipino,” the President said in his weekly vlog.
“Now that the holiday season is approaching, let’s do everything to make our OFWs feel the warmth of the Filipino Christmas wherever they are in the world Let’s say hello, call and express our gratitude for their selfless contribution in supporting Filipino families, reviving our economy and waving our flag as a great race, respected by the whole world,” Mr. Marcos added.
As this developed, at the House of Representatives, a bill has been filed granting an additional year-end bonus for indigent senior citizens.
House Bill 6693, or the “Paskong Maligaya para kay Lolo’t Lola Bill,” authored by Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, aims to provide an additional year-end bonus to qualified indigent elderly.
Under the proposed legislation, elderly pensioners shall receive an additional P1,000 apart from their monthly P1,000 allowance under the Social Pension for Indigent Seniors program, to be paid before the 25th of December every year.
“Our senior citizens have contributed so much to our country and most have remained capable of supporting their families and grandchildren. This holiday season, let us grant the wish of our lolos and lolas to be granted more benefits albeit through a year-end or Christmas bonus,” Vargas said.
“Institutionalizing year-end bonuses for our indigent Filipino elderly is a way of providing better social safety nets and protection for our senior citizens and their families. In the spirit of giving, we must extend help especially to our lolos and lolas who need it now more than ever,” he added.