MANILA, Philippines – The number of Filipinos who expect Christmas in 2015 to be happy is at its highest in 12 years, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found.

The results of the 4^th quarter SWS survey released on Thursday, December 24, showed that 72% of adult respondents are expecting a happy Christmas – 1 point higher than the 71% of 2014.

Before this, the highest percentage was in 2003, when it reached 77%, SWS said.

Conducted nationwide from December 5-8, the survey interviewed 1,200 adults scattered equally in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Sampling error is at ±3% for national percentages, ±6% each for the 4 areas.

The latest survey also showed that 7% of Filipinos expect that their Christmas will be sad, while 20% expect it to be neither happy or sad.

There is also a “record-high” percentage of people agreeing that “it is better to give,” the SWS said.

According to the December 2015 survey results, 77% of the respondents were “givers,” 2 points higher than 2014’s 75%.

Meanwhile, 20% said “it is better to receive” in 2015, a decline of 3 points from the 23% “receivers” in 2014.

Increase of happy Christmas in most areas

The number of people expecting a happy Christmas rose in most areas, according to SWS. 

Those expecting their Christmas to be happy in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao had a 5-point increase each this year, while there was a 2-point decline in Balance Luzon.

The results among class ABC, meanwhile, showed a 5-point decline among people expecting the holidays to be happy.

The proportion of poorest class E thinking the same, on the other hand, increased by 7 points. From 2014’s 65%, the number of people from this class expecting a happy Christmas rose by 7 points or 72%. It is also the highest since 2003.

‘Givers’ in most areas 

Meanwhile, no area had a decline in number of people believing it is better to give. The highest proportion is in Balance Luzon, at 82%. 

Among socioeconomic classes, SWS said, the highest increase among givers was seen among the poorest or class E.

The “givers” in this class rose by 12 points. From 2014’s 63%, the proportion of the poorest Filipinos who say it is better to give is at 75% in 2015.

The “givers” among class ABC, on the other hand, dropped from 88% in 2014 to 78%.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the survey results may serve as reminder to all Filipinos in 2016.

“May optimism energize and encourage all of us to truly serve our country and work together so that all Filipinos will experience peace, prosperity and contentment in the year to come,” he said in a statement. – Rappler.com