Nine out of 10 Filipinos greet 2008 with high hopes - SWS

Despite the problems they faced this year, nine out of 10 Filipinos look forward to 2008 with hope instead of fear, pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) said Friday. The SWS survey also found that having a better family life (12 percent) and to work harder or look for work (11 percent) topped the list of New Year's resolutions. "High hopes for the New Year exist in all areas - 95% in Metro Manila, 94% in Visayas, 91% in Balance Luzon and 87% in Mindanao," it said. In a statement on its Web site, SWS said its survey conducted from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 showed an average of 91 percent of respondents are entering the New Year with hope. "The proportion of those hopeful about the coming year is the same as last year. In eight annual SWS surveys about hope for the New Year, done in the fourth quarter of each year since 2000, the hope level has ranged from 81% (2004) to 95% (2002)," it said. SWS noted that in Metro Manila, hopefulness of the New Year is up eight points, from 87% in 2006 to 95% in 2007, the highest recorded New Year hope in the area since the 92% in 2002. Compared to last year, New Year hope is unchanged in Balance Luzon (91-92%) and Visayas (93-94%). In Mindanao, however, hopefulness for the New Year slightly declined, from 90% in 2006 to 87% in 2007. New Year hope is high across socio-economic class - 88% among the middle to upper classes ABC, 92% among the masa D class and 91% among the very poor class E. "Compared to 2006, hopefulness for the New Year did not change among the classes D (91% in 2006) and E (91% in 2006)," it said. Among the classes ABC, however, New Year hope is down four points, from 92% in 2006 to 88% in 2007, after recovering from the low 73% posted in 2005. New Year hope is higher among those who expecting a happy 2007 Christmas than among those expecting a sad Christmas. Of the 64% who were looking forward to a happy 2007 Christmas, almost all (95%) also look forward to 2008 with hope. In contrast, of the few 8% expecting a sad Christmas, only three-fourths (77%) are hopeful of 2008. When asked what is their New Year's resolution, or the things they want to do or change for the coming year, the top responses are to have a better family life (12%) and to work harder/look for work/venture into business (11%). However, one-fourth (26%) do not have any New Year's resolution. These are followed by those hoping to have a better life (8%), to improve attitude or to become a better person (8%), to have better health or live longer (7%), To stop smoking, drinking or gambling (6%), and to control their temper (5%). Other responses include: To have better relationship with God or to be more religious (3%), Better conditions in the Philippines (2%), to study harder or go back to school (2%), to be more happy (1%), Better finances or be more thrifty (1%), Peace and unity (1%), and other responses (8%). To work harder/look for work/venture into business (19%) is the top response in Metro Manila, while to have a better family life (15%) is the top New Year's resolution in Balance Luzon. However, there are slightly more of those who want to improve attitude or to become a better person in the coming New Year in Mindanao (12%) and in the Visayas (11%). In terms of class, to have a better family life (14%) is the top New Year's resolution of the classes ABC. Among the class D, their top New Year's resolutions are also to have a better family life (12%) and to work harder/look for work/venture into business (12%). The top New Year's resolutions among the class E are also to have a better family life (12%), to have a better life (12%), to work harder/look for work/venture into business (11%), and to have better health or live longer (11%). Among men, the top New Year's resolutions are to stop smoking, drinking or gambling (12%) and to work harder/look for work/venture into business (12%). Among women, their top response is to have a better family life (15%). Between those married and those who are single/never married, there are slightly more of the married whose New Year's resolution are to have a better family life (13%) and to work harder/look for work/venture into business (12%). Among married men, to work harder/look for work/venture (13%) and to stop smoking, drinking or gambling (12%) are the top New Year's resolutions. In contrast, among the married women, to have a better family life (16%) is their top resolution for the New Year. In terms of age group, to have a better family life (12-14%) and to work harder/look for work/venture into business (12-15%) are the top New Year's resolutions of those aged 18-44 years old. Among the older respondents, to have a better family life (12%) is the top response of those aged 45-54 years old, while the top responses of those aged 55 and above are to improve attitude or to become a better person (10%), to have a better family life (9%) and to have better health or live longer (8%). The survey question on hope versus fear about the New Year was patterned after the polls conducted annually by the Allensbach Institute of Demoskopy in Germany. "Since 1991, German hope in the coming year has not exceeded 58%," SWS noted. SWS said its Fourth Quarter of 2007 Social Weather Survey was conducted from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for area percentages applied to the survey. - GMANews.TV