Pulse Asia's October 2009 Nationwide Survey on the Holiday Season and the New Year

Pulse Asia is pleased to share with you some findings on the Holiday Season and the New Year from the October 2009 Ulat ng Bayan national survey. We request you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information.

The survey fieldwork was conducted from October 22 to 30, 2009 using face-to-face interviews. Immediately prior to and during the conduct of the interviews for this survey, the following developments dominated the news headlines: (1) the formal declaration of former President Joseph Estrada of his bid for the presidency in 2010 and questions raised regarding the legality of this bid; (2) Senator Loren Legarda’s declaration of her plans for the May 2010 elections and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno’s withdrawal from the vice-presidential race; (3) Senator Francis G. Escudero’s departure from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC); (4) the continuing search for a running mate by both Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro, Jr. and Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr.; (4) the long lines of late registrants catching the last days of registration for the May 2010 elections; (5) the resignation of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr.; (6) continuing relief efforts in the aftermath of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, as well as the arrival of two new storms; and (7) the freeze on oil prices and other energy products, as well as basic commodities, imposed by the government.

Based on a multistage probability sample of 1,800 representative adults 18 years old and above, Pulse Asia’s nationwide survey has a +/- 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level.  Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95% confidence level: +/- 6% for Metro Manila,   +/- 4% for the rest of Luzon and  +/- 5% for each of Visayas and Mindanao. Face-to-face field interviews for this project were conducted from October 22 to 30, 2009.  (Those interested in further technical details concerning the surveys’ questionnaires and sampling design may request Pulse Asia in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used.)  

Pulse Asia’s pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data. In keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of these processes.  Pulse Asia undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort.

For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia President at 09189335497 / 9945602 or Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia Chief Research Fellow at 09189436816.

For about half of the Filipino population (49%), the coming Christmas will be no different from the one they had a year ago; on the other hand, a big majority (86%) is looking forward to the year ahead with hope

Near to sizeable majorities across the country’s main geographic areas (45% to 53%) and across socio-economic classes (46% to 56%) say that for them, the coming Christmas season will be the same as last year. However, a more optimistic sense is projected by big pluralities in the smaller geographic areas of Eastern Visayas and Region 11, where the dominant view is that this Christmas season will be more prosperous than last year. On the other hand, in Central Visayas and in the combined areas of Region 10 and CARAGA, those who think  that the Christmas season will be the same as last year are almost as numerous  as the optimists (43% vs 46% and 40% vs 42%, respectively).  (See Tables 1 and 2)

Compared to October 2008, more Filipinos now expect a more prosperous Christmas (20% versus 29%) despite the various natural disasters that devastated parts of the country this year. A similar pattern may be noted in the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and Class D (+10 to +19 percentage points). Conversely, fewer now say the coming holiday season will be poorer than last year not only at the national level (28% versus 22%) but also in the Visayas (34% versus 18%) and Mindanao (34% versus 23%). (See Table 3)

A huge majority of Filipinos (86%) will face the year 2010 with hope while less than one in ten (7%) will face the year ahead either with apprehension or without hope and without apprehension. Most Filipinos across all geographic areas and socio-economic classes (80% to 90%) are optimistic about the year ahead. Between October 2008 and 2009, there is an 8-percentage point increase among Filipinos who say they will face the year ahead with hope. (See Table 3)