The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey bared that only half of all adult Filipinos are expecting this upcoming Christmas to be happy while a record-high of 15 percent expect a sad Christmas.
The latest figures of those expecting a merry Christmas is 12 points below the record-low of 62 percent last 2013. The highest figures were recorded in 2002 at 82 percent.
The data for those who are expecting a sad Christmas also surpassed the previous highest at 11 percent in 2011.
Around 33 percent of Filipinos are seeing the upcoming Christmas as neither merry nor sad.
Amid the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, around 55 percent of the respondents said they will “prepare Noche Buena at home with family only” while 49 percent will “go to church or attend religious services.”
The expectation of an unhappy Christmas is higher among self-rated poor and hungry families and those who view that their quality of lives has worsened.
The face-to-face survey of the SWS was conducted last November 21 to 25 among 1,500 adults. – PTV News Online
