MANILA, Philippines -- More Filipinos still consider themselves and the entire country to be worse off now, compared to last year, and see even tougher times ahead, according to an independent survey.

Moreover, nearly eight out of 10 Filipinos (79 percent), consider the economy to be "worse now" than it was three years ago, while six percent said it was "better now," and 15 percent said there was no change over three years, Pulse Asia Inc. said.

Pulse Asia polled 1,200 respondents nationwide from October 14 to 27, with a margin of error of +/3 percent.

Asked to compare their personal quality of life now compared to last year, 58 percent said they were "losers" or "worse now," 28 percent said they were "same as then," while 14 percent said they were "gainers" or "better now."

In July, 75 percent said they were "losers," 17 percent said they were "same as then" while seven percent said they were "gainers."

Asked how they expected their personal quality of life to change by next year, 44 percent were "pessimists" or expected their lives to worsen, 33 percent expect it to be "same as now," while 22 percent were "optimistic" or expected their lives to improve.

In July, 64 percent were pessimists, 23 percent saw the year ahead to be "same as now," while 12 percent were "optimists."

"In relation to next year, the rise in levels of public optimism [+10 percentage points] and the percentages of Filipinos who are not expecting any movement – positive or negative – in their personal circumstances in the year ahead [+10 percentage points] translates to a drop in levels of public pessimism [-20 percentage points] between July and October 2008," Pulse Asia said.

Asked to compare the national quality of life to its state last year, 78 percent said they were "losers" or worse now, 18 percent said they were "same as then," while four percent said they were "gainers" or "better now."

In July, 84 percent said they were "losers," 12 percent said they were "same as then," while three percent said they were "gainers."

Asked how they expected the national quality of life to change next year, 67 percent said it would be "worse than now," 24 percent said it would be "same as now," while nine percent said it would be "better than now."

In July, 79 percent said the national quality of life would be "worse than now," 16 percent said it would be "same as now," while four percent said it would be "better now."

"Levels of public pessimism decline [-10 to -26 percentage points] in almost all geographic areas and socio-economic classes," Pulse Asia said.

Asked about the state of the economy compared to three years ago, 79 percent said it was "worse now," 15 percent said it was the "same" while six percent said it was "better now."

In July, 86 percent said the economy was "worse now," 10 percent said it was the "same" while four percent said it was "better now."

Of those who said in October that the economy improved, 42 percent said they "strongly felt" it, 49 percent said they "felt [it] somewhat," while 10 percent said they did not feel it.

Of those who said that the economy worsened, 77 percent said they strongly felt it, 21 percent said they felt it somewhat, while two percent said they did not feel it.