Palace hopes Christmas optimism brings prosperity

Malacañang on Thursday said it hoped the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing an increase in the number of people expecting a “happy Christmas” would pave the way for a prosperous New Year.

READ: More Filipinos expect a ‘happy Christmas’–SWS

“In this season for giving thanks, we take note of the recent SWS survey which finds expectation of a Happy Christmas: the ‘highest since 2003,’” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

“May this 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.

The said poll, conducted from Dec. 5 to 8, showed 72 percent of the 1,200 respondents expected a happy Christmas. This is the highest “Christmas happiness score” in 22 years or since 2003.

“SWS observed expectation of happiness returned to the 70s level in 2014 after being in the 60s from 2004-13,” Lacierda pointed out.

The poll also showed that more people believed “it is better to give” (77 percent). Those who said this are more likely to expect a happy Christmas, according to the survey.

The survey has sampling error margins of plus or minus three points for national percentages and plus or minus six points each for Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Included in the fourth quarter 2015 SWS survey were the questions: “On the whole, would you say that your Christmas this year will be happy, sad, not happy or not sad?” and “In your opinion, is it better to give or to receive this coming Christmas?”