Hope down, fear up as Filipinos welcome 2026

HOPEFUL FOR THE NEW YEAR A family in Binondo, Manila, prepares to greet 2026 with their novelty headgear on New Year’s Eve. A survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations shows that while most Filipinos look to the New Year with hope, many are fearful of what it could bring. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

While most Filipinos are welcoming the New Year with hope, the number of those fearful of what it may bring is higher compared to last year, according to the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Wednesday.

The survey conducted from Nov. 24 to Nov. 30 found that 89 percent of adult Filipinos are entering 2026 with hope rather than fear. This, however, marks a 1-percent decline from 90 percent in 2024 and a significant drop compared to 96 percent in 2023. It also marks the lowest level in 16 years, since the 89 percent recorded in 2009.

In addition, the results of the survey showed that 11 percent will enter the New Year with fear, up from 10 percent in 2024 and 3 percent in 2023. It is likewise the highest since the 11 percent recorded in 2009.

Some 87 percent of respondents were hopeful for the New Year when the SWS first conducted this type of survey at the end of 2000. The percentage remained in the 80s level at the end of 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, and this year.

Hope for the coming year was highest in Luzon outside of Manila at 92 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 90 percent, the Visayas at 85 percent, and Mindanao at 84 percent.

Compared to the end of last year, hope for 2026 declined in Mindanao by five percentage points from 89 percent. It also slightly declined in the Visayas, down by two percentage points from 87 percent. It stayed at 92 percent in Luzon outside of Manila, while it hardly changed from 91 percent in Metro Manila.

The SWS survey used face-to-face interviews among 1,200 adults. It had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percent for national percentages and plus-or-minus 6 percent each for Metro Manila, Luzon outside Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.