By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief

MANILA —  Amid widening inflation, big losses due to typhoons and other calamities, and political bickerings, most Filipinos are welcoming the New Year with hope for a better life for them and the country.

The nation’s leaders, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and Congress leaders, meanwhile, aired hopes for a better country in 2025.

Usually, Filipinos welcome the New Year with festivities attended by “big noise” through pyrotechnics, fireworks, which many believe would ward off negativities and bad luck.

Basically, powerful firecrackers and similar fireworks are banned in the Philippines, thus, local governments and the private sector organize fireworks displays in big parks to avoid fatalities and injuries to individuals. At press time, four people have died and scores hurt due to firecracker explosions.

 President Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to adopt an introspective and growth-focused mindset as they welcome a new year.

In his New Year’s Day message, President Marcos referred to the occasion as an opportunity “to learn from the lessons of the past and apply the wisdom gained to better oneself.”

“It is our desire for our citizens to embrace this outlook and adopt an introspective and growth-focused mindset that balances the realities of yesterday a n d the promises of tomorrow,” he said.

President Marcos recalled the previous months were filled with challenges but Filipinos have exhibited resilience in overcoming difficulties.

“Reflecting on the resilience we have shown in overcoming them, it is crucial for our progress to esteem such moments as hallmarks of the extraordinary strength we gain through solidarity and perseverance,” he said.

”As we move forward into 2025, we look ahead with renewed hope and optimism, knowing that our experiences will guide us into building a future filled with promise and purpose,” he added.

The President underscored looking ahead with renewed hope and optimism, with past experiences as guide “into building a future filled with promise and purpose.”

“Let us draw inspiration from the innumerable acts of courage, compassion, and bayanihan that we have witnessed in the face of adversity. Only then can we fortify the bonds that connect us, truly rebuild what has been lost, and realize a Bagong Pilipinas where dreams flourish and every Filipino thrives,” he said.

VP Duterte, for her part, called on Filipinos to face challenges in 2025 together after 2024 tried their stability in standing up for justice and progress.

“Ang taong 2024 ay sumubok sa ating katatagan at humulma sa atin bilang isang sambayanang naninindigan para sa katarungan at kaunlaran, (The year 2024 has challenged our strength and has shaped us into a nation that is determined to fight for justice and development.)” Duterte said in a video message.

“Ngayong 2025, sama-sama nating harapin ang iba’t ibang hamon na magpapatibay sa atin bilang isang bansang patuloy na nananalig sa Diyos at nagtutulungan para sa ikauunlad at ikabubuti ng ating pamilya (This 2025, let us join together to face the different challenges that will forge our nation into a country that continues to worship God and helps each other for the improvement and betterment of our families.),” she added.

Duterte thanked Filipinos for their efforts in loving the country.

“Salubungin natin ang Bagong Taon kaakibat ang pag-asa sa likod ng mga pagsubok at pagsusumikap na makakapagbigay ng positibong pagbabago. Ang lahat ay para sa Diyos, sa bayan, at sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino (Let us greet the New Year with hope, despite all the challenges, and strive to create a positive change. All of this for God, the country, and for each Filipino family.),” she said.

If the survey firm Social Weather Station (SWS) is to be believed, around 90% of adult Filipinos are ringing in the year 2025 “with hope” rather than fear.

The SWS survey on December12-18 noted, however, that the number of those hopeful for the New year is 6 points below the 96% in 2023 and the lowest since 89% in 2008.

The SWS also noted that results from similar surveys it conducted at the end of 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, and 2009 had rates around the 80 percent mark while polls made at the end of 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and from 2010 to 2024, the scores were around the 90 percent mark.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN and GMA News noted in reports that 10% of the population will enter the new year with fear which is s higher by 7 points from 3% in 2023, and the highest since 11% in 2009.

SWS added that 65% of adult Filipinos expected a happy Christmas this year, which also decreased from 53% in 2023.

 The percentage of people welcoming 2025 “with hope” is highest in this category, than those who expected Christmas to be neither happy nor sad (87%) and those who expected a sad Christmas (74%).

Hope for 2025 as of December 2024 meantime falls in all areas compared to the end of 2023. Balance Luzon is at 92% (formerly 97%), Metro Manila at 91% (formerly 97%), and the Visayas at 87% (formerly 93%).

Despite these figures, the SWS highlighted a decline in hopefulness across all regions compared to 2023. Last year, 97% of respondents in both Balance Luzon and Metro Manila were hopeful, followed by 96% in Mindanao and 93% in the Visayas.

The non-commissioned survey involved face-to-face interviews with 2,160 adults nationwide: 1,080 from Balance Luzon (Luzon outside Metro Manila) and 360 each from Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The survey had a sampling error margin of ±2% for national results, ±3% for Balance Luzon, and ±5% for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao

Earlier in a Christmas message, VP Duterte urged Filipinos to offer love to one another this Christmas season, especially to the poor and sick, as she also talked about forgiveness and respect.

“Sa ating pagsariwa sa diwa ng Pasko, tayong lahat ay tinatawag upang maging mapagpatawad, bukas-palad, at mapagmahal sa ating kapwa,” Duterte said on Christmas Eve.

“Ang kapanganakan ni Hesus ay isang mensahe ng kapatawaran na sumasailalim sa walang kapantay na pag-ibig ng Diyos sa lahat,” she said in a statement.

“Gamitin natin ang Kaniyang halimbawa bilang inspirasyon sa ating pakikipag-kapwa, lalo’t higit sa ating pamilya at mga minamahal sa buhay.”

The Vice President added that aside from material gifts, Filipinos should also extend understanding and respect to one another.

“Higit sa mga materyal na bagay na ating matatanggap ngayong Pasko, tayo ay inaanyayahang magbigay ng pag-unawa, respeto, at pagmamahal sa bawat isa, lalo na sa mga mahihirap at may karamdaman,” she said.

“Ito ang tunay na diwa ng panahong ito, at ito ay isang paalaala sa ating lahat, hindi lamang ngayong buwan ng Disyembre, kundi sa lahat ng araw,” she said.