Overcoming adversity in 2025

Filipinos have consistently met the coming of a new year with hope and excitement, as it represents a fresh start, looking forward to better days ahead, and a chance to begin again after reflecting on the year that was.

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However, the events of 2024—from geopolitical upheavals to local political skirmishes on top of lingering issues with inflation and interest rates—have proven to be so challenging that even Filipinos’ vaunted ability to look at life as a glass half-full has been shaken.

As a result, only 90 percent of the people expect 2025 to be a good year, down 6 percentage points from 96 percent last year. This was the lowest level of optimism since 2009, according to the survey released last week by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).