MEDIARELEASE

(December 15, 2011)

FROM:

Prof. Ronald D. Holmes President Pulse Asia, Inc.

RE:

Pulse Asias November 2011 Nationwide Survey on the Holiday Season

Pulse Asia is pleased to share with you some findings on the Holiday Season from the November 2011 Ulat ng Bayan national survey. We request you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information. The survey fieldwork was conducted from November 10 to 23, 2011 using faceto-face interviews. The following developments dominated the headlines: (1) the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the watch list order against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo; (2) acting on orders of Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the immigration officials' preventing the former First Couple from leaving the country despite the SC TRO; (3) the arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 18 November 2011 on charges of electoral fraud in the May 2007 elections; (4) the murder of a son of former Senator Ramon Revilla, Sr. and the alleged involvement of family members in the murder plot; (5) the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III; (6) the visit to the Philippines by U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak; (7) the Bureau of Internal Revenues (BIR) continued campaign against tax evaders; (8) the commemoration of the second anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre; (9) the issuance of a hold departure order against retired Maj. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife following the filing of tax

evasion charges against the couple; (10) government financial assistance given to several rebel groups; (11) the Supreme Court decision mandating the distribution of the lands of Hacienda Luisita to about 6,000 farmer beneficiaries; (12) the passage of the national budget by the Senate and (13) depreciation of the Philippine peso and increase in diesel prices and power rates. Other developments during this period include Saranggani Representative Emmanuel D. Pacquiaos controversial win over Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, the appointment of Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as the new chief of the Philippine Army and the inclusion of the Palawan Underground River as one of the provisional winners in the search for the new seven wonders of nature. As in our previous surveys, this nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. Those interested in further technical details concerning the survey's questionnaire and sampling design may request Pulse Asia in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used. Pulse Asias pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data. In keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of these processes. Pulse Asia undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort. For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia President at 09189335497 or Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia Chief Research Fellow at 09189436816.

Pulse Asias November 2011 Ulat ng Bayan Survey: Media Release on the Holiday Season 15 December 2011 The majority sentiment among Filipinos is that the coming Christmas will not be any different from last year (52%) A little over half of the Filipino population (52%) feels that this years Christmas season will be the same as last year a sentiment shared by majorities in all socio-economic classes (52% to 56%) and geographic areas (55% to 58%), with the exception of Mindanao. In this part of the country, almost the same percentages expect this years Christmas celebration to be either the same or more prosperous than last year (42% versus 37%). Meanwhile, 32% of Filipinos expect a more prosperous Christmas season this year while 15% express a contrary view on the matter. The figures recorded across geographic areas and socio-economic classes do not differ significantly from the respective national figures. (Please refer to Table 1). Relative to October 2010, there is a decline in the percentage of Filipinos who are expecting a more prosperous Christmas season this year (-7 percentage points). Figures decline by even bigger margins in the poorest Class E (-14 percentage points) and the Visayas (-24 percentage points). On the other hand, the percentage of Visayans expecting no change in the coming Christmas season increases between October 2010 and November 2011 (+16 percentage points). Only marginal changes may be noted in the other figures both at the national level and across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings. (Please refer to Table 1).

Table 1 EXPECTATION ABOUT THE COMING CHRISTMAS

October 2005 to November 2011 / Philippines (In Percent) For your family, the coming Christmas will be (Base: Total Interviews, 100%) RP More prosperous than last year November 2011 October 2010 October 2009 October 2008 October 2007 November 2006 October 2005 The same as last year November 2011 October 2010 October 2009 October 2008 October 2007 November 2006 October 2005 Poorer than last year November 2011 October 2010 October 2009 October 2008 October 2007 November 2006 October 2005 LOCATION BAL LUZ VIS CLASS MIN ABC D E

NCR

32 39 29 20 27 25 16 52 50 49 52 50 49 40 15 11 22 28 23 25 43

27 30 21 17 23 21 14 58 65 53 53 57 54 44 15 5 25 30 21 25 42

32 33 26 19 21 18 16 56 54 51 59 55 56 45 12 13 22 23 24 27 40

31 55 35 16 31 32 19 55 39 47 50 43 45 39 14 6 18 34 27 22 42

37 41 32 26 38 35 14 42 45 45 40 43 37 32 21 14 23 34 19 27 51

37 27 28 27 24 31 18 56 67 56 55 61 47 43 7 6 16 19 15 21 39

34 39 29 19 27 27 16 52 50 50 53 51 48 41 15 11 21 28 22 25 43

28 42 27 18 30 21 16 54 46 46 49 42 52 38 19 11 27 33 28 26 45

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang darating na Pasko at Bagong Taon. Q. Sa inyong pamilya, ang darating na pasko ay magiging

Despite continuing economic difficulties, most Filipinos will face the year ahead with hope (88%) Optimism is the majority sentiment as regards the coming New Year with 88% of Filipinos saying they will face 2012 with hope. Overwhelming majorities in every geographic area (80% to 93%) and socio-economic class (85% to 89%) express this sentiment. Less than one in ten Filipinos (6%) will face next year either with apprehension or without hope and without apprehension. The figures recorded at the national level and across geographic areas and socioeconomic classes remain basically unchanged between October 2010 and November 2011. (Please refer to Table 2).

Table 2 WHETHER RESPONDENT WILL FACE THE COMING YEAR WITH HOPE OR WITH APPREHENSION
October 2005 to November 2011 / Philippines (In Percent) LOCATION BAL LUZ VIS CLASS MIN ABC D E

Will you face the coming year with (Base: Total Interviews, 100%) WITH Hope November 2011 October 2010 October 2009 October 2008 October 2007 November 2006 October 2005 WITH Apprehension November 2011 October 2010 October 2009 October 2008 October 2007 November 2006 October 2005 WITHOUT Hope and WITHOUT Apprehension November 2011 October 2010 October 2009 October 2008 October 2007 November 2006 October 2005

RP

NCR

88 89 86 78 84 85 70 6 5 7 11 9 8 20

85 93 80 80 78 84 68 9 4 11 14 14 9 17

93 87 88 77 89 84 78 5 6 6 12 5 9 18

86 92 85 77 85 87 76 4 2 8 6 9 7 15

80 89 85 79 77 87 51 11 6 7 10 13 8 30

89 96 87 88 87 90 79 6 3 7 6 7 7 12

88 89 86 77 84 87 67 6 5 7 11 9 9 22

85 88 84 77 81 82 72 7 6 8 10 11 9 18

6 6 7 11 7 6 10

6 3 8 6 9 6 15

3 7 6 11 6 6 5

9 6 7 17 5 6 9

9 5 8 11 10 5 18

5 2 5 6 6 3 9

5 6 7 12 7 4 11

8 6 7 12 8 9 10

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang darating na Pasko at Bagong Taon. Q. Ang darating bang taon ay inyong haharapin ng may pag-asa, may kaba, o walang pag-asa at walang kaba?