Giving better than receiving – SWS poll

Seven in 10 Filipino adults say it is “better to give” rather than receive gifts this Christmas season, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

Seventy-four percent of adult Filipinos said it is “better to give” gifts this Christmas season, while 22 percent said it is “better to receive,” according to the poll taken from Dec. 16 to 19.

Preference for giving, however, dropped in the country by seven points from the record-high 81 percent in 2017.

This was a new record low that surpassed the previous record of 75 percent in 2006, 2014 and 2016, the pollster said.

The proportion of those who say it is “better to give” Christmas gifts was highest in Metro Manila at 84 percent, followed by balance Luzon at 76 percent, Mindanao at 72 percent, and the Visayas at 67. It fell by 16 points in the

Visayas, from the record-high 83 percent in 2017 to a record-low 67 percent in 2018.

It also dropped in balance Luzon, from the record-high 84 percent to a record-low 76 percent.

It declined by one point in Metro Manila, from 85 percent to 84 percent.

However, it rose by three points in Mindanao, from 69 percent to a recordhigh 72 percent.

The percentage of Filipinos who say it is “better to give” Christmas gifts was highest in class ABC at 77 percent, followed by class D at 75 percent, and class E at 72 percent.

Preference for giving declined in all socio-economic classes in 2018.

The proportion of those who say it is “better to give” Christmas gifts fell by 18 points in class ABC, from the recordhigh 95 percent in 2017 to a record-low 77 percent in 2018.

It also fell by six points in class D, from an all-time high 81 percent to a record-low 75 percent and decreased by six points in class E, from an all-time high 78 percent to 72 percent.

By age group, those who say it is “better to give” Christmas gifts was highest among the 25-34 year olds at 77 percent, followed by 18-24 year olds at 75 percent, 35-44 year olds at 74 percent, those 55 years old and above at 74 percent, and 45-54 year olds at 72 percent.

Compared to 2017, preference for giving also fell in all age groups except among the 25-34 year olds.

It dropped by 12 points among 45-54 year olds, from 84 percent in 2017 to a record-low 72 percent in 2018.

Preference for giving fell by 10 points among 35-44 year olds, from 84 percent in 2017 to 74 percent in 2018.

It declined by nine points among 18-24 year olds, from 84 percent in 2017 to 75 percent in 2018.