A MAJORITY of Filipinos remain pessimistic about the country’s future as 2026 approaches, even as short-term expectations for the economy and household finances show signs of improvement, according to the latest nationwide Pahayag survey. The Publicus Asia-led survey found that 58 percent of registered voters described themselves as pessimistic about the state of the country, marking a decline from 70 percent recorded in the previous quarter. However, the figure remains significantly higher than the 49 percent registered a year ago, indicating that while negative sentiment has eased, it continues to dominate public opinion. Meanwhile, optimism has rebounded to 42 percent, up from 30 percent last quarter, though still below last year’s 51 percent. This improvement is attributed largely to more favorable expectations for the national economy and household finances, which appear to cushion the impact of ongoing political and governance concerns. Governance outweighs economic worries Despite the improving economic outlook, Filipinos continue to view the current state of the nation as weak and the country’s trajectory as heading in the wrong direction. Only 24 percent described the nation’s condition as strong, down from 27 percent in the previous quarter, while 49 percent considered it weak, up from 45 percent. Similarly, 31 percent of respondents said the country was moving in the right direction, slightly down from 33 percent last quarter. Both indicators are now at their highest negative levels since tracking began. The pessimism is not primarily driven by economic concerns. Looking ahead, 37 percent of respondents expect the national economy to improve in the next quarter, while 55 percent anticipate better household financial conditions. The disconnect between improving economic conditions and persistent pessimism reflects a deepening erosion of public trust, fueled by unresolved corruption controversies, weak accountability among top officials, and uncertainty over political leadership. Regional and sectoral differences in confidence The survey also revealed regional and sectoral disparities in sentiment. Pessimism was most pronounced in Visayas and Mindanao, as well as among young adults aged 18–20, high-income earners, government workers, non-OFW households, and respondents with no formal education or a college degree, suggesting stronger dissatisfaction with governance and national direction. In contrast, South Luzon and parts of the Visayas registered the highest optimism regarding economic and household prospects for the first quarter of 2026. This highlights a growing divide between short-term economic expectations and confidence in national leadership. The findings are based on an independent, non-commissioned nationwide survey conducted from Dec. 7 to 10, 2025. It comprised 1,500 respondents who are registered Filipino voters, randomly selected through purposive sampling from the market research panel of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with global operations and a regional office in Singapore. Pahayag is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of Publicus Asia Inc., which has tracked public opinion metrics since 2017. Vox Opinion Research, the commissioned research arm of Pahayag, has been involved in survey operations since 2013.