Metro Manila, Philippines— With 2023 just around the corner, a large majority of Filipinos, or 95%, are entering the new year “with hope rather than fear,” according to a poll released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) on Friday.

“This is two points above the 93% recorded in 2021 and similar to the pre-COVID 96% in 2019,” said SWS.

Only 5% of respondents dread the incoming year – down two points from the 7% logged in 2020 and 2021.

The poll also showed 74% of Filipinos said they will change for the better next year, while 20% said they will stay the same. The remaining 6% had no answer.

The survey was conducted from Dec. 10 to 14 among 1,200 adults – 300 each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.