Optimism amid travel woes as Filipinos await Christmas

On Sunday, a day before Christmas, many people are still heading to the provinces, with their experiences varying depending on whether they're traveling by air, sea, or land. The majority of Filipinos, however, expect a happy Christmas this year as they reunite with loved ones across the country.

Some trips to southern Luzon took more than twice as long due to the traffic situation in Quezon province, where a road repair was underway amid the holiday exodus.

Many of the trips left from PITX, which logged its highest volume of passengers since December 15 at over 204,000. Some days before Christmas, some Filipinos hoping to be home for the holidays were thwarted when tickets ran out.

At NAIA, management saw a 14% increase in passengers this month from the same time last year, resulting in heavy traffic around the airport on Saturday. 

Popular tourist destinations have also received big holiday crowds, including Baguio City, with many travelers taking advantage of the newly reopened Kennon Road.

Some Filipinos celebrating the holidays in Metro Manila attended a Christmas Eve Mass at Manila Cathedral, while others rushed to get last-minute presents at Divisoria or in the malls before early closing hours. Others also headed to parks and other recreational areas with their families.

Isang pasyalan sa Marikina City, dinagsa ngayong bisperas ng Pasko. | via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/LftridA1z0

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 24, 2023

Happy Christmas

Despite any travel issues, almost three-fourths of Filipinos expect a "happy" Christmas this year, according to a Social Weather Stations survey released on Saturday.

The percentage of respondents expecting a happy Christmas this year is six points lower than the pre-pandemic score of 79% in 2019 and 23 points higher than the record low of 50% in 2020, when the COVID-19 crisis struck. 

The survey also found that 51% of Filipinos are most thankful for good health, followed by family (29%), being alive (16%), job/career/income (10%), food to eat (8%), being able to cope with daily hardships (8%), prosperity (5%), all the blessings (3%), education (3%), peace and safety (3%), and God (2%).

Think of others

In their Christmas messages issued on Christmas Eve, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte exhorted Filipinos to remember the less fortunate.

"[L]et us be reminded that the true meaning of Christmas lies in the recognition of the season as an opportunity to reach out to those who are suffering from solitude, sickness, and poverty," Marcos said in his statement.

"Indeed, there is no better way for us to share the gift of Christmas than by spreading hope to those who need it the most this holiday season," he added.

In her Christmas message, Duterte called on Filipinos to remember the poor, hungry, and sick, and thank countrymen who showed steadfastness, integrity, and love for country.

“Huwag natin kalimutan sa Pasko at sa abot ng ating makakaya sa iba pang mga araw ay tulungan at damayan natin ang ating kapwa Pilipino na naghihirap, nagugutom, may karamdaman, at nag-aagaw buhay,” she said. — BM, GMA Integrated News