SWS: Most Filipinos with high hopes for 2023

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

(SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS)

Ninety-five percent of Filipinos will be welcoming 2023 “with hope rather than fear,” according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results released on Friday, Dec. 30.

“This is two points above the 93 percent recorded in 2021 and similar to the pre-Covid 96 percent in 2019,” SWS said in a statement. 

The nationwide survey, which was conducted from Dec. 10 to 14 with 1,200 respondents, found that only 5 percent of Filipinos will enter the new year with fear—down by two points from 7 percent in 2020 and 2021.

“Compared to the end of 2021, hope for the coming new year rose from 93 percent to 97 percent in Balance Luzon, and from 90 percent to 95 percent in the Visayas,” SWS said.

“It fell slightly from 95 percent to 93 percent in Metro Manila, while it stayed at 93 percent in Mindanao,” it added.

74% of Filipinos to change themselves for the better. 

The survey also found that 74 percent of Filipinos said they would change to better themselves in the coming year, while 20 percent said they would not change anything.

The remaining 6 percent did not give an answer.

“Of those planning to change for the better in 2023, 31 percent mentioned resolutions related to health, such as improving overall health (9 percent), stopping/lessening drinking (7 percent), having a healthier diet (4 percent), stopping/lessening unhealthy vices (4 percent), stopping/lessening smoking (3 percent), exercising/being more active (1 percent), having a healthier lifestyle (1 percent), and recovering from illness (1 percent),” SWS said.

“Two percent gave other health-related personal changes, such as weight management, sufficient sleep, and physical checkups,” it pointed out.

Meanwhile, 27 percent plan to focus on social and attitudinal wellness, such as having more patience (3 percent), stopping bad behaviors/habits (3 percent), improving self in general (3 percent), improving behavior/attitude (2 percent), avoiding stress (1 percent), improving family relations (1 percent), and being happy (1 percent), among others (industriousness, studies, kindness, self-confidence, better family life, stronger faith, etc.).

Sixteen percent plan to focus on their finances, such as finding a job/starting a livelihood (5 percent), working harder (5 percent), saving money (3 percent), and not borrowing money anymore (1 percent), among others (spending habits, payment of debts, earning more wealth, etc.).

Ivana Alawi, Liza Soberano, Janine Gutierrez still among TC Candler’s most beautiful

by Stephanie Bernardino

Making it again to this year’s TC Candler’s Most Beautiful Women list are Ivana Alawi, Liza Soberano, and Janine Gutierrez.

3rd time Hall of Famer Ivana, however, is now down to the sixth spot.

Liza is 23rd. 

Janine went up several notches from 78 to 51.

Fil-Am star Bella Poarch is at the 80th spot this year.

Victoria’s Secret model Jasmine Tookes is number one on the list.

The world famous 100 Most Beautiful Face list has been published annually by TC Candler and the Independent Critics since 1990. In recent years, the list has garnered over 12 billion social media impressions and hundreds of millions of views. It is widely considered to be the most internationally recognized and prestigious list of its kind. 

“The list has been acknowledged / personally thanked by over 750 celebs that have been included on the lists over the years. Unlike most other annual beauty rankings, the 100 Most Beautiful Faces List is not a popularity contest and it is definitely not country specific. It is not about the hottest or the most famous celebrity. Rather, the list attempts to inform & broaden public opinion, instead of reflecting it,” the text in the description of the video read.

“The list introduces new faces to countries they ordinarily would not reach. The Independent Critics search far and wide, listening to the many millions of suggestions submitted by the public over the past couple of decades, and they then put together a list representative of the modern ideal of worldwide beauty. Aesthetic perfection is only one of the criteria. Grace, elegance, originality, daring, passion, class, poise, joy, promise, hope… they are all embodied in a beautiful face,” they added.

According to the organization, they select only 100 faces out of the approximately 160,000 celebrities (which works out to less than 0.001%).

“It is a thankless task, as no individual will ever agree with all the choices,” they related.

They maintained: “Over 50 countries are represented on the annual list. That number seems to go up every year as the public participation grows and expands. This diversity relies heavily on public suggestions from almost every corner of the globe.”

“Of course, lists are always very subjective… you will disagree with some of the choices, but perhaps you will find a new favorite. We hope you enjoy the list. Watch the video and please like, comment, share and subscribe.”

Sports in 2022: World Cup-bound Filipinas keep making history

As they continue to scale new heights, the Filipinas seized 2022 as their year. 

Luisa Morales - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine women's national football team kick-started the year on the highest possible note, clinching the country's first-ever berth in the FIFA Women's World Cup in January.

Alen Stajcic had just been appointed head coach for a couple of months by the beginning of 2022. He then he steered the Filipinas to the 2023 FIFA WWC —  set in Australia and New Zealand next year — after the team beat Chinese Taipei 1-1 (4-3) on penalties in the quarterfinals of the AFC Women's Asian cup in Sydney.

The Filipinas sent the Philippine football community on high as they punched their ticket to the elite tournament.

But that was only the beginning for what would be a monumental year for the Filipina booters, who broke ceiling after ceiling in the months that came.

In May, they out with their best performance in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, taking home the bronze medal with a 2-1 win over Myanmar.

It was the program's first podium finish in the biennial tournament since 1985 when the squad also ended up third in the competition.

Worth noting is the fact that there were only three nations that participated in the women's football competition of the SEA Games that year.

The Filipinas didn't stop there as they ruled the AFF Women's Championship in July.

Marking the first ever championship for any Filipino side in football, the Filipinas first dethroned Vietnam before beating powerhouse Thailand in a thrilling final, 3-nil, in front of a packed home crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Pumping life into the ever-budding football community in the country, the Filipinas quenched the thirst of fans who have long been waiting for a crown in Manila.

Though the Filipinas capped off competition with the AFF Women's Championship, the team continued to be busy until the end of the year.

In preparation for the World Cup, the Nationals figured in multiple training camps and international friendlies against the likes of Ireland, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Chile, among others.

Coming up with positive results all throughout the year, the vision is optimistic for the Filipinas' campaign in the World Cup slated in a couple of months.

They also end the calendar year with a program-best No. 53 in the FIFA Women's World Rankings.

As they continue to scale new heights under the watchful eye of Stajcic, the Filipinas seized 2022 as their year. 

With a historic campaign to build momentum on, the Filipinas can only hope to bring the energy into the new year.

The Filipinas return to action as early as February when they compete in the Pinatar Cup 2023 in Spain against higher-ranked European teams.