Survey: Most Filipinos Favor Cash Gifts for Christmas

Most Filipino Adults Prefer Gifts in Cash for Christmas — Survey

Unsure of what to give your loved ones for Christmas?

Most Filipino adults prefer to receive cash as "Aguinaldo" or Christmas gift, a recent survey by the Church-run Radio Veritas has shown.

A press release by Veritas Truth Survey on Dec. 2 reported that 38% of respondents preferred gifts in cash for Christmas, while 32% preferred gifts in kind.

The survey was conducted among a stratified random sample of 1,200 respondents nationwide using a text-based and online data gathering process from Nov. 1-30.

Twenty-two percent of respondents said it does not matter whether they receive gifts in cash or in kind as it is the thought that counts, while 8% were undecided.

Radio Veritas President Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual was quoted as saying that the "best interest of the receiver" must direct what kind of gift one must give, adding it is not the amount that matters but the love put into giving.

"[T]he amount, thoughtfulness and love that we factor-in in choosing either gift or cash would reveal the true value of the gift we are to give," Pascual said.

Veritas Truth Survey Head Bro. Clifford Sorita also shared that while both men and women preferred cash gifts, more women (39%) favored them compared with men (32%). Twenty-seven percent of male respondents also said it does not matter whether they receive cash or in-kind gifts compared with women at 18%. Ten percent of female respondents were undecided, with men at 4%.

According to age group, the majority or 50% of teenagers or those aged 13 to 20 years old preferred gifts in kind for Christmas; 17% preferred cash, 17% said it doesn't matter, and 8% were undecided.

The majority or 53% of young adults or those aged 21 to 39 years, on the other hand, favored receiving gifts in cash. Twenty-five percent preferred gifts in kind, 15% said it does not matter, while 7% were undecided.

Adults or those aged 40 to 60 years old preferred gifts in cash at 35% each; 27% said it does not matter, while 3% were undecided. For the elderly or those aged 61 and above, 34% preferred cash gifts, 31% gifts in kind, 23% said it does not matter, while 12% were undecided.

"A perfect gift is the one the recipient really wants, enjoys and appreciates, and possibly would not buy for him or herself," Sorita said. "In short, ideal gifts are those that are still treasured after many years. The perfect gift is wanted, needed, deserved and appreciated. It has to be very thoughtfully and carefully chosen."

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