THE ‘verdict’ is out and our president, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Junior, has lost it. We are referring of course to the results of two surveys from two reputable polling firms, Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations, which both reported separate– but damning results– on his credibility (trust) and confidence (performance) ratings.
From a (still) high of +32 percent average trust rating in June 2025, we can only describe as ‘spectacular’ the depth of the President’s fall thru the same SWS survey 5 months later, in November and released just before Christmas— negative 3 percent.
For its part, Pulse Asia, in its ‘Ulat ng Bayan’ survey between December 12 and December 15, reported Marcos’ net trust rating at minus 15 percent (47 percent distrust; 32 percent trust) and the people’s confidence in his performance at net minus 14 percent (48 percent disapproval; 34 percent approval).
This latest dismaying assessment of the public’s pulse by Pulse Asia did not differ from its Ulat ng Bayan report last March when it recorded the President’s net performance rating at minus 18 percent and his net trust rating at minus 29 percent (54 percent distrust; 25 percent trust).
And if Pulse Asia’s results are to be followed, the President has been steadily eroding his support from the social class that matters the most—the poorest of the poor and in regions outside of Metro Manila where government propaganda has never taken roots and where the people knows that any “ayuda” they are receiving are not genuine or sincere but merely palliative and political dole outs.
In its March 23 to March 29 survey, the country’s poorest (Class D and E) already made their sentiment known: they do not trust the President anymore (minus 27 percent and minus 28 percent respectively), a sentiment shared by those in the Visayas and Mindanao (minus 26 percent and minus 81 percent).
In Pulse Asia’s December survey, the situation basically did not change– minus 15 percent and minus 27 percent for Class D and E, respectively; minus 78 percent in Mindanao and minus 34 percent in Visayas.
In both surveys, the President has retained positive support in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
This can be taken to mean that only these regions have substantially benefited from the largesse the government has been providing as well as being the closest to immediately hear the side of the President.
From elation when the poll results were in its favors, panic buttons are now being pressed everywhere in Malacañang with Spokesperson Atty. Claire Castro now going to the extent of appealing to the public to support the President.
But we wonder: How can this be when the writings ‘are on the wall,’ so to speak? And most Filipinos, thru these surveys, had already made their position known long ago?
The situation would have been different by now if only the administration acted decisively to address the public’s discontent instead of doubling down on policies that are heavy on optics but hallow in substance.
This Year of the Horse may very well be the year when we saw a lot of kicking going around, the result of which may either bring us hope that the country can still be saved.
That, or we continue descent to darkness, disunity and fragmentation as a nation.