Filipinos ‘third happiest’ in Asia, says report

Thanks to happiness inside the home, Filipinos emerged as the third happiest people in Asia in 2013, a new report showed.

The Philippines was named the third happiest among five countries in Asia assessed for innovations firm Eden Strategy Institute’s Happiness Index.

The country scored 90 points in the Happiness Index, which the Eden said is based on more than 200 million social media accounts in the five countries covered by the study.

Singapore was deemed the happiest country in Asia with a Happiness Index score of 518 points, followed by Malaysia, 245 points.

Ranked lower than the Philippines was India with 29 points and Indonesia, 11 points.

“In the Philippines, happiness comes from a sense of large, extended families,” Eden said.

It added that predominantly Catholic Pinoys “have a predisposition to look for the best in everyone”.

“They are taught from young to support the underdog, find joy in hard work, and smile at hardships,” Eden said further.

The report was released in time for the United Nations-declared International Day of Happiness, Mar. 20.

“Policymakers are questioning the sustainability of pursuing economic growth, in the light of global social, environmental, and governance challenges,” Eden said.

It also noted how several countries have initiated efforts to measure “gross national happiness” versus gross domestic product as a quality of life indicator.

The Philippines’ National Statistical Coordination Board has recently included its own Happiness Index in its statistical data. –Kim Arveen Patria | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom