IN the event of a conflict, about 70 percent of adult Filipinos have expressed willingness to fight for the country, the survey results released by OCTA Research on Adult Filipinos’ Willingness to Fight for the Country showed.
The noncommissioned survey conducted from September 25 to 30, 2025, using face-to-face interviews, also showed that 30 percent remain unwilling or uncertain.
‘This enduring sentiment reflects a deeply ingrained sense of patriotism and collective identity that cuts across socioeconomic, regional, cultural, and ethnic divides. Defending the nation continues to serve as a unifying moral anchor for many Filipinos-a shared belief that transcends differences in background and circumstance,’ read the survey, with 1,200 male and female probability respondents aged 18 and above and registered voters interviewed for the study.
Support for national defense is robust across major areas, with at least seven in 10 Filipinos ready to fight-peaking in the National Capital Region with 79 percent and lowest in the Visayas (61 percent).
By socioeconomic class, willingness is highest among Class ABC at 79 percent, followed by Class D (70 percent) and Class E (64 percent).
Regionally, patriotic commitment is strongest in Eastern Visayas (89 percent), Bicol Region (87 percent), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (84 percent), Central Luzon (83 percent), Davao Region (82 percent), and the Ilocos Region (80 percent).
Meanwhile, lower expressions are recorded in Cagayan Valley with 19 percent, followed by Northern Mindanao with 35 percent, and 43 percent in Caraga.
‘These variations suggest that the patriotic spirit is deeply rooted across the country. In many areas, the willingness to fight for the country may also reflect a resilient sense of belonging and confidence in national unity and sovereignty,’ the survey added.
Across age groups, willingness to fight for the country remains high but varies significantly by generation.
The highest percentage is observed among Filipinos aged 75 and older (77 percent), reflecting a patriotism shaped by lived experience and historical struggle.
In contrast, the lowest level of willingness is found among those aged 65 to 74 (59 percent).
Notably, younger Filipinos-Millennials (75 percent) and Gen Z (73 percent)-show remarkably high levels of readiness to defend the nation in the event of a conflict, challenging common assumptions about youth disengagement or apathy.
This strong patriotic sentiment among the younger generations, the survey stated, may reflect a renewed and active form of nationalism-one that combines emotional commitment with civic awareness and a sense of shared responsibility for the country’s future.
‘ It may also suggest that patriotism among today’s youth is not merely symbolic, but grounded in an informed, participatory, and forward-looking vision of nationhood.’
Moreover, there are more adult Filipinos in the rural areas (74 percent) who are willing to fight for the country in the event of a conflict compared to those in the urban areas (67 percent).
The percentage of adult Filipinos willing to fight for the country is relatively higher among males (77 percent) than females (64 percent).
The percentage of adult Filipinos willing to fight for the country in the event of a conflict with a foreign enemy declined by eight percentage points-from 78 percent in June 2024 to 70 percent in September 2025.
While this represents a decline, the survey noted that overall willingness remains high, with seven in 10 Filipinos still prepared to defend the nation if conflict arises.
Across major areas, willingness dropped by at least nine percentage points in most regions, except in the National Capital Region (NCR), where it rose sharply by 14 points.
By socioeconomic class, the steepest decline was recorded among Class E respondents (-18 points), while Class ABC registered a 10-point increase, reflecting diverging outlooks between higher- and lower-income groups.
‘This decline recorded above suggests that while patriotic sentiment remains broadly resilient, it is increasingly shaped by the country’s social, economic, and political realities.’
Possible factors denting confidence
On the other hand, persistent political scandals, high inflation, economic insecurity, local political dynamics and unequal access to credible information, survey says, may have weakened patriotic confidence among poorer and more vulnerable sectors.
‘In contrast, heightened national conversations on sovereignty, defense, and regional security appear to have reinforced national pride and resolve among the middle and upper classes.
These patterns indicate that economic stability and civic awareness may play a decisive role in shaping how Filipinos perceive patriotism and their willingness to defend the nation,’ it said.
This survey has a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95-percent confidence level.