Pulse Asia

Pulse Asia is a Philippine public-opinion polling and survey research organization. It was established in 1999 as Pulse Asia Inc., a for-profit private company, and later reorganized as a nonprofit entity under the name Pulse Asia Research Inc. in 2013. The organization is associated particularly with political, governance, and public-affairs polling in the Philippines, where survey findings are regularly used by news organizations, political actors, researchers, and the broader public to assess voter preferences, presidential and national-government approval, trust in public officials, and perceptions of contemporary issues. The organization was founded by Felipe B. Miranda, a political scientist and professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines Diliman who earned a master's degree in political science from the University of Chicago. Pulse Asia's work is conducted in the context of a competitive Philippine polling environment, alongside other survey organizations such as Social Weather Stations. Its best-known recurring output is the Ulat ng Bayan series, which reports nationwide survey findings on political attitudes, approval and trust ratings, voter preferences, and other public concerns. The surveys have become recurring reference points in Philippine political reporting, especially during election periods and periods of controversy involving national officials. Pulse Asia's public profile has also been shaped by disputes over polling independence and the interpretation of survey results. From late 2009 onward, critics alleged that the organization had political connections involving relatives of Benigno Aquino III, who became president in 2010. The allegations relied in part on corporate records and research discussing the establishment of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations. Senatorial candidate Francisco "Kit" Tatad argued that these relationships could affect public-opinion polling. Pulse Asia responded in 2013 by acknowledging the early involvement of Rafael Cojuangco Lopa and Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco in establishing the company, while stating that they were not involved in its research work and no longer held shares. The firm has also faced criticism from politicians whose electoral prospects or public ratings were unfavorable in its surveys. In 2010, presidential candidate Richard Gordon brought legal action against Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations in connection with pre-election polling. A court declined to issue the temporary restraining order he sought. Later, during the administration of Rodrigo Duterte, anti-Duterte groups and some commentators described survey firms, including Pulse Asia, as propaganda instruments because repeated surveys showed strong approval and trust ratings for the president despite political controversies and social unrest. Pulse Asia continued publishing its surveys, including results favorable to and unfavorable to incumbent officials. These episodes illustrate both the influence of polling in Philippine public life and the recurring debate over methodology, sponsorship, interpretation, and institutional independence. Pulse Asia is therefore best understood not as a consumer-facing commercial brand but as a research and information-services organization whose reputation rests on the production and publication of public-opinion data. Its primary market is the Philippines, and its significance comes from the visibility of its findings in national political discussion rather than from a broad international operating footprint.

Pulse Asia began operations in 1999 as Pulse Asia Inc., a privately owned, for-profit Philippine polling company. Its founding figure was Felipe B. Miranda, a political scientist and professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines Diliman. From its early years, the organization concentrated on measuring public attitudes toward political leaders, government performance, elections, and national issues. Its work placed it among the most visible Philippine survey institutions, together with Social Weather Stations. The organization became involved in public debate in 2000 when Miranda acknowledged that a presidential adviser connected with the administration of Joseph Estrada had paid more than 620,000 Philippine pesos for a survey concerning Estrada during his impeachment trial. The survey reported an increase in Estrada's public acceptance. This episode contributed to wider questions about commissioned polling, sponsorship, and the relationship between survey research and political power in the Philippines. A more sustained controversy developed from late 2009. Critics accused Pulse Asia of producing biased or inaccurate polling and alleged that its establishment was connected to relatives of Benigno Aquino III, who was elected president in June 2010. Corporate documents and a research paper were cited in support of claims involving Rafael Cojuangco Lopa and Antonio Cojuangco. Senatorial candidate Francisco "Kit" Tatad argued that such relationships suggested an effort to influence public-opinion polling. Pulse Asia later acknowledged that the two men had been involved in establishing the organization in 1999, but said they had never participated in the research work and no longer owned shares. The response was intended to distinguish early corporate involvement from research operations and later ownership. The organization's polling also became the subject of litigation during the 2010 presidential campaign. Richard Gordon, a presidential candidate, sued Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations over pre-election surveys in which he performed poorly. Gordon argued that such surveys could condition voters and interfere with independent evaluation of candidates. The court refused to issue the temporary restraining order he requested. In the eventual election, Gordon received 1.39 percent of the vote, below the approximately 2 percent level reflected in the pre-election surveys cited in the dispute. In 2013, Pulse Asia reorganized as a nonprofit organization and adopted the name Pulse Asia Research Inc. This structural change marked an important institutional transition while preserving its role as a producer of public-opinion research. The organization continued to publish Ulat ng Bayan surveys, which examine national political and social attitudes and are frequently reported by Philippine media. Beginning in 2016, during Rodrigo Duterte's presidency, Pulse Asia was again criticized by anti-Duterte groups and newspaper commentators. They described polling organizations as propaganda tools because surveys often showed high approval and trust ratings for Duterte while the administration faced corruption allegations, social unrest, and criticism of its governance. Different explanations were proposed for the results, including respondent apprehension or fear. Pulse Asia continued to release survey findings, including data that reflected strong support for Duterte. The controversy reinforced the central place of polling in Philippine political communication and the importance of questions about sampling, fieldwork, sponsorship, respondent behavior, and interpretation. Today, Pulse Asia is identified primarily with Philippine public-opinion research rather than with a consumer product line. Its institutional history combines commercial origins, nonprofit reorganization, recurring national survey programs, and repeated public scrutiny over political neutrality. The available reference material does not establish a complete list of current officers, detailed methodology, ownership arrangements after the 2013 reorganization, or a verified official website URL.

• 2016

  Polling criticism during the Duterte administration

  [1]Pulse Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  The organization is criticized by anti-Duterte groups and commentators after surveys report strong approval and trust ratings for the president.

• 2013

  Reorganization as Pulse Asia Research Inc.

  [1]Pulse Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Pulse Asia changes from a for-profit private company to a nonprofit organization and adopts its current research-oriented name.

• 2010

  Election polling lawsuit involving Richard Gordon

  [1]Pulse Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Presidential candidate Richard Gordon sues Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations over unfavorable pre-election survey results; the requested temporary restraining order is not granted.

• 2009

  Ownership and polling-independence controversy emerges

  [1]Pulse Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Critics begin publicly alleging that Pulse Asia's polling was biased or politically connected to relatives of Benigno Aquino III.

• 2000

  Commissioned survey during the Estrada impeachment period

  [1]Pulse Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Felipe B. Miranda acknowledges that a presidential adviser paid for an opinion survey concerning President Joseph Estrada during his impeachment trial.

• 1999

  Pulse Asia is established

  [1]Pulse Asiaen.wikipedia.org

  Pulse Asia Inc. is founded in the Philippines as a for-profit private polling company, with Felipe B. Miranda identified as its founder.

A Philippine survey research institution focused on public opinion, politics, governance, elections, and national issues.

• Public-opinion polling

  Ulat ng Bayan surveys

  A recurring national survey program associated with Pulse Asia. Ulat ng Bayan reports public attitudes toward political leaders, government performance, elections, trust, approval, and other issues of national concern. Its findings are frequently used in Philippine media and political discussion. The available reference material does not provide a complete product catalogue or detailed methodological specifications for every survey wave.

• Survey research

  Election and political surveys

  Polling and related research concerning voter preferences, candidate standings, political attitudes, and public evaluations of national officials. These surveys have been especially visible during Philippine election periods and have also generated disputes about interpretation and political influence.

• Social and political research

  Governance and public-affairs research

  Research addressing public perceptions of government, national issues, approval, trust, and related social or political concerns. The organization is primarily known as a Philippine public-opinion research institution rather than as a supplier of physical products.

• 2016

  Accusations that polling firms served as propaganda tools

  Anti-Duterte groups and commentators accused Pulse Asia of helping improve the government's public image because its surveys showed high approval and trust ratings for Rodrigo Duterte amid political controversies.

  Source

• 2010

  Richard Gordon polling lawsuit

  Richard Gordon sued Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations over unfavorable pre-election surveys and argued that polling could condition voters. The court declined to issue the requested temporary restraining order.

  Source

• 2009

  Allegations of political connections and biased polling

  Critics alleged that Pulse Asia published biased or inaccurate polling and had establishment ties to relatives of Benigno Aquino III. Pulse Asia later said the individuals in question had not participated in its research and no longer held shares.

  Source

• 2000

  Commissioned Estrada impeachment-period survey

  Felipe B. Miranda acknowledged that a presidential adviser paid for a survey concerning President Joseph Estrada during his impeachment trial. The episode raised questions about commissioned research and the relationship between political patrons and polling results.

  Source

Read more

• 2013

  Reorganize as a nonprofit research organizationStrategy

  Background

  Pulse Asia had operated since 1999 as a for-profit private polling company and had faced public questions about its corporate relationships and research independence.

  Action taken

  The organization re-formed as a nonprofit and changed its name to Pulse Asia Research Inc.

  Aftermath

  It continued operating as a Philippine public-opinion research institution and publishing recurring survey work, including the Ulat ng Bayan series.

  Source

1. 1Pulse Asiaen.wikipedia.org