For Filipinos, 2010 is the year of change.

On May 10, 2010, we elected a new President who rode the polls on the promise of change.

This year we also saw changes in our country's staples—a new design for our currency, a new tourism campaign, and a new abbreviated official reference to the Philippines: from RP to PH or PHL.

We also saw changes in Philippine television. TV5 is continuing to change the landscape, this time by introducing Willing Willie, a game-and-variety show on primetime programming. TV5 is also proving to be a glimmer on the horizon, which used to have only the big two, ABS-CBN and GMA-7.

Other big changes in television include the shuffle of news anchors in TV Patrol and Bandila, the earlier start of morning shows Umagang Kay Ganda and Unang Hirit, and the decision of both ABS-CBN and GMA-7 to reduce original programming on Sunday mornings and instead show local and foreign movies.

On the plus side, talented and exemplary Pinoys continued to impress skeptics all over the world.

World champion boxer Manny Pacquiao stamped himself anew onto the record books by earning the eighth championship belt in as many divisions.

Charice's Hollywood career branched off to another high when she starred in the hit TV series, Glee.

The Azkals, the country's little-heralded football team, shook up Southeast Asia by doing well in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010.

Here are the numbers that rocked the nation in 2010.

BASIC DATA. The population of the Philippines, according to CIA's The World Factbook: 97,976,603.

Self-rated poverty, according to IBON Foundation's April 2010 National Opinion Survey: 66%. This is a decline from the 71.4% of October 2009.

As of June 2010, the family living wage—or the estimated amount needed for a family to live decently—is P957, according to data from IBON Foundation. Current minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) is P404.

Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) pegs the employment rate at 92.9% in October 2010. Unemployment remains at 7.1%, while underemployment remains at 19.6%.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) places the inflation rate at 3% last November. This is an increase from the 2.8% of November 2009.