Culture of The Philippines
The Philippines is a wonderfully laid back place. You just don’t see a lot of Filipino raising heck about anything. Even when unhappy, they tend to be polite. This might be different inside of families, I know of times when family debate has become quite heated, just like any family any place.
There is a phrase in the Philippines known as Filipino time. It is very real. Don’t count on Filipino paying strict adherence to time, especially in social 
situations. It may be different for business and governmental events but I don’t have much experience with that.
I see westerners getting upset about this casual approach to time. They get uptight about people being late. Well, go home or get use to it.
However, when a jet can’t land with 153 people on board because the air traffic controllers (ATC) are late for work that might be carrying it a bit far. It sounds like the airport in Zamboanga is not staffed 24 hours a day. If so, it seems one group of ATC would not leave until their replacement was there. This is speculation on my part though.
A PAL flight from Manila to Zamboanga was forced to circle the airport for a time. The amount of time varies depending on which official you ask. The time varies from a few minutes to about thirty minutes.
Two employees took the day off and two more showed up late. They said they had trouble finding transportation due to the holidays, as fewer travel options were available. Their boss seemed to think they were having trouble breaking free of the holiday mood. He has launched a disciplinary investigation into the incident.
This is not as shocking as it might seem to westerners. You don’t see a lot of jets or planes in the air here. I have never seen a small private plane. You can from time to time see a jet very high over head but that is not common. This is true even when I was living in Cebu City. Out on the Mactan Island, perhaps I would have seen more planes as that is where the Cebu Airport is.
This laid back atmosphere of the Philippines is refreshing though if you’re in a hurry, it can be frustrating. Perhaps we westerners could learn from the Filipino. Perhaps we would have fewer heart attacks. Come to think of it, I do see more elderly people here. That could be because they stay with their families instead of nursing homes. They may just be out and about more, not really living longer.
In any case, get rid of your watch Mr. Westerner and join in on the local time zone, that being Filipino Time.
Popularity: 1%
Yes Rusty you are right with filipino time. We still have some filipinos practicing that in the US. I do not know if they do it with their bosses but everytime we have a party..let’s say… the party is at 1:00 pm…people come at 1:30 or much later. I sometimes kid them…you gonna be late for your own funeral… that gets laughter but tehy will be still late for parties the next time … it is so frustrating
Awww Terry, just relax. Does it really matter?
That’s what the Philippines has taught me, what really matters. Well I’ve had several life stories on that but the Philippines is re-enforcement. Just have fun without them.
Gets hard to think that way in the US, I know, I was caught up in that rat race and its good you teach your students to be punctual, so you can’t let it go completely. I also don’t think there’s any reason to get frustrated, people are just people, doing the best they can.
I use to be so punctual, I was always early. I hated late, drove me nuts. Now I’ve not bothered to get my gold watch fixed. LOL
There were so many things I let get to me I could do nothing about. Trying to control our own lives is mostly futile, controlling someone else’s might be insane. Not that we don’t all do it. Its hard nt too do that but learning not to control others is far more fruitful than trying to control them, Getting upset at them is a control thing.
Then again, I’m always rushing Jessie so I’ve certainly not mastered it.
Wow, you are becoming a filipino huh
Good for you…but as they say…when you are in Rome be a Roman…so that’s why I want to be punctual and expecting toher people to be punctual as well. Rusty this is the US, not PI. I do not want to be fired because of my bad Filipino habit. Filipinos here are know to be really good at their jobs, no matter what type. I wish the same holds true with people back home, the politicians should be good at their jobs….Ahhh…election time is coming. Have you experienced election in the Philipp[ines. I do not know how many will be killed, how many will cheat, and how much each vote will cost now, etc.
Isn’t that frustrating (again) that’s how I view Filipino elections. I grew up with it, and it has always been like this.
There are some areas that families are taking over years after years, without changing or giving a chance to the good candidate. This must be a good business..huh.
I hope you can have a topic on election without repercussions. but, PI is a free country-we have freeedom of speech, religion, etc.except the there are people who will silence you….ha..ha…ha…
You should take part of your culture with you to the USA and they can learn from you as you can learn from them.
But, some appointments people are expected to be on time, even here. If you have a flight, best not be late. If one has an appointment with BI, you should be very early to show respect and not risk being late.
For a party? One is not required to be there and the only person you can ever control is yourself. And regarding ourselves, we can only control so much. So much of what we do is guided by our subconscious. By default, we can’t be easily aware of our subconscious
Work is one thing, party is another and the only person you can get there on time is you. Makes life much less stressful when I don’t worry about others.