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Philippines |
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Facts and Statistics
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam Capital: Manila Population: 86,241,697 (July 2004 est.) Ethnic Make-up: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3% |
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Languages in the Philippines
Filipino (formerly Pilipino) is based on Tagalog and is the official language of the Philippines. In spite of being the national language, only about 55 percent of Filipinos speak the language. In addition to Filipino are about 111 distinct indigenous languages and dialects, of which only about 10 are important regionally. English is generally used for educational, governmental and commercial purposes and is widely understood since it is the medium of instruction in schools. The Philippines are the third largest group of English speaking people in the world, after the United States and the United Kingdom. Since English is widely spoken in the Philippines, it is common to hear Filipinos use a mixture English and Filipino words or phrases, known as "Taglish" (a mixture of English and Tagalog), in their everyday conversations. A steadily dwindling minority still speak Spanish, which had at one time been an official language. Filipino Society & Culture Filipino Family Values . The family is the centre of the social structure and includes the nuclear family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and honorary relations such as godparents, sponsors, and close family friends. . People get strength and stability from their family. As such, many children have several godparents. . Concern for the extended family is seen in the patronage provided to family members when they seek employment. . It is common for members of the same family to work for the same company. . In fact, many collective bargaining agreements state that preferential hiring will be given to family members. Filipino Concept of Shame . Hiya is shame and is a motivating factor behind behaviour. . It is a sense of social propriety and conforming to societal norms of behaviour. . Filipinos believe they must live up to the accepted standards of behaviour and if they fail to do so they bring shame not only upon themselves, but also upon their family. . One indication of this might be a willingness to spend more than they can afford on a party rather than be shamed by their economic circumstances. . If someone is publicly embarrassed, criticized, or does not live up to expectations, they feel shame and lose self-esteem. Etiquette & Customs Meeting Etiquette . Initial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting the eldest or most important person first. . A handshake, with a welcoming smile, is the standard greeting. . Close female friends may hug and kiss when they meet. . Use academic, professional, or honorific titles and the person's surname until you are invited to use their first name, or even more frequently, their nickname. Gift Giving Etiquette . If you are invited to a Filipino home for dinner bring sweets or flowers to the hosts. . If you give flowers, avoid chrysanthemums and white lilies. . You may send a fruit basket after the event as a thank you but not before or at the event, as it could be interpreted as meaning you do not think that the host will provide sufficient hospitality. . Wrap gifts elegantly as presentation is important. There are no colour restrictions as to wrapping paper. . Gifts are not opened when received. Dining Etiquette If you are invited to a Filipino's house: . It is best to arrive 15 to 30 minutes later than invited for a large party. . Never refer to your host's wife as the hostess. This has a different meaning in the Philippines. . Dress well. Appearances matter and you will be judged on how you dress. . Compliment the hostess on the house. . Send a handwritten thank you note to the hosts in the week following the dinner or party. It shows you have class. Table manners . Wait to be asked several times before moving into the dining room or helping yourself to food. . Wait to be told where to sit. There may be a seating plan. . Do not start eating until the host invites you to do so. . Meals are often served family- style or are buffets where you serve yourself. . A fork and spoon are the typical eating utensils. . Hold the fork in the left hand and use it to guide food to the spoon in your right hand. . Whether you should leave some food on your plate or finish everything is a matter of personal preference rather than culture-driven. Business Etiquette & Protocol Relationships & Communication . Filipinos thrive on interpersonal relationships, so it is advisable to be introduced by a third party. . It is crucial to network and build up a cadre of business associates you can call upon for assistance in the future. . Business relationships are personal relationships, which mean you may be asked to do favours for colleagues, and they will fully expect you to ask them for favours in return. . Once a relationship has been developed it is with you personally, not necessarily with the company you represent. . Therefore, if you leave the company, your replacement will need to build their own relationship. . Presenting the proper image will facilitate building business relationships. Dress conservatively and well at all times. Business Meeting Etiquette . Appointments are required and should be made 3 to 4 weeks in advance. . It is a good idea to reconfirm a few days prior to the meeting, as situations may change. . Avoid scheduling meetings the week before Easter. . Punctuality is expected. For the most part your Filipino colleagues will be punctual as well. . Face-to-face meetings are preferred to other, more impersonal methods such as the telephone, fax, letter or email. . Send an agenda and informational materials in advance of the meeting so your colleagues may prepare for the discussion. . The actual decision maker may not be at the meeting. . Avoid making exaggerated claims. . Always accept any offer of food or drink. If you turn down offers of hospitality, your colleagues lose face. . It is important to remain for the period of social conversation at the end of the meeting. Business Negotiation . You may never actually meet with the decision maker or it may take several visits to do so. . Decisions are made at the top of the company. . Filipinos avoid confrontation if at all possible. It is difficult for them to say 'no'. Likewise, their 'yes' may merely mean 'perhaps'. . At each stage of the negotiation, try to get agreements in writing to avoid confusion or misinterpretation. . If you raise your voice or lose your temper, you lose face. . Filipinos do business with people more than companies. If you change representatives during negotiations, you may have to start over. . Negotiations may be relatively slow. Most processes take a long time because group consensus is necessary. . Decisions are often reached on the basis of feelings rather than facts, which is why it is imperative to develop a broad network of personal relationships. . Do not remove your suit jacket unless the most important Filipino does. Dress Etiquette . Business attire is conservative. . Men should wear a dark coloured, conservative business suit, at least for the initial meeting. . Women should wear a conservative suit, a skirt and blouse, or a dress. . Women's clothing may be brightly coloured as long as it is of good quality and well tailored. . Appearances matter and visitors should dress well. Business Cards . You should offer your business card first. . Make sure your business card includes your title. . Present and receive business cards with two hands so that it is readable to the recipient. . Examine the card briefly before putting it in your business card case. . Some senior level executives only give business cards to those of similar rank. Being a Manager in the Philippines The business set up in the Philippines is hierarchical. Intercultural management needs to take into account the need to maintain a formal manner and pay strict attention to titles, positions, and hierarchical relationships. Expect to find many gatekeepers whose job is to protect the schedule of and limit access to the ultimate decision maker. In this relationship-driven culture, you will find it easier to make the proper contacts if a third party who already has a relationship with the decision maker makes the introduction. Filipinos avoid behaviors that would make either party lose face. This leads to an indirect communication style, so carefully watch facial expressions and body language. This is a country where a smile may mean many different things, not all of them positive. Role of a Manager Cross cultural management, when working in the Philippines, will be more successful when bearing in mind that each person has a very distinct role within the organization and management would not be expected to consult with lower-ranking individuals when decision-making. In the Philippines, as in other hierarchical societies, managers may take a somewhat paternalistic attitude to their employees. They may demonstrate a concern for employees that goes beyond the workplace and strictly professional concerns. Approach to Change The Philippines’ intercultural adaptability and readiness for change is apparent but because tradition is valued, change is not readily embraced simply because it is new. Approach to Time and Priorities Deadlines and timescales are fluid in the Philippines. Patience will play an essential part in successful cross cultural management. While timescales and deadlines need to be set well in advance and reiterated carefully, it should be understood that these will be viewed as flexible. Successful cross cultural management may require some degree of patience. Global and intercultural expansion means that some managers may have a greater appreciation of the need to enforce timescales and as such, agreed deadlines are more likely to be met. Decision Making Although many businesses retain hierarchical structures, decisions are often made after reaching a consensus of the stakeholders. Few individuals have full authority to make binding decisions concerning anything but mundane matters. Teamwork is becoming increasingly important in most organizations. The best ideas and solutions often come from having many people meet to discuss an issue. Filipino managers will praise employees, although not generally in public. Subordinates expect their efforts to be recognized and rewarded. Most Filipinos are suspicious if praise is excessive or undeserved. Boss or Team Player This is a hierarchical culture where rank has its privileges. Decisions are reached at the top of the company, although a great deal of time is spent building consensus prior to reaching the decision. Managers are expected to provide their subordinates with detailed instructions that cover any eventuality. Since they do not want to lose face (or have shame), many Filipinos are hesitant to ask for clarification if they are uncertain about a task. Therefore, it is a good idea to use written instructions to supplement verbal communications whenever possible. Managers adopt a paternalistic role towards their subordinates and guide them in both their business and personal lives. Subordinates expect to be praised for a job well done, and public praise is extremely important as it heightens their self-respect. Criticism, however, must always be done in private and must be handled diplomatically, being careful not to make the subordinate lose face so some intercultural sensitivity will be necessary. Communication and Negotiation Styles Wait to be told where to sit. This is a hierarchical culture and quite often seating conforms to the rank of the people involved. You may never actually meet with the decision maker or it may take several visits to do so. Decisions are made at the top of the company. Filipinos avoid confrontation if at all possible. It is difficult for them to say "no". Likewise, their "yes" may merely mean "perhaps". At each stage of the negotiation, try to get agreements in writing to avoid confusion or cross cultural misinterpretation. Decisions are often reached on the basis of feelings rather than facts, which is why it is imperative to develop a broad network of personal relationships. Do not remove your suit jacket unless the most important Filipino does. Philippines related Links and Resources * Currency - the currency is the Peso. Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP, etc. * Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for the Philippines. * News - check out all the latest Google news on the Philippines. * Dialling Code - the international dialling code is +63. * Time - The Philippines are +8 hours GMT. * History - read about the long and rich history of the Philippines. |
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