There is a big discussion going on in regards to another post on this blog regarding tardiness, time keeping and such. It’s a subject that we all know as “Filipino Time.” Generally speaking (very general, OK?) Filipinos living in the Philippines tend to “ignore” things like punctuality and such. At least that is what is generally said. I am not sure if I fully agree with this, though. Let me tell you why.
When Feyma and I had both read Pete’s post about making appointments with Filipinos yesterday, we both looked at each other, we discussed it a bit, and after a few minutes I said to Feyma – “Is it just me, or is Filipino Time starting to fade? It is not nearly as bad as it was when we first moved here.” As we talked about it, we wondered if it was that Davao was different, or if the concept of “Filipino Time” was starting to fade away. When we first moved here in 2000, we had some rather major conflicts in our lives that were the result of Filipino Time (I am not talking about conflicts with each other, but both of us being on “American Time” while others we dealt with being on “Filipino Time.”). In recent years, we rarely have a problem. For instance, tonight we are having dinner with a Filipino couple who we consider to be quite close friends. I know for sure I don’t need to worry about the timing, because we go out with these folks a lot, and sometimes they even beat us there, and we believe in being 15 minutes early. Honestly, I am having a hard time remembering the last time that I had a problem with people being late.
In so many ways, I see Filipino culture changing. Sometimes the changes are good from my perspective, sometimes they are bad. For example, one change that I would consider bad is that I see a lot of Filipinos falling into the “fast food” culture of the United States. They eat out at McDonald’s or Jollibee all the time, and I see Filipinos becoming fat. I know that I am fat, and so many of my countrymen are fat, it’s not a healthy thing! Because of this, I hate to see this change in Filipino culture. Instead of the family meal of adobo, they stop for spaghetti at Jollibee and a couple pieces of fried chicken. Fifteen years ago they would have eaten some rice and grilled fish. Certainly a change in the culture. I also feel that the culture of “Filipino Time” is fading too.
Yesterday, I had a meeting with a language instructor (thanks to you, Shannon for putting me in touch!) at a local coffee shop. Not only was she right on time, she texted me about 5 minutes before schedule to let me know that she was almost there. Wow, refreshing!
Another thing that I see happening is that a lot of Filipinos set their watches 15 minutes ahead of what the real time is. Even radio stations will announce the time as 15 minutes ahead. Do you know why? Because if the Filipino is 15 minutes late according to his watch, it means that he is actually arriving right on time! I know that this is the reason, because a number of Filipinos have told me this.
What about other ex-pats who live here? Do you see more and more Filipinos being on schedule? Is it just the way things are going in Davao, or can you verify this in other parts of the country too?
Hi Bob, I have to set my alarm clock about 15 minutes early every morning and I know I'm not alone on that one!
In winter I usually set it 30 minutes early! Hibernation sickness!
Regards
Phil
Hi Phil – I am getting old. These days, I wake up without an alarm clock, and I usually get up between 5 am and 6 am. It wasn't that long ago when I'd set my alarm clock and hit the "snooze button" for an hour or so before finally getting out of bed! Oh, those were the days. I can't do it anymore, though, because I tend to just wake up, and can't get back to sleep again! 😆
Hi Bob:
I'm really worried about the fastfood craze of Pinoys. I hope parents and the Phil govt will take this issue seriously.
Gone are the days where we cooked eggs and puso ( "hanging rice") when we traveled !:sad:
Hi jul – When it came to writing this article, that was kind of a side issue, but it is certainly a major concern. I remember the first time I came to the Philippines in 1990, and for years after that, I never saw a fat Filipino anywhere I looked. Today, a relatively large percentage of the population is overweight. I do believe that it is largely due to the fast food culture that is becoming rather widespread. 😥
Hey, Bob…I didn't know that setting your clock ahead was a Filipino thing? I've been doing
this since I was a teenager, so that I could get a few extra minutes of sleep or that I would
be late for anything.
As for the fast food thing…it is the fast pace life and the need for convenience***sigh***and I
thought the Philippines is immune to all of this
Hi Bob – It's funny how eating 6-7 times a day isn't as fattening as a meal or two in a fast food joint 😛
Of course, it's what's being eaten and how much, coupled with a tendency to sit around and text that puts the pounds on. Still, in the agricultural provinces, finding someone who's overweight (caused by indulgence, not by medical reasons) is rare. Big city-different story.
Hi Dee – I think that setting your clock ahead happens all over the world, or at least it seems so! It is really being done widely here, now though!
Hi Paul – That's true, the normal Filipino diet in the past had many more meals per day than we do (or should I say snacks) but most people here were very thin! Amazing!
When I make appointments I always specify American time or Filipino time or "bahala na time".
Hi Bobby – Good idea! I do that myself from time to time, just to make sure! 😆
Hey I thought you guys living in the Philippines didnt need alarm clocks because the neighbours roosters did the job for you! (the ones that wake me up when I am there are actually ours !!)
Hi Bob, so funny about setting time ahead, when hanging out with friends they always ask me what time it is on my cell, coz they all have their cells time ahead. I think another thing that contributes the filipinos getting fat is SODA. As you know you can't drink the water and its easy to head over to the sari sari store for soda to accompany your meals, I see it often the yaya's heading over to the store during lunch/dinner time to get soda.I have cousins in Manila that are nursing students and they are given about a P300 allowance per day for their meals, here in Cebu all the fast food restos are crowded with students, its convenient, clean and a nice place to hang out as well. Any professional appointment I have had here in Cebu, be it doctors, sales or whatever I have found filipinos to be great with being on time.
Yes,
I can verify that the ENTIRE Palaway province sets their clock 15min ahead of the real or "manila" time. Sounds crazy, doesn't it. You go to any hotel in Palawan, and their clock on the wall is fast by 15min. I also asked why. They said they didnt want people to miss their flight by being late. BTW, the clocks at the airports are real time, thankfully!
hey Bob.. my wife whos a filipina , lives in the USA and ALL the clocks are 15 minutes ahead in the house but save one…my clock !!
You got a good chuckle outta me this morning !
Inso far as the fast food trend…I hate to see take root there, was in hong kong last year and EVERY KFC and Mcdoc's had 8-10 registers opened and people were 10-15 deep in each line ! I WAS SHOCKED ! Obesity in the USA has exponetially increased ( yeah I know my spellings bad …darn publik skools :lol:) you'd be shocked if you came home and went to the beach and saw just how many obese kids under 10 there are now !
Hi Jae:
Do you live in Palawan? It is one of the areas that I and my wife are looking into. So I am curious as I have not found anyone from there yet.
Thanks
Wayne & Jo
Hi Wayne,
Yeah, I lived there for a while. In Puerto Princesa city. Very nice relaxing place. VERY clean. Infrastructure is good. The only drawback is lack of beach. Think of it as a port city, so no sandy beach in the vicinity. But you can go island hopping to nice beaches. And 2 hrs away is Sabang beach, which is really nice, postcard like. I guess another drawback is lack of movie theatre.
I also considered living in Taytay (but its not good in my opinion), Coron (very dirty, I would never live there), and el nido (way too small and infrastructure is non-existant. I would go crazy living there). So PP was the only choice for me.
If beach is a high priority for you, PP may not be the place.
Hi Jae:
Thank you for your response and information. Good pointers. Yes beach property is important to us. Jo wants to be near infrastructure but we do not want to be in the city. I am very connected to nature and that was one of the things that interested me about Palawan. Would you know where would be a good place to star looking to find more information about the province?
Thanks Again
Wayne & Jo
Wayne,
I would have to tell you, there really is no comprehensive information available on the internet. The information available on various forums from members are spotty, and it's based their own perspectives, which may or may not be consistent with yours. The only way, really, is for you to visit yourself, which I know is a very difficult undertaking.
I actually did it over the course of last few years. Visiting and living in various places. My criteria were: nice beaches (need not be white sand, but very clean, teeming with life, with ample scuba opportunities), presence of all basic necessities (not necessary large mall), easy access to manila and/or cebu (for citylife fix now and then), safety, friendliness and cleanliness.
I lived in following cities: Baguio, San Fernando, Subic/Olongapo, Batangas, Puerto Galera, Sorsogon, Puerto Princesa, Dumaguete, Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Surigao/Siargao.
I am picky because I was trying to select a place that will serve as my permanent base. The place that came closest is Puerto Princesa. But the lack of beach was the key drawback (didn't want to drive so far everytime I wanted to relax at the beach. Afterall, one of the main reasons for living in Phil is beach!). But it seems like it will be Bohol or Dumaguete. I still haven't made my final decision.
In the meantime, I am stuck in Manila…thinking and planning…
Good luck with your search for your own piece of paradise!
Hi Jae,
So I see that you also lived in Sorsogon. I heard that the butandings (whales) have spurred the local economy there, I think around the Donsol area. I chanced upon that article in a travel-related website.
Did you have a chance to do whale watching while there? Can you share that experience? I also heard that Sorsogon has white sandy beaches also.
Have not been to that area but whale watching has sparked my interest.
Thanks,
-Angie
Sorsogon does not have a white sand beach. Its tan at best. Mostly brown. Can't eat shellfish there either because of red tide. And its way, way too far out.
Snorkeling with sharkwhale. It's a must-try. Diving not allowed.
Whalesharks were not enough to lure me there, though.
Hi Bob, 1st – like ur site 2nd- u gave me an idea of that "AMerican time" or "Filipino time" because here in UAE, even some Filipinos are still late at times. I have a friend who is always late 30 mins. Just imagine we are not in the Phils. anymore and yet they haven't changed, so with this 'AT' or 'FT' – I could use this on my next appointment with her. This is a great site. I hope to meet new friends in here.Regards to Feyma and the kids. Hope to see you & your family on my next visit to Davao.
Hi Anthony Haire – Yep, that's true too. They are still trying to get the roosters to crow 15 minutes ahead of time, though!
Hi Pia Sez – Here in Davao you can drink the tap water, no problem. Soda pop may be one of the culprits, though. Wow! P300 per day for Baon? I can't imagine! My kids get P50.
Hi Jae – it seems to be a country wide phenomena on the clocks!
Hi Brian – happy to put a smile on your face!
Hi Jae – come down and give Davao a try! I think you'll like it.
Hi Mary Grace Lim-Erese – I'm glad that you enjoy my site! Glad to hear that the American and Filipino time can be put to use in the UAE! We'll be waiting to see you when you are in Davao! 😀
Well, I'm not an ex-pat and I don't live in the Philippines full-time but we do experience Filipino time here in the Bay Area. It's usually in reference to parties. To me it means that if you say a party starts at 3PM, people will show up anytime between 3 and when the party ends – whenever that might be…
As for the comments above regarding fast food & weight – I recently spent 2 weeks in Germany. There were almost no overweight people visible. People ate good food – almost no fast foods, processed snacks, soda – and they were walking and bicycling everywhere. The same is true in the countryside in the Philippines when I've been there. Good fresh food, active lifestyle. Very un-American.
Hi Mike – Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the time issue and also dietary issues. Interesting to know that the whole "Filipino Time" issue is alive in the Bay Area.
Hi Jae,
More info on Puerto Princesa here: visitpuertoprincesa.com