No matter where in the world you go, things work differently than in other places. I guess that everyplace has it’s own little nuances. The Philippines is certainly no exception either, as sometimes it seems that nearly everything is different here!
One of the things that I find quite different here is the way that a lot of businesses operate. Many stores here are closed during the lunch hour. Oh, the big malls and such are generally open through the noon hour, but it’s the smaller “Mom & Pop” type places that you find closing down for lunch.
I find this interesting because many of these places really need the business revenue, and they are the type of places where people would certainly shop during lunchtime. For example, one type of place that is really bad about this is small computer stores. Even bigger computer stores, if they are not in malls, often close down for lunch time. Now, it would seem to me that lunch would be prime business time for such a business. The kind of people who can afford to buy a computer are office workers and such, the very people who are off during the lunch hour. It would seem that they are most likely to go shop for a computer while they are on their lunch break!
I am writing this article on Monday morning. This morning, I went to Blugre Coffee Shop here in Davao for my regular Monday morning get-together for LiP readers. When I pulled up, I was surprised that the parking area was empty, it us usually hard to get parking there. I parked my car, and was just getting out when I noticed that the coffee shop was dark! Sign on the front door – “Closed until 1 PM.” Whoops! You see, today is Araw ng Davao, a big festival in Davao. The schools are closed so that the kids can enjoy the festival. Wouldn’t it seem like something like a coffee shop would get booming business today, with lots of folks off work? But, they were closed, so I had to just cancel out on the get-together for today. I felt bad about it, because people might make a special trip to see me at Blugre, but I had no idea that they would be closed.
It just seems like many businesses here in the Philippines are not so eager to serve the public, and more interested in just enjoying themselves. I have a lot of experience working in many kinds of businesses that serve the public. It has always been holidays, lunch hours and such when my co-workers and I had to make an extra effort to serve customers, get them the help they need quickly so that they could get back to doing their work.
I will say this. In the 9 years I have lived in the Philippines, fewer businesses are closing up during these times when they really should be open. So, it does seem that things are improving.
For anybody who came to see me Monday at Blugre and found the place closed, I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Don’t worry, though, if Blugre is open, I will be there on schedule, so come back and see me next time!
"So, it does seem that things are improving."
I suppose my question would be whether that is an improvement! Working harder? Is that a good thing?
Interesting thoughts here, Bob. I've noriced this too, even in the Metro Manila area. The very hours when one would expect business to come in, owners often chose to close … it's a bit strnage to be sure.
Even in the major malls, one will see this, particularly some of the small kiosk shops. The person manning the booth will disdappear, for 15,20, 30 minutes at a time. leaving people standing at the counter with money in their hands. Stock out on the counter, sometimes the bag holding the money in plain view, and no one behind the counter. And this is a country where the thought of theft or "holder uppers" is high on many people's minds.
It's a bit of a mystery.
well I haven't had that happen to me yet ,so far "Knock on wood" but I suppose it well be inevitable … Phil n Jess
Morning Bob,
You have the same gripe I do. When I moved to rural Victoria (southern state of Australia)I was amazed that the stores did the same thing. I have never got used to it. I will say it does only occur in the smallest towns. They are generally one-man-bands and go home for their lunch so no one is available or can be afforded to cover the lunch break. These people are obviously unaware of cut sandwiches. They also have what they consider to be a captive market. First time I witnessed it I thought there had been a bomb scare or a Martian invasion or something to explain the deserted main street. Even the bloody post office used to close. I always meant to contact Australia Post and see if their licensing/franchise agreement allowed such a thing. I bet it didn't!
Hi Bob – Again, tradition & custrom trumps all. I use to wonder of such things everywhere I've been. There's always a few retail outlets sitting in PRIME, high traffic locations with a "Closed" sign barring their customers' way at the time when customers have the free time to shop.
It's like a snack shop across from a middle school closing for lunch!
Time for another SIR booster! 😆
Dave, most times I find an unmanned kiosk is cause of a trip to the bank. Once, it was a bathroom break and a couple times, a lunch break. We do have a lot of experience with that, huh?
Best time to go to the mall or the bank is during siesta time….
Exactly what I was thingking Bob! Other examples would be bookstores (some close at lunch here in Gensan). I am also surpised that some restaurants and salons here in Gensan close on Sundays because they say there's barely any business on Sundays but still it is not a good business decision.
Exactly what I was thinking Bob! Other examples would be bookstores (some close at lunch here in Gensan). I am also surprised that some restaurants and salons here in Gensan close on Sundays because they say there's barely any business on Sundays but still it is not a good business decision.
Kamusta ka Bob,
Ok, there are many things I have learned from this site, and one thing I have most importantly learned from your site is understanding the customs/culture of the filipino people there. To me this is just there way of doing things there Bob, yes it is a bad business decision, and yes it is an inconvenience for us all, but that is the way things are there. I guess you can look at it this way, especially for them closing down on a festival day, is a day for the family and friends to get together. Also, not sure how it is in the bigger cities in Davao and Cebu, but the school that Chesca goes to in Maasin, Rose picks her up each day and brings her home for lunch, lunch is not provided there, and it is a private school too. So I would imagine maybe some parents might need to get there children at lunch time and feed them..is just a guess.
You might remember, back in the days Bob, of "small town" America, where on the 4th of July, or some type of local festivals, they would roll up the sidewalks and everyone head to the fairgrounds to celebrate, but would hang those signs on there business door saying "closed for the festivities". Of course that is not heard of much more now a days, unless you are in a very rural place here in the USA, but I am sure it still happens, only thing different now is that the local Wal-mart is still open, since most of the "mom and pop" stores are gone.
You know Bob, I do kinda of miss those days, when on Christmas,Thanksgiving, Easter, and those types of holidays, the only store that was open for business was the 7-11 down the street, because they were run by a muslim or hindu family, and didn't celebrate those holidays. I know it is good business to be available to your customers whenever possible, but is also nice to spend time with your family as well.
Just my two peso's worth,
Salamat kaayo,
Danny
Hi Bob
The only reason you should close for lunch if you have only 1 or 2 employees and that you need to get lunch. The result is that you will lose business. My co-worker had his own store and he closed for lunch he lost a lot of business that he never recovered from (though he did not care). He eventually sold his business.
The other problem I have is that congress is considering expanding number of holidays by 7. They already have a lot and the President sometimes announcing holidays a week before the suddenly celebrated holiday. This aggravates large businesses and only compound the problem of businesses face operating in the Philippines.
Hi Bob, I guess I could get used to that as it is similar to what happens here in Austria. All professionals (doctors, dentists, etc) plus hairdressers/barbers, and all government offices close at 12 until 2. Smaller stores sometimes, sometimes not.
But, at 12 the restaurants open until 2 so you can get hot meals, etc. After 2 pm until about 6, when supper is served, the restaurant will serve only drinks and snacks. Cooks then have an afternoon break!
Even after 8 nyears it still takes a bit of getting used to!
Hi Bob- It seems to me your gripe is mainly with the stores which are large enough to rotate their staff over the lunch period, which makes me think that surely the managers and owners of these stores must be worldly, and wise enough to realise the potential of keeping the tills ringing through this period, So why dont they? Maybee you could give me a theory or reason why.
p.s. I believe most stores in R.P stay open later in the day than in the west, so maybee that is some compensation.
Bob,
I have experienced even in banks, even with a smaller force, they are open, but of course the person you need to see is out to lunch.
They say an army lives on their stomachs, so do Filipinos. Maybe it is the smaller meals but Filipinos have breakfast, then mid morning snack, then lunch, then afternoon snack, then dinner. Workers are always saying "break time, need to eat"
But then again, and maybe because of the Spanish influence, in many Spanish countries mid day is Siesta time. Businesses close in the afternoon for a few hours, and then reopen and work to evening time.
…a normal event for pinoys, but one which I just stand at the locked door and shake my head in utter amazement. I'm still festering over my last visit when I went to pay for my Cebu Pacific airfare at their office and was told they do not accept credit cards??!!!! I went next door and bought PAL tickets…they accepted the card..I guess Cebu Pacific feels its better not to have a passanger than to take a credit card!!!go figure!
hi bob,
it is more of a culture than anything else, and it could be worst!, from where i am now, the way things work here is similar to spain, there's a very long break here, from 12 noon til' 5 pm, any businesses here will open back again at 5 pm til' 10 or 11 pm, we call it here a "broken time schedule", very few company here operate on a straight hours and mostly operates on a "broken time", there was a joke here that no Chinese would ever make a business here.
is it an anti-business? sure it is!, especially if you are from another country and the norms are different from where you from. will it pisses you off? sure it will!, as you are not accustomed to that culture it will cause a lot of stress on your part, but the thing is.. this country has been running its business for more than 100 years with that kind of practice and it worked for them.
to avoid frustration, stress or anything that can increase your blood pressure, one must learn to adopt to one's culture.
Hello Bob,
I guess what I say after reading your article and the responses really amaze me about the different culture and ways of living in the Ph. This reminds me of our little Post office in the town I live near by when they close from 12 noon till 1:30pm for lunch. And like Bruce was saying about the Spanish Countries closing at noon for several hours for siesta time is true. I've heard that down in Mexico every body closes up shop at noon and don't reopen until 3 pm for siesta time.
I really enjoyed your reply from Brian about the credit card, I got a kick out of that.
Thanks for the article, I'm still learning.
Dale
in italy and spain they have siesta every day. things close down at noon open back up around 4-5 pm. even the resterants close sometimes, very aggrivating to say the least. maybe the filipinos still have some spanish blood and traditions left in them !
oink oink
Yep I agree Sir BoB, finding your favorite store open can be a bit of a lottery at times. I recall wanting to buy a Super Ferry ticket to Cebu. As I approached the window at the Port, my partner said it was "closed". I said it can't be closed, it's 12 noon.
Well my woman was right again, there was a closed sign on the window. So I decided to stick my head through the hole in the window…..low and behold, there was the sales attendant, sleeping like a baby, mobile phone next to her hand and a plate of half eaten food. I had to wait till she woke up to purchase a ticket, god love her.
Got a picture of it I'll post it one day lol
Hello Bob
I must not have gone out shopping much during those times. I know I have only 5 weeks experience so far but just the sari sari stores. and Some how in that short period of time I had accounts at 3. Guess they just trusted the tall blue eyed American. hehe Would never happen here. The largest lumber/ hardware store in the county that I live in used to close at 4:00pm on Saturdays and 3:00pm on Sundays. well as you know economy here is just a little depressed, hehe so they put all their employees on 4 day a week schedule and now stay open until 5:00pm on weekends. State offices are now closed 2 working days a month in California. Oh and the post office by my house closes a 12:00 and opens back up at 2:00. I guess when I get there I will just learn how to take a siesta.