| You've
just walked off the plane at Manila International Airport and the
smiling guys in the picture above greet you with bright faces, songs
and upbeat kundiman guitar music. You're in the Philippines,
where Asia wears a smile!
 Out
the door, you catch a Jeepney - that ubiquitous, bright and funny
vehicle that emerged from WWII scraps with a look that could only
happen here in the Philippines.
No
other corner of Asia is quite so diverse, quite so expressive and
quite so welcoming. Huge brassy shopping malls squat cheek to cheek
with open markets; the roar of your Jeepney competes with the ever-present
crow of the roosters; the sleek new elevated train across Manila
flies over housing more diverse than you can imagine.
Everywhere
you go you are greeted with smiles and lifted eyebrows. English
swirls around your head with Tagalog and multiple other sibilant
dialects. The air smells vaguely of hot rice cooked over charcoal.
The heat and humidity accentuate the smell of flowers. Tropical
takes on new meaning.
 You've
come a long way but the people you meet are so gracious and engaging
that you think, "Maybe, I've just come home."
Diversity
Ancient Malayan origins
provide the stock for the Philippines’ rich culture. Chinese
and Arabian influences add spice, and three hundred years of Spanish
dominance contribute body to the mixture, which is garnished by
flavorings from Indonesia, India, Japan, England, and America.
About 10% of Filipinos (the cultural
minority groups or tribal Filipinos) retain their traditional culture.
There are some 60 ethnological groups. The Philippines has developed
a mixed culture from the blending of foreign influences with native
elements. Today, Muslims, and some isolated tribes are the only
people whose culture remains resistant to Spanish and American influences.
 The
diverse cultures of the Philippines are reflected in language. Most
business transactions are conducted in English. Modern Tagalog (also
Pilipino or Filipino), the primary indigenous language of the islands,
is a native tongue peppered with Spanish and English words and phrases.
Many provinces retain and use regional dialects, of which there
are almost a hundred.
The appearance and the traditions of
the Filipino people also vividly reflect the diverse cultural influences
that have built their country. Devotion to family and devout religious
faith, however, are common to all.
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Values
There are several Philippine
cultural distinctives. One is an interwoven system of reciprocal
favors, referred to as the “debt of gratitude.”
If someone has done a favor for you, it is understood that
you owe him one in return—or perhaps you owe him several smaller
favors that, added together, will equal the magnitude of the favor
your friend performed for you.
A Filipino is honored to be asked a favor but hesitant to
ask for one in return. With
the “debt of gratitude” system in place, such a return
is understood and no one suffers loss of “face.”
This
leads to another concept, known in French as amour-propre
and in Spanish as amor propio.
It can be defined as “self-respect.”
Living in the Philippines says, “A Filipino
is expected to be sensitive to the feelings of others so that the
amor propio (self-esteem) of others is not hurt.” Filipinos, like most people, don’t
want to feel ashamed or embarrassed.
Unlike most people, however, they will therefore do their
best not to shame or embarrass anyone else.
 Another
distinguishing Philippine cultural value is the emphasis placed
on social harmony. Personal interaction should be unruffled, with
no open conflict. Maintaining
this harmony may require yielding to opinions with which you do
not agree, disagreeing circuitously rather than bluntly saying “No,”
and being amiable when you may feel hostile. Tact is valued more
highly than candidness.
Like their verbal interactions,
Filipinos’ body language tends to be understated rather than
demonstrative. Two
men may hold hands in public, but mixed-gender couples are not as
likely to display affection publicly.
A typical handshake will be relaxed rather than firm.
In common with some Native American peoples, Filipinos use
their lips rather than their fingers to point. Along with pointing
fingers, direct eye contact is considered rude, and “beckoning
people with the index finger is extremely rude,” according
to Living in the Philippines.
A downward gesture of the hand should be used instead.
Filipino
culture is people-centered rather than task-centered or time-centered.
Presence is more highly valued than punctuality. SEND missionaries
who have come to terms with “Philippine time” -- a relaxed
attitude toward the clock -- live life with less stress..
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Living in the Philippines, published by the American Chamber
of Commerce of the Philippines.
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