Philippines

Flag of the Philippines

The Land of Rising Sun


Welcome to our guide to the Philippines. This is useful for anyone researching Filipino culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to the Philippines on business, for a visit or even hosting Filipino colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all Filipinos you may meet!

Coat of arms of the Philippines

 

Government

Republic.

National People: Filipino

Current President: Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (2010)

Land area: 115,124 sq mi (298,171 sq km); total area: 115,830 sq mi (300,000 sq km)

Population (2014 est.): 107,668,231 (growth rate: 1.81%); birth rate: 24.24/1000; infant mortality rate: 17.64/1000; life expectancy: 72.48

Capital and the largest city: Manila, 11.862 million

Other large cities: Davao 1.565 million; Cebu City 855,000; Zamboanga 884,000 (2011)

Monetary unit: Peso

National name: Republika ng Pilipinas

Languages: Filipino (based on Tagalog), English (both official); eight major dialects: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense

Ethnicity race: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000)

Religions: Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 5%, Islam 5% (2000)

Literacy rate: 95.4% (2008 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $454.3 billion; per capita $4,700. Real growth rate: 6.8%. Inflation: 2.8%. Unemployment: 7.4%. Arable land: 18%. Agriculture: sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish. Labor force: 41.33 million; agriculture 32%, industry 15%, services 53% (2013 est.). Industries: electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing. Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper. Exports: $47.45 billion (2013 est.): semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits. Imports: $63.91 billion (2013 est.): electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic. Major trading partners: Japan, U.S., Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand (2012).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 3.939 million (2012); mobile cellular: 103 million (2012). Broadcast media:multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; five national or major TV networks; one government-owned network; 1100 cable TV providers and a government-operated national TV and radio network; about 300 analog television stations; more than 1,000 radio stations; the Philippines is scheduled to complete the switch from analog to digital broadcasting by the end of 2015 (2012). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 425,812 (2012). Internet users: 8.278 million (2009).

Transportation: Railways: total: 995 km (2010). Highways: total: 213,151 km; paved: 54,481 km; unpaved: 158,670 km (2009). Waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels (2011). Ports and harbors:Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila. Airports:247 (2013).

International disputes: Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau.

Geography

The Philippine islands are an archipelago of over 7,000 islands lying about 500 mi (805 km) off the southeast coast of Asia. The overall land area is comparable to that of Arizona. Only about 7% of the islands are larger than one square mile, and only one-third have names. The largest are Luzon in the north (40,420 sq mi; 104,687 sq km), Mindanao in the south (36,537 sq mi; 94,631 sq km), and Visayas (23,582 sq mi; 61,077 sq km). The islands are of volcanic origin, with the larger ones crossed by mountain ranges. The highest peak is Mount Apo (9,690 ft; 2,954 m) on Mindanao.

History

The Philippines' aboriginal inhabitants arrived from the Asian mainland around 25,000 BC They were followed by waves of Indonesian and Malayan settlers from 3000 BC onward. By the 14th century AD , extensive trade was being conducted with India, Indonesia, China, and Japan.

Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain, explored the Philippines in 1521. Twenty-one years later, a Spanish exploration party named the group of islands in honor of Prince Philip, who was later to become Philip II of Spain. Spain retained possession of the islands for the next 350 years.

The Philippines were ceded to the U.S. in 1899 by the Treaty of Paris after the Spanish-American War. Meanwhile, the Filipinos, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, had declared their independence. They initiated guerrilla warfare against U.S. troops that persisted until Aguinaldo's capture in 1901. By 1902, peace was established except among the Islamic Moros on the southern island of Mindanao.

The first U.S. civilian governor-general was William Howard Taft (1901–1904). The Jones Law (1916) established a Philippine legislature composed of an elective Senate and House of Representatives. The Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934) provided for a transitional period until 1946, at which time the Philippines would become completely independent. Under a constitution approved by the people of the Philippines in 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines came into being with Manuel Quezon y Molina as president.

On Dec. 8, 1941, the islands were invaded by Japanese troops. Following the fall of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's forces at Bataan and Corregidor, Quezon instituted a government-in-exile that he headed until his death in 1944. He was succeeded by Vice President Sergio Osmeña. U.S. forces under MacArthur reinvaded the Philippines in Oct. 1944 and, after the liberation of Manila in Feb. 1945, Osmeña reestablished the government.

An Independent Nation

The Philippines achieved full independence on July 4, 1946. Manuel A. Roxas y Acuña was elected its first president, succeeded by Elpidio Quirino (1948–1953), Ramón Magsaysay (1953–1957), Carlos P. García (1957–1961), Diosdado Macapagal (1961–1965), and Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965–1986).

Under Marcos, civil unrest broke out in opposition to the leader's despotic rule. Martial law was declared on Sept. 21, 1972, and Marcos proclaimed a new constitution that ensured his role as president. Martial law was officially lifted on Jan. 17, 1981, but Marcos and his wife, Imelda, retained broad powers.

In an attempt to resecure American support, Marcos set presidential elections for Feb. 7, 1986. With the support of the Catholic Church, Corazon Aquino declared her candidacy. Marcos was declared the official winner, but independent observers reported widespread election fraud and vote rigging. Anti-Marcos protests exploded in Manila, Defense Minister Juan Enrile and Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos defected to the opposition, and Marcos lost virtually all support; he was forced to flee and entered the U.S. on Feb. 25, 1986.

Etiquette and 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.
• Mano or Pagmamano is a gesture used in Filipino culture performed as a sign of respect to older up to the fourth degree as a way of accepting a blessing from the elder. Similar to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting bows towards the offered hand of the elder and presses his or her forehead on the elder's hand. Usually performed with the right hand, the person showing respect may ask “Mano po” to the elder in order to ask permission to initiate the gesture.
• Though the “mano po” gesture is still widely used at present in the Philippines, many Filipinos have also replaced this gesture with the “beso.” The “beso-beso” which originated from the Spanish word for “kiss,” is a common greeting in the Philippines similar to the “mano.” The “beso-beso” is a cheek-to-cheek kiss usually made once on the right cheek. The “beso” is more commonly used amongst the upper classes as a greeting to relatives and close friends, but is not reserved for an older person unlike the “mano.”
• 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.

Gestures

·         Similar to the “mano po” gesture, “po” and “opo” are also distinctly Filipino ways of showing respect to one’s elders. The “po” is usually affixed to the end of sentences or phrases when one is addressing someone older than him or her. For example, “paumanhin” in Filipino means sorry. To an elder, one would say “paumanhin po,” The word “po” alone does not really have its own meaning but adds formality and is used as a sign of respect. This is why it is affixed to “mano” and thus is said as “mano po” when one is requesting for the blessing of an elder.

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.

Sources

Wiki

Phil-Travel-Guide