26
Info4Migrants THE PHILIPPINES Country profile Project number: UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-615

Country profile - The Philippines

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Info4Migrants

THE PHILIPPINESCountry profile

Project number: UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-615

300,000 km2

100,617 mlnPOPULATION

GDP per capita

CURRENCY

$3,256

Languages FILIPINO (TAGALOG), EN�GLISH, 19 official auxiliary languages, 175 native languages (13 indigenous languages with at least one million native speakers)

Peso (₱) (PHP)

2 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Official name: Republic of the Philippines

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philip-pine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Climate: either tropical rainforest, tropical savanna, tropical monsoon, or humid subtropical characterized by relatively high temperature, oppressive humidity and plenty of rainfall. There are two seasons in the country, the wet season and the dry season, based upon the amount of rainfall.

Capital: Manila

Largest city: Quezon City

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%

National Flag

National emblem

Manila

MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

THEPHILIPPINES

3 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

THE PHILIPPINES FACTS

Family valuesThe family is the centre of the social structure and in-cludes 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 fam-ily 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 family members will be preferred in hiring.

LanguagesFilipino (formerly Pilipino) is based on Tagalog, and it is the official language of the Philippines. In spite of being the na-tional language, only about 55 percent of Filipinos speak the language. In addition to Filipino, there are about 111 dis-tinct indigenous languages and dialects, of which only about 10 are important regionally.

English is generally used for educational, governmental and commercial purposes, and it 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 com-mon to hear Filipinos use a mixture of 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.

4 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

THE PHILIPPINES FACTS

HiyaHiya signifies shame, and it is a motivating factor be-hind behaviour. It refers to 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 humiliated, criticized, or does not live up to expecta-tions, they feel shame and lose self-esteem.

Metro ManilaMetropolitan Manila, commonly known as Metro Manila, the National Capital Region of the Philippines, is the seat of the government and the most populous of the 12 de-fined metropolitan areas in the Philippines, as well as the 11th most populous in the world.

FlagThe National Flag of the Philippines (Filipino: Pamban-sang Watawat ng Pilipinas), commonly known as the Three Stars and a Sun, is a horizontal bicolor flag with equal bands of royal blue and scarlet red, and with a white equilateral triangle at the hoist; in the center of the triangle, there is a golden yellow sun with eight pri-mary rays, which represent the country’s first group of provinces that started the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spain; and at each vertex of the triangle there is a five-pointed golden yellow star, each of which represents one of the country’s three main island groups - Luzon, Vi-sayas, and Mindanao. This flag can indicate a state of war if it is displayed with the red side on top.

5 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

THE PHILIPPINES FACTS

TyphoonsThe Philippines sit astride the typhoon belt, and the country suffers an annual onslaught of dangerous storms from July through October. These are especially hazardous for northern and eastern Luzon and the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, but Manila gets devastated periodically as well. Bagyó is the local term to any tropi-cal cyclone in the Philippine Islands. Around an average of 20 storms and/or typhoons per year enter the Philip-pine area.

SlumsThe Philippines have Asia’s fastest-growing economy, but tragically many who live there are being left far behind in abject poverty. These are some of the Philippines’ most desperate people, the thousands of Manila slum and shanty town dwellers forced to live in makeshift homes hastily built from scrap in the areas most at risk of natural disasters. It is believed that around 105,000 of the 580,000 immigrants in the capital have been forced to set up home in disaster-prone areas. The greatest threat is flooding, which occurs most years, but they are also vulnerable to powerful tropical storms.

Indigenous PeopleThe Philippines consist of a large number of indigenous ethnic groups living in the country. They are the descen-dants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines. They were not absorbed by centuries of Spanish and United States colonization of the Philippines archipelago, and in the process they have retained their customs and tradi-tions. In the 1990s, there were more than 100 highland tribal groups constituting approximately 3% of the pop-ulation.

6 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

1 January: New Year’s Day Celebrates the first day of the year in the Gregorian calen-dar.

Moveable date in spring: Chinese New Year Also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, it is mainly celebrated by the Filipino Chinese but has slow-ly received wider exposure in popular culture.

9 April: Day of Valor Commemorates the Fall of Bataan during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, and by extension, the courage of Filipino and American sol-diers at the Fall of Corregidor during the Second World War.

Moveable day during spring:Black SaturdayIt remembers the day Christ’s body was lain in the sepul-chre, while his soul descend-ed into the realm of the dead to save righteous souls.

Moveable day during spring: Maundy Thursday This holy day commemorates the Last Supper of Christ with his twelve apostles.

Moveable day during spring: Good Friday It commemorates the suffer-ing, crucifixion and death of Christ.

1 May: May Day International Labour day in the Philippines.

12 June: Independence Day Celebrates the Philippine Dec-laration of Independence and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic in 1898.

Moveable day during summer: Eid’l Fitr Celebrates the end of the fast-ing month of Ramadan;

21 August: Ninoy Aquino Day Commemorates the unsolved assassination of former Sen-ator and prominent opposi-tionist Benigno “Ninoy” Aqui-no, Jr. in 1983, which was a catalyst for the People Power Revolution in 1986.

Last Monday in August: National Heroes’ Day Commemorates all the na-tion’s heroes throughout history.

Moveable day during autumn: Eidul Adha Celebrates the end of the Hajj and the feast of the sacrifice.

1-2 November: All Saints’ Day Filipinos observe this day by visiting their ancestors’ graves.

30 November: Bonifacio Day Commemorates the birth of national hero Andrés Bonifa-cio in 1863.

24-25 December: Christmas Celebrates the Nativity of Christ. Christian families gen-erally hold an midnight feast called nochebuena on Christ-mas Eve.

30 December: Rizal Day Commemorates the execution of national hero José Rizal by Spanish colonial government in 1896.

31 December:Last day of the year On New Year’s Eve, families hold another midnight feast called medianoche to greet the coming year.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

7 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

The history of the Philippines can be divided into four distinct phases: the pre-Spanish period (before 1521), the Spanish period (1521-1898), the American period (1898-1946), and the years since independence (1946-present).

Pre-Spanish PeriodThe first people in the Philippines, the Negritos, are believed to have come to the islands 30,000 years ago from Borneo and Sumatra, making their way across then-existing land bridges. The Malays settled in scattered communities called baranggays, which were ruled by chieftains known as datus. Chinese merchants and traders arrived and settled in the ninth century. In the 14th century, Arabs arrived, introducing Islam in the south and ex-tending some influence even into Luzon. The Malays, however, remained the dominant group until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.

Spanish PeriodFerdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521, and for the next 377 years, the islands were under Spanish rule. This period was the era of conversion to Roman Ca-tholicism. A Spanish colonial social system was developed, complete with a strong, cen-tralized government and considerable clerical influence. The Filipinos were restless under the Spanish and this long period was marked by numerous uprisings. The most important of these began in 1896 under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo and continued until the Americans defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, during the Span-ish-American War. Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898.

American PeriodFollowing Admiral Dewey’s defeat of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, the United States occupied the Philippines. Spain ceded the islands to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (December 10, 1898) that ended the war.

A war of resistance against U.S. rule, led by Revolutionary President Aguinaldo, broke out in 1899. Although Americans have historically used the term “the Philippine Insurrection,” Filipinos and an increasing number of American historians refer to these hostilities as the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) and in 1999, the U.S. Library of Congress reclassi-fied its references to use this term. In 1901, Aguinaldo was captured and swore allegiance to the United States and resistance gradually died out. The conflict ended with a Peace Proclamation on July 4, 1902.

U.S. administration of the Philippines was always declared to be temporary and aimed to

HISTORY IN BRIEF

8 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

develop institutions that would permit and encourage the eventual establishment of a free and democratic government. Therefore, U.S. officials concentrated on the creation of such practical supports for a democratic government as public education and a sound legal system.

On July 4, 1946, the Philippine Islands became the independent Republic of the Philip-pines, in accordance with the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. In 1962, the official Independence Day was changed from July 4 to June 12, commemorating the date when independence from Spain was declared by General Aguinaldo in 1898.

Post-Independence PeriodThe early years of independence were dominated by U.S.-assisted post-war reconstruc-tion. A communist-inspired Huk Rebellion (1945-53) complicated recovery efforts before its successful suppression under the leadership of President Ramon Magsaysay. The suc-ceeding administrations of Presidents Carlos P. Garcia (1957-61) and Diosdado Macapagal (1961-65) sought to expand Philippine ties to its Asian neighbors, implement domestic reform programs and develop and diversify the economy.

Since 1986, when the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos was toppled, the Philippines has enjoyed relative political stability and steady economic growth.

The Philippine Gov-ernment faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the U.S. Government’s Foreign Terror-ist Organization list. Manila has waged a de-cades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which has led to ongoing peace talks. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People’s Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.

HISTORY IN BRIEF

9 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

INTERESTING FACTS

• The original of Philippines’ inhabitants, the Negrito, now number only about 30,000.

• The Philippine islands are mountainous, and seismically active. Earthquakes are common, and a number of active volcanoes dot the landscape, such as Mt. Pinatubo, the Mayon Volcano, and the Taal Volcano.

• The nation got its name ‘Philippines’ after King Philip II of Spain.

• “Conus Gloriamaris”, which is the rarest and most expensive seashell in the world, is one of the 12,000 species of seashells found in the Philippines. About 488 coral species, out of the 500 coral species known worldwide, are found in the archipelago.

• The yoyo was invented as a hunting weap-on by ancient Filipinos, probably in the Visayas.

• The Philippines is known as the ‘text capital of the world’ due to the large num-ber of text messages sent to-and-fro by the people in one day. On average, about 35 million mobile subscribers in the country send about 450 million short text messages (SMS) every day.

• Manila, the Philippine capital, is the most densely populated city in the world.

• The Philippines is the largest supplier of nurses in the world.

• Erythromycin was invented by Filipino Dr. Abelardo Aguilar in 1949. He sent a sample to Eli Lilly, who promptly patented it. Eryth-romycin is used for people who are allergic to penicillin, and it has saved millions of lives.

• The Philippines is the world’s leading pro-ducer of coconuts.

• According to the 2000 census, 52 million people in the Philippines speak English, making it the fifth largest English-speaking nation after the U.S., India, Pakistan, and the U.K.

• The amount of sulfur dioxide expelled by Mount Pinatubo during its eruption on June 15, 1991, created a two-year haze of sulfu-ric acid all over the world. It caused global temperatures to drop by 0.5 °C (0.9 °F).

• A Filipino named Roberto del Rosario made the karaoke machine in 1975, but a Japanese musician invented it four years earlier. Del Rosario, however, was the first to patent the product, which makes him the first patented producer of the karaoke.

• The positioning of the colors in the Phil-ippine flag indicate a message. If it is flown with the red stripe on top, the nation is in a state of war. Otherwise, during peacetime, the blue is on top.

• The University of San Carlos in Cebu City was founded by Spanish Jesuits in 1595, making it the oldest school in the Philip-

10 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

INTERESTING FACTS

pines.Then in 1611, the University of San-to Tomas (or, lovingly, “Usté”) was found-ed in Manila by the Dominican Order. It is the world’s largest Catholic university in terms of population. Both universities are older than Harvard, which was not found-ed until 1636.

• Manila, the capital city of the country, takes its name from a white flower that grew on mangrove trees, locally known as nilad. ‘May nilad’ can be translated to mean ‘there are nilad there.’

• The rice terraces of the Philippine Cor-dilleras are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The terraces were built about 2,000 years ago and — thanks to the rough terrain keeping settlers out — remain as they would have been in pre-colonial times.

• About 25 years before the first book was printed in the United States, the Tagala, the first Filipino-Spanish dictionary, was printed in 1613.

•The Philippines welcomed its 100-mil-lionth citizen on July 27, 2014, making the country the seventh most populated coun-try in Asia and the 12th in the world.

• The Philippines has more than 200 vol-canoes, although only some of them are active.

• In the Philippine cave complex Tabone, fossils of Homo sapiens were found. Ac-cording to studies, this area was inhabited

about fifty thousand years ago.

• Filipinos are the world’s largest network of diasporas, which covers more than 11 million people.

• The world’s deepest ocean trenches are located in the area, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Mindanao Trench, which is near the Philippines, reaches the depth of six and a half miles.

• There are only two seasons – a warm wet season and cool dry season in the Philippines. The dry season lasts from Oc-tober to June, and wet – for the remainder of the year.

• A video camera with a single chip was first created by Marc Loinaz – a Filipino inventor from New Jersey.

• The fluorescent lamp was invented by Agapito Flores Filipino scientists from the island of Cebu.

11 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

Philippine cuisine has evolved over several centuries from its Malayo-Polynesian origins to become a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences that have been adapted to local ingredients and the Filipi-no palate to create distinctively Filipino dishes. Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to the elaborate, such as the paellas and cocidos created for fiestas.

Unlike many of their Asian counterparts, Filipinos do not eat with chopsticks; they use Western cutlery. However, possibly due to rice being the primary staple food and the popularity of a large number of stews and main dishes with broth in Phil-ippine cuisine, the main pairing of utensils seen at the Filipino dining table is that of spoon and fork, not knife and fork.

Kaldereta is an authentic and popular dish in the Philippines, especially in Luzon. Its com-mon ingredients are cuts of pork, beef or goat with tomato paste or tomato sauce with liver spread added to it.

Sisig refers to Sizzling sisig, a Filipino dish made from parts of pig’s head and liver, usually seasoned with kalamansi and chili peppers.

Morcon is a Filipino meat roll stuffed with sausage or hotdogs, carrots, pickles, cheese, and egg. This is considered as a holiday dish and is usually served during Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) and Media Noche (New Year’s Eve).

Crispy pata is a Filipino dish consisting of deep fried pig trotter or knuckles served with sawsawan, a soy-vinegar sauce. It can be served as a festive or everyday dish. Many restaurants serve boneless pata as a specialty.

Lumpia are pastries of Chinese origin similar to spring rolls popular in Indonesia. There are different versions of it: Lumpiang Shanghai (fried spring rolls), Lumpiang Sariwa (fresh spring rolls), Lumpiang Ubod (spring rolls made with coconut julienne or heart of palm) and a lot more.

Sinigang is a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour flavor, most often associated with tamarind. Meat varies from fish, pork, shrimp and beef.

Pancit or pansit is the term for noodles in Filipino cuisine. Pancit Palabok is made from

CUISINE

12 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

rice flour noodles topped with crab sauce, eggs, shrimps, squid, garlic, chicharon, and veg-etable seasoned with lemon juice.

Kare-kare is a stew made from peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables, stewed oxtail, beef, and occasionally offal or tripe. Meat variants may include goat meat or (rarely) chick-en. It is often eaten with bagoong (shrimp paste), sometimes spiced with chili, and sprin-kled with calamansi juice. It is comfort food for Filipinos, and a perennial family favorite in both local and overseas Filipino households. This is an authentic Filipino dish.

Lechón is a pork dish in several regions of the world, particularly in Spain and its former colonies throughout the world. The word lechón originated from the Spanish term leche (milk); thus lechón refers to a suckling pig that is roasted. Lechón is a popular dish in the Philippines, usually served during fiestas.

Adobo is Spanish for sauce, seasoning, or marinade. The Philippines was colonized by Spaniards for over 300 years, so it is not surprising that many of the dishes have Spanish or international influences. Adobo is considered the national dish of the Philippines. This dish consists of chunks of chicken or pork or both cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaf, lots of garlic and whole peppercorns.

Drinks

There is a wide variety of alcoholic drinks manufactured by local breweries and distilleries: • Beer or serbesa is the most preferred alcoholic drink in the Philippines. San Miguel Pale Pilsen is the most popular beer, and the widely known brand Beer na Beer is a close sec-ond. • Tuba (toddy) is a type of hard liquor made from fresh drippings extracted from a cut young stem of palm.• Lambanog is an alcoholic beverage most commonly described as coconut wine or co-conut vodka. The drink is distilled from the sap of the unopened coconut flower, and is known for its high alcohol content (80 and 90 proof).• Tapuy is a traditional Philippine alcoholic drink made from fermented glutinous rice. It is a clear wine of luxurious alcoholic taste, moderate sweetness and lingering finish. Its aver-age alcohol content is 14% or 28%, and it does not contain any preservatives or sugar.

Chilled drinks are popular due to the tropical climate. Stands selling cold fruit drinks and fruit shakes are common in many of the city areas. The drinks are based on green manda-rin orange, pomelo, pineapple, banana, and soursop.

CUISINE

13 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

One of the top tourist attractions in the Philip-pines, The Chocolate Hills are unusual geological formations that consists of at least 1,268 indi-vidual mounds scattered throughout the interior of the island of Bohol. The almost symmetrical formations with similar size range from 98 to 164 feet (30 to 50 meters) high and are cov-ered in green grass. During the dry season, the grass turns brown, hence the name. There is no consensus on how these giant mole hills were formed. One theory holds that the Chocolate Hills are the weathered rock formations of a kind of marine limestone on top of an impermeable layer of clay.

No trip to the Philippines could be complete without seeing the spectacular Banaue Rice Terraces. Carved without modern tools by the Ifugao tribes from the mountain ranges about 2,000 years ago , these magnificent farm terraces resemble giant steps reaching up to the sky. To this day, locals still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces, although more and more younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing and emigrate to the cities.

The Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea is a marine sanctuary protected as the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is made up of two atolls, North Atoll and South Atoll, separated by a deep channel of approximately 5 miles (8 km) wide. It has become one of the most popular dive sites in the Philippines because of its coral walls where the shal-low coral reef abruptly ends, giving way to great depths. The marine park is open to live-aboard diving excursions between the months of April and June when the waves are most calm.

Rising more than 2,400 meters above sea level, Mayon Volcano is significant for its per-fectly symmetrical cone shape. Visitors can enjoy a number of activities here, such as camping, climbing, hiking, bird watching and photography. A picturesque spot in which to admire Mayon Volcano is from the nearby Cagsawa ruins. Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines, having erupted over 49 times in the past 400 years. The most destructive eruption of Mayon occurred on February 1 in 1814, bombarding the nearby towns with volcanic rocks. The belfry and what is left of the baroque church that was de-stroyed in the 1814 eruption can still be seen.

Located in the easternmost part of Asia, the Philippines are home to more than 7,000 islands, which are inhabited by friendly locals and many in-digenous tribes. From pristine beaches and marvelous natural wonders to interesting historic sites and once-in-a-lifetime ex-periences, the Philippines pack many exciting things to see and do.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS

14 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

A small island made up of quiet fishing villages, Malapascua Island is popular for its ideal diving spots and for being the only place in the world where you can see thresher sharks on a regular basis, as well as manta rays and hammerheads. The other hidden gems here are the beautiful, sandy white beaches, crystal clear waters bordered by coconut trees and colorful coral gardens.

Just south of Manila is the charming coastal town of Puerto Galera, well-favored for its gorgeous beaches, excellent diving spots and wide diversity of marine species. The most popular beaches are White Beach and Sabang Beach, which also offer nearby shopping, dining, nightlife and hotel accommodation. Another popular attraction is the natural har-bor of Muelle Bay with its rows of shops, restaurants and bars. Visitors can also go snor-kelling to see some of Asia’s best coral reefs or dive among old shipwrecks and hundreds of fish species.

Located on the northern coast of the island of Palawa, Puerto Princesa is a nature lover’s paradise. Home to unspoiled landscapes rich in wildlife, this lovely town also lays claim to one of the world’s most unique natural phenomena, an underground river known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. Protected within a national park, this natural wonder is the world’s longest navigable underground riv-er. Guided paddle boat tours show intriguing rock formations and fluttering bats.

Located in the province of Sorsogon, a place of pristine beaches, stunning waterfalls and unexplored caves, the sleepy fishing village of Donsol is the place in the Philippines to see whale sharks. The ocean’s gentle giants can be seen between November and June, with the numbers peaking between February and May. Tourists can also take a boat cruise along the Donsol River through mangrove and palm trees, and watch the night light up with millions of sparkling fireflies. If that is not enough, a traditional shrimp-catching expedition with bamboos and nets, followed by a tasty dinner of the cooked catch, is also available.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS

15 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

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.

Dining EtiquetteIf 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.• It is polite to decline the first offer of seat-ing, food, drink, etc. Accept the second offer.• Leave a small amount of food on your plate when you are finished eating. When finished eating, place your fork and spoon on your plate.

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 im-portant. There are no colour restrictions as to wrapping paper.• Gifts are not opened when received.

IMPORTANT TIPS

16 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

IMPORTANT TIPS

DressFilipinos are some of the smart-est dressers in Asia. Dress well for most occasions.

Men should wear a jacket and tie for initial meetings. Women should wear western dresses, skirts and blouses.

Helpful HintsSpeak softly and control your emotions in public. Make re-quests, not demands.

Don’t be offended by personal questions. These are asked to show interest. Feel free to ask the same questions in return, especially about family.

Verbal assault is a crime for which you can be charged.

Dining and EntertainmentMost business entertaining is done in restaurants or clubs, preferably a good restaurant in an international hotel. During business entertaining, you may be asked to sing. Try to join in. A dinner invitation to coun-terparts and their spouses is appreciated before you leave the country. Don’t bring your spouse to a business lunch. Lunches are generally for busi-ness discussions.

Filipinos may view a dinner/party invitation as just a pass-ing thought. They may answer “yes,” but not take an invitation seriously. Phone to re-invite and remind. An R.S.V.P. may not be answered. It must be reiterated to be taken seriously. Don’t ac-cept an invitation unless repeat-ed at least three times. People who have not been invit-ed may turn up at dinner. They should be included graciously.

The person who invites pays the bill.

Punctuality is appreciated but not demanded when attending social affairs.

Getting drunk is considered rude.

It is polite to decline the first offer of seating, food, drink, etc. Accept the second offer.

Leave a small amount of food on your plate when you are fin-ished eating. When finished eat-ing, place your fork and spoon on your plate.

Never directly criticize anyone, especially in public. Never offer insincere comments or compli-ments.

17 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

IMPORTANT TIPS

Business TipsFilipinos are relaxed about time. Meetings and appointments often begin late. For-eigners are expected to be on time.

A personal introduction by a mutual friend or business associate makes business ar-rangements much smoother.

Establishing a personal relationship is im-portant for the success of a business rela-tionship. Trust and loyalty are central to de-veloping relationships. Insincerity is easily detected and can ruin the relationship.

Filipinos often have a “take it or leave it” at-titude when it comes to selling prices. They may also place less stress on the absolute selling price and place more emphasis on percentages, unit cost or rounded figures.

Casual conversation may precede business discussions during meetings. Negotia-tions and business deals advance slowly. A third-party go-between may be a good idea to relieve tension or provide criticism. Do not allow meetings to go on for too long. Filipinos love to eat and their enthusiasm wanes when they are hungry.

Communication is indirect, truth is diplo-matically presented, the manner is gentle, and the perception of the recipient is con-sidered in all communications. All commu-nication should be courteous, regardless of its content.

Filipinos find it difficult to say “no,” to dis-agree, reject or be confrontational, espe-

cially when a superior is involved. Expect an ambiguous or indirect answer -- not to deceive, but rather to please and avoid confrontation.

Face-to-face meetings are preferred. Written communications might not be answered. Communication by mail or tele-phone is unreliable at best.

Especially for WomenForeign women will have little problem doing business in the Philippines.

Men may make comments about women walking on the street. These should be ignored.

A foreign woman should not pay a bill for a Filipino businessman. It would embarrass him and might harm the business relation-ship.

18 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

ETIQUETTE

‘Small talk’ is an important part of estab-lishing business relationships with Filipinos. You’ll find that Filipinos can be enthusiastic conversationalists.

Expect to be asked personal questions re-garding your marital status, income, reli-gion, and other sensitive subjects. If you do not wish to answer, side-step these ques-tions as graciously as possible.

Embarrassing someone, or reprimanding them in front of others, can cause them to “lose face” or loss of reputation, which has very negative consequences in this culture.

Maintaining cordial relationships is essen-tial in the Philippines. Keep your comments as positive as possible, because negativity can inadvertently cause “loss of face”.

It is best not to be too direct when commu-nicating with Filipinos. They will usually be more receptive to a rather indirect ap-proach.

Because of the years of U.S. military pres-ence in the Philippines, most North Ameri-can gestures and communication styles are recognized and understood.

English is the language of most business transactions and nearly all government bodies in the Philippines.Business travelers are expected to be on time for all appointments, and although the Filipinos may not always arrive exactly on

time, you probably won’t be subjected to an overly long wait.

Producing “instant results” is not a part of Filipino business culture. Consequently, you will have to adjust your expectations regarding deadlines and efficiency when working with them.

In order to reach the decision-maker, you will likely have to meet with subordinates first, and also adapt to the business proto-col at the different levels of the organiza-tion.

When meeting a new customer, letters of introduction from friends and business associates can often be helpful in opening doors.

Businessmen should expect to shake hands firmly with other Filipino men, both upon introduction and subsequent meetings however, it’s best to wait for a Filipino woman to offer her hand first. Close female friends may greet each other with a hug and kiss. Similarly, close male friends may have close physical contact, such as hold-ing hands or walking arm in arm around a friend’s shoulder.

Although there are many social in-equalities in the Philippines, Filipinos believe that everyone must be treated with respect. They are expected to be-have modestly and graciously, espe-cially in their dealings with the poor or less fortunate.

19 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

Some Filipinos may greet each other by making eye contact, then raising and lower-ing their eyebrows. When someone raises their eyebrows at you, it is often a way of indicating that you have been understood.

Raising one’s voice is unacceptable in the Filipino business culture. It’s important to maintain a low, controlled tone of voice at all times.

Don’t assume that a smile is an indication of amusement or approval. At times, smil-ing is used to mask embarrassment, ner-vousness, and other feelings of discomfort.

Pointing at someone or something can be perceived as an insulting gesture. Filipinos typically point at objects using an open hand. For giving directions, they may use a glance with a slight nod, or purse their lips to signify which way.

To beckon someone, hold your hand out, palm downward, and make a scratching motion with the fingers. Beckoning some-one with the palm up and moving one finger can be interpreted as an insult.

Indicating ‘two’ with the fingers is done by holding up the ring and little finger, not the forefinger and middle finger. The thumb is not used to count numbers in the Philip-pines.

Don’t put your hands on your hips when conversing. This gesture can be misinter-preted as a challenge to another person.

5 Key Conversation Tips:· Filipino culture and customs· Family is usually a good topic· Filipinos love fiestas, so asking about these occasions will create a lively conversation· All types of sports, especially bas-ketball· Food and the local specialties

5 Key Conversation Taboos: · Politics and religion in general, un-less they bring it up first· Corruption, terrorism, or drug traf-ficking – even though it may be in the news· Foreign aid and related policies· Anything that could potentially cause embarrassment or “loss of face”

ETIQUETTE

20 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

Hospitality

If you are trying to establish a conversation with someone and you are not certain how he will react to your question, try starting the question with “Is it true…” or “Do you think…”

If your question is something serious that you think will get you into trouble (even if it concerns you), try using “Someone I met in…”, “An author in the book I read…” or “In the news I watched….”. So when he gets agitated, you are safe.

Do not use “My friend said…” or “My fami-ly told me…” because if any of your friends or relatives decided to visit or join you on your next trip, “your friend” or “your fam-ily” may be marked as the one who bad-mouthed or defamed the country. There-fore you would only get them into trouble.

On the other hand, most Filipinos do not mind being asked about their religion, and consequently presume that you won’t mind them asking about yours, especially if you will be part of their family. Don’t be offended, as it is a part of the culture of knowing what to expect and what to dis-cuss in front of you. They won’t talk about their religion unless you are open to it, or you are of the same denomination and willing to talk about it.

Body Language

• Don’t stare or point your finger, it is considered rude if you stare or point your finger when addressing someone.

• Don’t swear, swearing is regarded impo-lite, and for conservative, religious Filipinos it is a despicable manner influenced by evil.

• Non-verbal language is a key element in communication. One greets friends by lift-ing the eyebrows. A longer lift can be used to ask a question.

• Filipinos walk hand in hand or arm in arm with relatives and friends of either sex as a sign of affection or friendship. Women are expected not to cross their legs or drink al-cohol in public. Shorts are not usually worn by women.

CULTURAL TIPS

21 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

Inside the Filipino HomeDo expect to be invited to the homes of Filipinos. They will invite you to help your-self to everything and anything on their dining table, and they would appreciate it if you have the food offered. If you happen to show up during meal time, an extra chair will be made available to you. In short, do eat when you are offered food. Don’t of-fend your hosts by refusing outright.

Do be sensitive to household customs, for example, you may be asked to leave you footwear outside. They will offer you slip-pers, or if they don’t, the house floor is most likely clean.

Doing Business Do use honorific titles, such as Mister or Miss. Titles are very important and it is best to use them when addressing people and business partners.

Do help your partners save face. Filipinos place a premium on harmonious interper-sonal relationships.

Do keep in mind that time is viewed flexi-bly in the Philippines; many Filipinos place less of an emphasis on strict adherence to schedules.

Do wear appropriate clothing for business, especially during initial meetings. Denim jeans or business casual attire are not rec-ommended.

General Dos and Don’tsDo take the time to smile. Filipinos like to say hi, and they appreciate it when visitors reciprocate. Handshakes are the usual way to greet people, but kissing on the cheek is also common, especially among ladies.

Do come in appropriate clothes when the occasion calls. Not all places would wel-come you in your flip-flops and shorts. Churches, government institutions and some restaurants require proper attire.

Don’t forget to laugh. Laughter is used very frequently in the Philippines: to break ten-sion, to relieve moments of awkwardness, and to put people at ease. A good sense of humor is definitely an asset in the Philip-pines.

Don’t lose your temper. It’s easier to get Filipinos on your side if you approach situ-ations in a calm and composed manner. Fil-ipinos are more willing to help if you don’t embarrass them in public.

Do show respect to anyone regard-less of their social class or age. Say-ing “sorry” and “excuse me” is ap-preciated. In Philippine culture, the elderly are given particular respect. Using the proper words (such as the polite ”po” and “opo” when speaking to elders) is a sure way of endearing yourself to Filipinos.

DOS AND DON’TS

22 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

Filipinos are casual, fun loving, sensitive and hospitable people. Personal and family honor are stressed, as well as dignity and pride. Education is highly valued and families make great sacrifices to educate their children.

Relative Status of Women and MenWhile families desire male children, fe-males are welcomed to supply help in the house and provide a home in the parents’ old age. Women’s rights to equality and to share the family inheritance with male siblings are firmly established and are not questioned. The oldest daughter is expect-ed to provide money for the education of younger siblings and for the needs of aging family members. Women are the managers of family finances. The wedding ceremony can include a gift of a coin from the groom to the bride to acknowledge this role. Since personal relationships and wealth are considered the road to success, women have an equal opportunity to be successful. Winners of beauty pageants are likely to succeed in the business and professional world.

Gender Roles and StatusesTraditional roles prevail in rural areas, where men cultivate the land but the en-tire family is involved in planting and har-vesting the crops. Women work in gardens and care for the house and children as well as barnyard animals. In urban areas, men work in construction and machine up-keep, and as drivers of passenger vehicles. Women work as teachers, clerks, owners of sari-sari stores, marketers of produce and healthcare providers. Occupational gender lines are blurred, since men also work as nurses and teachers. In the pro-fessions, gender lines are less important. Women attorneys, doctors and lawyers are found in the provinces as well as in urban areas.

PEOPLE IN THE PHILIPPINES

23 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

SOCIETY

MarriageMarriage is a civil ceremony that is conducted in city offices. A religious ceremony is also performed. The ceremony is similar to those in the United States, with the addition of sponsors. Principal sponsors are friends and relatives who have positions of influence in the community. The number of principal sponsors attests to the popularity and potential success of a couple. It also reduces the couple’s expenses, since each principal sponsor is expected to contribute a substantial amount of cash. Members of the wedding party are secondary sponsors who do not have to provide funds.

Arranged marriages have not been part of Filipino life. However, men are expected to marry and if a man has not married by his late twenties, female relatives begin introduc-ing him to potential brides. The median age for marriage is twenty-two. Young profes-sionals wait until their late twenties to marry, and engagements of five to seven years are not uncommon. During this period, the couple becomes established in jobs, pays for the education of younger siblings, and acquires household items. A woman who reaches the age of thirty-two without marrying is considered past the age for marriage. Women believe that marriage to a wealthy man or a foreigner will guarantee happiness. Divorce is illegal, but annulment is available for the dissolution of a marriage. Reasons for annul-ment include physical incapacity, physical violence, or pressure to change one’s religious or political beliefs. Interfaith marriages are rare.

Domestic Unit The extended family is the most important societal unit, especially for women. Women’s closest friendships come from within the family. Mothers and daughters who share a home make decisions concerning the home without conferring with male family mem-bers. One child remains in the family home to care for the parents and grandparents. This child, usually a daughter, is not necessarily unmarried. The home may include assorted children from the extended family, and single aunts and uncles. Several houses may be erected on the same lot to keep the family together. Childcare is shared. Fathers carry and play with children, but are unlikely to change diapers. Grandparents who live in the home are the primary care-givers for the children since both parents generally work. Preschool grandchildren who live in other communities may be brought home for their grandparents to raise. Indigent relatives live in the family circle and provide household and childcare help. Young people may work their way through college by exchanging work for room and board. Family bonds are so close that nieces and nephews are referred to as one’s own children and cousins are referred to as sisters and brothers. Unmarried adult women may legally adopt one of their sibling’s children.

24 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

CORPORATE CULTURE

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 be-fore 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 materials in advance of the meeting so your colleagues may pre-pare 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 stay for the period of so-cial conversation at the end of the meeting.

Relationships & Communication• Filipinos thrive on interpersonal relation-ships, so it is advisable to be introduced by a third party. • It is crucial to network and build up a cad-re of business associates you can call upon for assistance in the future. • A relationship is developed with you per-sonally, not necessarily with the company you represent. • Therefore, if you leave the company, your replacement will need to build their own relationship. • An appropriate image will facilitate build-ing business relationships. Dress conserva-tively and look presentable at all times.

Business relationships are personal relationships, which means you may be asked to do favours for colleagues, and they will fully expect you to ask them for favours in return.

25 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com

The Filipino business culture is a confluence of East and West. Although geographically part of Southeast Asia, the country has strong European and American ties that extend into everyday social interactions and business culture.

Filipino and English are the two main languages of business in the country, and although many business practices may be Westernised, Eastern traditions and cultural norms still play a central role.

Family is important in Filipino culture and many businesses are family-owned, with a number of family members often working for the same company. Business relationships therefore equate to personal relationships, and it is important to network and build close interpersonal relationships with Filipino counterparts. Business structures in the Philip-pines are hierarchical and decisions are made mostly by the top-level executives. Howev-er, the group’s input is very important and it is possible that initial negotiations and agree-ments may be concluded without even meeting the actual decision-makers.

Filipinos are known for their friendliness and hospitality. This extends to the business environment. Filipinos place great emphasis on polite language and gentle conversation. When speaking, one’s tone should remain neutral and direct questions should be avoid-ed. Business is best dealt with face –to-face. Only once polite conversation has been concluded should one negotiate business. Filipinos enjoy conversation about their friends and family, but topics such as politics, religion and corruption are best avoided.

Business communications can often be indirect, and expats should be aware of this to avoid miscommunication. A “yes” may not necessarily mean an agreement has been made. Moreover, physical gestures and their meanings are important. Fixed eye contact between men is considered aggressive. Summoning someone should be done with a downward wave. To Filipinos, the concept of saving face and maintaining self-esteem is important. Self-es-teem should be preserved, and one should never criticise or argue with a Filipino associ-ate publically. When in an embarrassing situation, the Filipino may laugh or try to change the subject to hide the awkwardness.

Expats should not be surprised if Filipino colleagues or friends ask very personal ques-tions about their age, salary or how much something cost them to buy, or make frank comments regarding weight and appearance. Such questions come from curiosity and the comments are generally meant in a light-hearted manner. Expats should not be offended.

BUSINESS CULTURE

26 Country profile THE PHILIPPINESLearnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com