If there is something an expat in the Philippines should get used to, it is the Phenomenon “Philippine Time‘, ‘Filipino time‘ or ‘Juan Time‘.
Filipino time is the habit of Filipinos by always showing up late, wherever they have to go. Not only in family gatherings like weddings, baptismals and the like, but also on official gatherings and meetings.
Filipinos even show up late in their jobs and sometimes not at all.
It is strange to see that Filipinos, when abroad, are not having this phenomenon of always being late. The habit of being late abroad is only been seen with people who think they are important or from a higher class and only in ‘Filipino gatherings’. Abroad, in meeting with other people (non-Filipinos) they are always on time.
Being late 1 hour or even more is normal for Filipinos and for some reason they do not seem to care. They often blame the traffic, but in my eyes that is a lame excuse. Leaving the house in time to be ahead of time would be much better.
Last week Flor and I have made some appointments to view a few houses we were interested in. From the four appointments we have made only the first house we have actually seen. The second house, the owner didn’t show up within the time frame we had set, and we left the place after some time.
After that and after lunch we had an appointment to see two houses with an agent. Those two we also didn’t see because the agent run much too late and a friend of the agent who supposed to replace her was also much too late.
All together more or less a wasted day, lots of frustration on our part, wasted diesel and no house yet.
Lucky there are many more houses for sale. Coming Saturday we try to go again and see a few more, on a tight schedule, but very doable …. If someone is not showing up in time: we will leave the place and do not contact the person again.
I might live in the Philippines, but I refuse to accept Filipino time.
Jul 26, 2012 @ 20:04:57
We followed a guy to look at some property, supposedly near the beach. After 15 minutes drive away from the beach we stopped and turned around and went back to the beach. We let him just keep going, never heard from him again.
Jul 26, 2012 @ 22:13:52
Have to read your comment twice to understand it, but now I got it.
That’s typical Filipino, They say near the beach and it ends up 100 miles inland… LOL
They say a property along the highway, it ends up at the end of a long muddy road faaaaar from the high way.
Or pictures from houses that do not exist, and more of that kind of things…..
Aug 09, 2012 @ 07:43:10
That’s why us Filipinos if we agree to meet in a given time frame, I or we will always adjust it by 1 hour. For example, we have to go to a certain place and meet by 5 pm, I (we) automatically say, “Okay let’s meet in Mcdo at 4 pm.” because we expect some of our friends to be on time and some are late.
I agree with the points you’ve made. I’ve been here in the UK and Filipinos are never late in going to work. Once I get back in the Philippines, I know that the habit will kick back again.
Aug 25, 2012 @ 12:27:58
Filipino Time. There’s no other gene that clan claim such phenomenon. There can be American Time but it’s not as monumental as Filipino Time.
I think that’s one of the things that slows down Philippine progress. The Filipino culture, considering Filipino time, plays fundamental role in it’s national progress. It’s negative.
Aug 25, 2012 @ 13:12:23
It’s only strange that Filipino’s do not know Filipino time when they are abroad. It’s only when they are ‘home’ in the Philippines that they behave like that.
Agree with you that it is one of the things slowing down progress.