Filipinos

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LANGUAGE

Filipino(tagalong), English
According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino and English are the official languages. Filipino is the de facto version of Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila and other urban regions. Both Tagalog and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media and business. Major languages recognized in the constitutionBackground

The Philippines represents a cultural puzzle. Situated in the heart of South East Asia but heavily influenced by such non-Asian forces as Spain (and Mexico), the United States and the Catholic Church. These various factors have been brought together to form what is, truly, a unique Asian country.

Thus, issues such as 'loss of face' and group orientation are still very influential, butexist alongside a fierce sense of personal pride and dignity such as can be found in many Central and South American countries. Society as a whole tends to be hierarchically structured as in most Asian countries but is accompanied by a far more informal approach to interpersonal dealings than would be found in countries such as Japan or Korea.

Truly, the Philippines is neither completely of theEast nor of the West but a culture unto itself. Business visitors travelling to the country for the first time are advised to do as much 'cultural homework' as possible.
Meetings
Time can be very elastic in the Philippines and some western business people can feel frustrated with the pace of progress in meetings and in negotiations generally. It is certainly not unusual for meetings to startlate - and the more senior the person you are going to meet the more likely it is that the meeting start time will be delayed. It is important, however, that that you arrive punctually in order to show the right amount of respect.

Meetings will usually start with quite a lot of small talk. This small talk is part of the relationship-building process and will probably precede meetings at all stagesof a project. Be prepared to engage in this process - it is important.

The concept of 'pakikisama' or getting along smoothly with everybody is very strong and, therefore, Filipinos tend to be extremely non-confrontational (unless their strong sense of personal dignity seems to be under attack.) Negativity of all kinds is frowned upon and it is rare for people to be openly contradicted. Thiscan mean that a meeting seems to be progressing very well, even when no progress at all is being made. Do not be overly influenced by any apparent 'quick wins' - it could be a long time before any concrete action follows.

Gift Giving
Gifts should be given to new business contacts at an early stage of the relationship as well as on the satisfactory conclusion of negotiations.

APPOINTMENTALERT!
Seasons and Weather conditions (Vacation times).
Philippines is blessed with a tropical climate that has a relatively generous amount of rainfall and gentle winds. Basically, there are three noticeable seasons, namely the wet and rainy season (June-October), the cool but dry season (November-February) and the hot and dry season (March-May).
If you’re the type of business traveler that justwants to get to the Philippines in the best possible weather conditions, then the best time to make a trip to the Philippines is from the middle of December to the middle of May because that is off-season for typhoons. Any travelers to the country in December (Christmas) or April (Easter) are advised against traveling more than necessary as the entire country is on the move, making it difficult toget a seat on any type of transport.
Best times for making appointments
If it’s a first-time meeting with a local, it is best to attempt to set appointments and business objectives in midmorning or late afternoon. Many business deals are completed informally during meals, entertainment, or sometimes, over a round of golf. Offices are generally closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Though we do find...