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bribes, and was impeached. Aer President Estrada capitulated, he
was replaced by the vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Presi-
dent Arroyo won a second term in 2004.
e Philippines faces a future relatively free of foreign inuences,
but without the millions of dollars the U.S. military presence pumped
into the economy. e country struggles with unemployment, a
uctuating economy, and a huge debt load, not to mention periodic
natural disasters.
Current government data can be found at the Embassy of Philip-
pines at www.philippineembassy.org.
Cultural Note
Filipinos grow up in extended families and are rarely alone. Indeed, solitude makes most
Filipinos uncomfortable. A foreigner’s desire for privacy is not usually understood. If you are
sitting alone on a bus or in a cinema, a Filipino is likely to ignore all the empty seats and sit
next to you. Such action is not about you; it is simply a cultural trait.
Language
Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) and English are the ocial languages of
the Republic of the Philippines. ere are eight major dialects: Tagalog,
Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and
Pangasinense. e literacy rate is approaching 90 percent.
Ethnologue.com acknowledges 172 languages in the Philippines,
3 of which are extinct.
The Philippine View
e Philippines has no ocial religion, but approximately 83 per-
cent of Filipinos consider themselves Roman Catholic. While only 9
percent of Filipinos are Protestant, their Evangelical sects are growing
rapidly. ere is also a Philippine Independent Church, which claims
some 6 percent of the population (they were Roman Catholics, but

friends—everything, for my enemies—the law.”
■
*
Know Before You Go
The Philippines is prone to disasters. Many are natural events, such as volcanoes, floods,
mudslides, earthquakes, and typhoons. But some are within human control, like boat
accidents. If you are considering taking a ferry, examine it closely—if it looks unsafe
or overcrowded, seek alternative transportation. Whatever your travel plans, be sure to
obtain medical evacuation insurance.
Philippines

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To avoid the monsoon season, try to schedule your visits between September and
May. Avoid major Catholic holidays as well, as many Filipinos will observe Christmas and
Easter celebrations.
There is a risk of getting malaria, typhus, or cholera outside of the major urban areas. Be
sure to review the inoculations that your physician or the CDC (at www.cdc.gov) suggests.
Illegal logging has added to the high number of disasters in the Philippines. More
than half of the Philippines’ forests were ravaged over the last century. This deforesta-
tion, combined with fierce tropical storms, promoted flash flooding and landslides in the
eastern and northern regions. These catastrophes took at least 5,000 lives in 1991, and
thousands more in the northeast in late 2004.
●
3
CULTURAL ORIENTATION
Cognitive Styles: How Filipinos Organize
and Process Information

relationships is practiced on all levels, and paying one’s obligations
binds the persons involved more closely.
Issues of Equality/Inequality
Filipino politics is a system that serves its players, not the people.
However, Filipinos are strongly in favor of democracy, individual
freedom, education, and freedom of the press. Filipinos are very sta-
tus conscious. is sometimes extends to issues of race—for example,
the lighter the skin, the higher the status. ere is a preoccupation
with chastity and safety.
●
3
BUSINESS PRACTICES
Punctuality, Appointments, and Local Time
●
Business hours are generally from 8:00 .. to 5:00 .., Monday
through Friday.
●
Oces may close for a lunch break, which can easily stretch for
two hours. Some oces may open from 8:00 .. to 12:00 noon
on Saturdays.
●
Time is malleable. Foreign executives are expected to be on time
to business meetings. Filipinos tend to be reasonably punctual.
●
Everyone, even foreigners, is expected to be late for social events.
But the exact measure of the delay depends upon the status of each
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102

e ocial national Independence Day holiday is June 12th,
which was the date of declaration of independence from Spain
(in 1898). July, 4th, 1946, was their date of independence from the
United States of America. For the ocial holidays of the Philip-
pines, visit www.kissboworshakehands.com.
●
e Philippines is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time
(G.M.T. + 8), or thirteen hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard
Time (E.S.T. + 13).
Cultural Note
Filipinos are strong believers in forging relationships and maintaining pakikisama (smooth
relations) at all costs. Confrontation is unthinkable and a sign of disrespect. Part of this process
is the utang na loob (reciprocity) system whereby one business (or political) connection leads
to other, more lucrative, deals. Acceptance of a favor or reference will call for a larger one in
return. Beware the Filipino bearing gifts—a simple “thank you” will not suffice.