This presentation involves the values and culture of every Filipinos during the prehistoric times and also practice nowadays.

1. VALUING
DIVERSITY
Communicating Across Cultures
Sharon Mendoza
PHILIPPINES
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2. OVERVIEW
• Language
• Religion
• Society and Values
• Customs and Traditions
• Celebrations and Holidays
• Business Guidelines
• Understanding Conflicts
• High and Low Context of the
Philippines compared to Western
Countries
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4. UNDERSTANDING THE
PHILIPPINE CULTURES
Languages
• Tagalog is the official language (55%) can
speak the language.
• About 11 main languages, 87 dialects and 2
official languages are spoken.
• English is generally used for educational,
governmental and commercial purposes
and is widely understood since it is the
medium of instruction in schools (80%).
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5. Religion
• 90.07% of the Philippine residents identify
as Christians (80.58% Roman Catholic and
11% other Christian denominations).
• Islam is the second largest religion (5.6%
identifying as Muslims).
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6. Society and Values
• Concept of Shame – “hiya”, Filipinos believe
thy must live up to the accepted standards
of behavior and if they fail to do so they
bring shame not only upon themselves but
also upon their family.
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7. Custom and Tradition
Gift giving, Dining & Table Manners
• If you give flowers, avoid chrysanthemums
and white lilies because they are used for
funerals.
• Gifts are not opened when received.
• Never refer to your host’s wife as the
hostess, it has different meaning.
• Wait to be asked several times before moving
into the dining room or helping yourself to
food.
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8. Wedding
• Never buy a set of kitchen knives for the
couple.
• Bride stomp on their groom.
• Dropping the wedding ring during the
ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.
• A flame extinguished on one of the wedding
candles means the one on which side has the
unlit candle, will die ahead of the other.
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9. Festivals
• Black Nazarene Festival
A life-sized image of a dark-skinned, kneeling
Jesus Christ carrying the cross enshrined in the Minor
Basilica in Quiapo Manila.
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10. • Senakulo (Passion Play)
This play is done during the Holy Week.
Devotees dramatize the passion and death of Jesus
including the actual crucifixion in some provinces.
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11. DATE HOLIDAY
January 1 New Year’s Day
February 5 Chinese New Year
February 25 People Power
Revolution
April 9 The Day of Valor
April 18 Maundy Thursday
April 19 Good Friday
April 20 Black Saturday
May 1 Labor Day
June 5 Eid’l Fitr
June 12 Independence Day
DATE HOLIDAY
August 12 Eidul Adha
August 21 Ninoy Aquino Day
August 26 National Heroes Day
November 1 All Saint’s Day
November 30 Bonifacio Day
December 24 Christmas Eve
December 25 Christmas Day
December 30 Rizal Day
December 31 New Year’s Eve
Regular Holidays | Text without highlights are Special Holidays
Holidays
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12. Traditions Only
Filipinos Can
Understand
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13. Christmas or “Bermonths”
• The decorating and music starts in September, and the colorful “parol”
(lantern) symbolizes the holiday across the islands.
Loved to Party
• Filipinos love to hold celebrations and each village or city has its own
“fiesta”.
Competitive Karaoke
• Singing is one of the few pleasures that comes completely free here.
“Mano Po” similar to hand-kissing
• It is a way of giving respect to the elders and believe that is also a way of
receiving blessing to the elders.
Close Family Ties
• Adult children living with their parents are another Filipino traditional
that make them exceptional.
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15. Business Etiquette and Protocol
Initial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting the eldest or most
important person first.
A handshake, with welcoming smile is the standard greeting.
Business relationships are personal relationships, which mean you may asked to do
favors for colleagues, and they will fully expect you to ask them for favors in return.
Avoid scheduling meetings the week before the Easter.
Always accept any offer of food or drink. If you turn down offers of hospitality, your
colleagues lose face.
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16. Filipinos avoid confrontation if at all possible. It is difficult for them to say
“no”. Likewise, their “yes” may merely mean “perhaps”.
Do not remove your suit jacket unless the most important Filipino does.
You should offer your business card first.
Present and receive business cards with two hands so that it is readable to
the recipient.
Business Etiquette and Protocol (continuation)
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17. A team member who had a heated argument with the team leader will oftentimes be
accommodating and compromising, so both can quickly resolve the issue between them
In some instances, the manager or team leader will likely use their position of authority
and power to push the other person into submission.
Filipinos tend to avoid confrontations with coworkers.
They also have difficulty rejecting or disagreeing, especially when conversing with
someone considered superior.
Understanding Conflicts
Filipinos prefer to “save face” (self-pride) than to feel shame.
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Orderliness Time People Family Freedom
Respect for
Elders
Culture’s Ethnocentricity

19. Cultural Difference
OPINION THE BOSS PUNCTUALITY
BLUE (WESTERN)
RED (PHILIPPINES)
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20. CONTACTS AT THE PARTY HANDLING PROBLEMS
BLUE (WESTERN)
RED (PHILIPPINES)
Cultural Difference (continuation)
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21. Dimensions of Culture
CONTEXT PHILIPPINES NORTH AMERICA
Individualism Group oriented Independent
Formality Relationship comes first Economics come first
Communication style Indirect, implied Direct, verbal
Time orientation Appointments flexible Start and end on time
Decision making Manager has the final say Distributed
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22. REFERENCES
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23. SUMMARY
• Able to describe and understand Philippine cultures in terms of
language, religion, society and values, customs and traditions,
celebration of holidays, business etiquette, and behavior conflicts.
• Able to identify their cultural ethnocentricity.
• Know the cultural difference of the Philippines and Western
countries.
• Discuss the dimensions of Philippine culture with regards to the
high and low context.
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24. Any questions?
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