From: vxv4@po.CWRU.Edu (Virgilio Velasco)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Subject: Re: know any filipino stereotypes?
Date: 16 Nov 1992 23:01:41 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: vxv4@po.CWRU.Edu (Virgilio Velasco)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, glabanda@speedy.acns.nwu.edu (Jose Gregorio Labanda) says:

>In article <1duonlINNfjh@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> vxv4@po.CWRU.Edu (Virgilio  
>Velasco) writes:
>> 
>> In a previous article, c164-ad@po.berkeley.edu (Martin Guerrero) says:
>> 
>> >Filipino Time and Derogatory: Well, it is only derogatory when we start
>taking in Western concepts of time.  Once we start making punctuality 
>to the second as the normal way of doing things, then certainly, those 
>who aren't punctual to the second are considered to be slackers.  However,  
>for those who haven't been exposed too much to the Western value in  
>punctuality to the second, Filipino time is normal.  Sometimes, being on  
>time can be seen as rude.  
>
>> Gee, I don't know about that.  I find it extremely difficult to imagine  
>any cultural perspective from which punctuality is undesirable.
>I think it's just plain good sense for everyone to try arriving at 7  
>o'clock  if seven is the agreed upon time.  Logic, pure and simple.   
>Anything else is simply irrational.  Surely you've all been in situations  
>wherein precious hours were wasted because of some habitual latecomer. 
>
>
>I think we'll all be better off if we stop referring to it as filipino  
>time. It is important that we recognize it as a common problem but we all  
>lose if we continue rubbing it in (stereotyping all filipinos). 

Agreed.

>Dismissing outright the cultural aspect of this social phenomenon would be  
>too vulcan. 

You humans are all alike.

>In the provinces back home where large social gatherings would  
>sometimes take days to prepare and would last for hours and sometimes  
>days, nobody would mind if you come in an hour late. Besides, the  
>transportation system will sometimes not allow you to plan things to the  
>minute.
>
>My American friends consider it alright to be fashionably late at parties  
>(i.e. 10-20 minutes). It really depends on the situation. We have regular  
>friday get-togethers with my filipino friends and nobody expects you to be  
>there at 7 and leave at 9. 
>
>Business situations are of course a different thing. We can all go ahead  
>and be as rational as we want in our expectations.
 
Good point, Greg.  The important distinction, however, is that nobody is
*required* to attend a party at a specific time.  Hence, if you arrive
an hour after the party begins, you are not truly "late"--unless you agreed
to arrive early to help with the preparations.  

Moreover, the inappropriately named "Filipino time" is generally applied
to everything--student group meetings, dates, business conferences, etc. 
(albeit less often in the latter).  When a group of students are prevented
from starting their project because some chose to arrive an hour later, 
that is a clear case of rudeness and inconsiderateness.
 
 
-- 
    Virgilio "Dean" Velasco Jr., CWRU grad student & roboticist wannabee

   "Bullwinkle, that man's intimidating a referee!"    |    My boss is a 
   "Not very well.  He doesn't look like one at all."  |  Jewish carpenter.