The Filipinos take a much more relaxed view of punctuality than his Western counterpart. Here, there is less social sanction for missing a project deadline or being late for an appointment. Needless to say, this causes significant tension between Filipinos and foreigners. It sums up a Filipino's conviction that an individual has no control over his life and that his fate is determined by supernatural powers. He is a believer in numerology, and may put great faith in a fortune-tellers ability to help him plan his future.
Many foreigners often find the stares annoying and embarrassing.
Actually, the stares are neither hostile nor flattering because whether it is merely curiosity, or questions, neither are meant to offend. Privacy and the need for it are not valued by the average Filipino. From childhood, he is seldom, if ever, left alone. In fact, a fondness for solitude is often viewed as a sign of mental illness. When discussing his personal affairs, a Filipino is apt to be quite frank, especially about birth and death.