Filipino Time

Filipino time is something extremely frustrating to foreigners and many Filipinos working in the Philippines.  As a rule, if my office asks me to facilitate an all day workshop from 9-5, I plan on having enough material for 10-5 instead. It has become an expectation in the Philippines that if you schedule something, it will start 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes late. 

Of course, not all Filipinos are late. Some even get angry with having this stereotype placed on them. They say that there should be no such thing as Filipino time, only on time. 

As someone growing up in a upper-middle class, East coast family, I was taught that 5 minutes early is on time.  With how busy I am, my time is one of the most valuable things that I can give to someone.

In order to prevent any frustration, I devised positive reinforcement systems to get the residents of the village to show up on time- plan activities during times that were best for them, do the most fun and rewarding things first, etc.  For the most part, whenever anyone from the village participates in my sessions, they are on time, which leads me to 2 weeks ago.

Some of the athletes

Another volunteer in Bicol is working on bringing Special Olympics to our area, but first, there needed to be a couches training. For the coaches training, they needed athletes with whom to practice drills and coaching strategies.  I got together 20 kids and a couple of parents from the village to participate; I told them to meet me at the main building at 11 to be at the venue at 11:30. I arranged for a jeep to take us there. My office also wanted us to take the organization's van as an advertisement for Simon, so I planned to meet the driver at 10:30 at my office.we would then drive to the village together. The meeting time came and went as I started to get more and more anxious. Another reason why I like to be on time with the residents of the village is because of their place in society, many people do not respect their time and keep them waiting for meetings and events; I want to show them that I value their time. Finally at 10:57, I couldn't take it and flagged down a trike to take me to the village. As the trike drove me down the bumpy, unpaved road to the village, I saw a full jeep pulling out of the village gate. "Ate Rachael!" they screamed, "we're leaving!" They were so excited and have learned that on time is the only time, that they were leaving to go without me.

Even though this was such a small action, it was one of my proudest moments in Peace Corps. Not only were they ready on time, but they also organized themselves on their own. Little victories like this remind me that I have made a difference and that it will continue after I leave.