Greetings

First impressions are very important in Filipino culture, and this impression is usually made upon first meeting a person. A simple smile, a gentle wave, or a cheery ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello’ is all that’s required. Keep it short, sweet, and friendly, or they may think you are hitting on them. Many locals expect tourists to make the first move, and do not introduce themselves as a matter of course.

‘Salamat po’ means ‘thank you’

Filipinos find it particularly impressive and respectful when anyone, particularly a foreigner, says ‘Thank You’ or ‘Salamat po’ for anything, even if it is not necessary.

Always excuse yourself

If you manage to aggravate someone accidentally, or even if you suspect that you might have, make sure you apologise. It’s no skin off your nose, and it might save you from getting into a violent confrontation

Don’t be afraid to say ‘excuse me’

As a people, the Filipinos aren’t in that much of a rush. It’s a hot country, and you can’t expect people to rush around like they do in New York or London. Many Filipinos aren’t averse to stopping suddenly in the street to look around or talk on their cellphone, and they expect to be politely alerted when they are in somebody’s way. So don’t assume that they’re going to notice that they’re in your way. Nobody will be offended if you say ‘excuse me’ to get by them.

Be Thoughtful

A Filipino woman, whether she’s a friend, employee, co-worker, or lover, will greatly appreciate you remembering her birthday, anniversary, or an important promise. The fact that you do not appear to be taking her for granted will be rewarded a thousand times over in kind.

The same goes for Filipino men. If you are meeting a Filipino man for the first time, whether he is an in-law, business associate, or friend, you will be expected to bring a gift, such as a bottle of whisky or a pack of cigars. This should be enough to cheer up even the most grumpy of men, and could make all the difference between being let into their circle and being excluded forever. The word ‘pasulobong’ means ‘present’ in Filipino, so if your intended recipient doesn’t speak English, this word alone should be able to explain your good intentions

Be the Most Patient Person in the World

The pace of life in the Philippines is a fair bit slower than it is in many Western countries, and it is common for people to think for a while before they speak. These are admirable traits, but if you’re not the most patient person in the world, then this might be frustrating for you at first.

However, if you stick around, you’ll start to see the wisdom in this custom. If you ran around like a typical Londoner for a week or two in the Philippines, you’d most likely die of heat stroke and exhaustion. So, especially when you’re first over there, be prepared to be very patient indeed. If you’re meeting a business associate, be sure to take something to occupy yourself in the likely event that you have to wait around for a while, and don’t be offended by a lack of punctuality, as this will give away the fact that you do not in any way understand their culture and customs.