Philippines: Appointment Alert!
From ExecutivePlanet.com
APPOINTMENT ALERT!
Seasons and Weather conditions (Vacation times).
Philippines is blessed with a tropical climate that has a relatively generous amount of rainfall and gentle winds. Basically, there are three noticeable seasons, namely the wet and rainy season (June-October), the cool but dry season (November-February) and the hot and dry season (March-May).
If you’re the type of business traveler that just wants to get to the Philippines in the best possible weather conditions, then the best time to make a trip to the Philippines is from the middle of December to the middle of May because that is off-season for typhoons. Any travelers to the country in December (Christmas) or April (Easter) are advised against traveling more than necessary as the entire country is on the move, making it difficult to get a seat on any type of transport.
Best times for making appointments
If it’s a first-time meeting with a local, it is best to attempt to set appointments and business objectives in midmorning or late afternoon. Many business deals are completed informally during meals, entertainment, or sometimes, over a round of golf. Offices are generally closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Though we do find it hard to say “no”, very few local businessmen would want to meet on a Sunday or during holidays. These periods are usually spent with the family.
Lunch Breaks
Lunch hour in the Philippines starts from 12NN to 1PM (1 hour lunch break). However, if it’s a business meeting, expect it to last for 2 hours or more. A typical business meeting over lunch or dinner involves a lot of light conversation (the getting-to-know you process), coupled with light-hearted discussions about the business at hand.
Arriving at meetings
Not so long ago, people perceived the Philippines as a place where it's fine to be late, but this is no longer true. Businesspeople have gradually come to appreciate the importance of punctuality, and it's best to arrive on time. Though traffic is still a nuisance (and a very regular excuse whenever someone comes in late for a meeting), it’s highly recommended to generally allow extra time for traffic congestion and unexpected delays. If you do arrive early, it’s better to kill some time in a coffee shop than to be an hour late for a key meeting. Call ahead to confirm a business appointment - either earlier on the same day, or the afternoon before the meeting.
Business and banking hours
Normal business hours are for eight hours, generally from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with lunch break from noon to 1:00 p.m. Some private enterprises are open on Saturdays. Commercial banks are generally open for client transactions from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00p.m. and savings banks, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday), although technology has enabled certain services to be available for 24 hours, seven days a week. Philippine time is eight hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 12 hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
