Philippines: Public Behaviour
From ExecutivePlanet.com
PUBLIC BEHAVIOUR
How to greet strangers or introduce yourself.
Filipinos usually make friends easily. They are warm and hospitable. They smile a lot, which makes it easier for strangers or foreigners to feel at ease with them. They can easily strike up a conversation with the person seated next to them, for example. Filipinos can communicate with peoples of other nations with ease because the majority of the population can fluently converse in English. When meeting a Filipino for the first time, and if you want to make a good impression, maintain a low profile, be friendly without being "artificial" and show a genuine interest in the culture. Do not flaunt your wealth (jewelry and other expensive looking personal belongings and cash). Avoid wearing immodest or revealing clothing, especially in Muslim-dominated areas where there is a clear standard for appropriate attire.
Men shaking hands with women
It is common to shake hands with both men and women, when introduced or greeting a person. But touching, especially men touching women, is not well regarded by Filipinos. Carefully observe the degree of comfort and sense of space. Filipinos tend to need a wider personal space.
Demeanor considered acceptable in the Philippines
Filipinos use a lot of non-verbal communication. Some examples are raising eyebrows or lifting the head upwards slightly to indicate "yes" or to greet friends. It is considered impolite to pass between people conversing or facing one another. If you must do so, the Filipino polite way is to extend an arm or two arms with the hands clasped and pointing downwards. Some gestures that are considered rude are middle finger erect, waving a pointed index finger and pointing at someone. A raised voice, the wrong intonation, the implication of incompetence, or excessive direct eye contact can do major damage.
Once you're perceived as arrogant and pushy, you're in interpersonal quicksand. Among the forms of passive resistance evident in this context are: not returning phone calls, missing deadlines, misinterpreting instructions, failure to follow through. Most of the time you won't even know what hit you until it's too late.
Rules for eye contact
Eye contact is important, especially professionally. It is a good sign of self-confidence. But if a person refuses to or is reluctant to make eye contact, don’t think of the person as rude. It is merely a sign that the person you’re talking to has a certain level of shyness.
Gestures/sayings should you avoid
Filipinos have a knack for humor. They can always find something to laugh about. They even love to craft funny anecdotes about socio-economic-political situations and adversaries in life. But it is not appropriate for a foreigner to either comment on the political situation or discuss religion. With regard to socio-cultural conflicts and issues, just listen during discussions and do not take sides.
