LIFESTYLE
‘Sorry, I’m Late’: Pinoys’ strong inclination towards Filipino Time
By Myra Pasa
The habit of always being late to classes, social gatherings, and other scheduled events has long been prevalent among Filipinos. Specifically, we call it “Filipino time.” But what causes it to be normalized and considered “common practice” in our culture?
The History of Filipino Time
One theory about how “Filipino time” was coined is that being late or arriving last during occasions was a “status symbol” during Spanish colonial rule. It was a source of pride for high-ranking Spanish officials to arrive late on purpose to be the “center of attention.” Filipinos then mimicked this practice, which the succeeding generations have also adapted.
Why are Filipinos always late?
The continued practice of Filipino Time cannot always be attributed to negligence. Our country’s heavy, annoying traffic is one of the primary and valid reasons why Filipinos frequently arrive late on scheduled occasions.
According to the 2022 TomTom Traffic Index report, Manila is one of the world’s top ten cities with the worst traffic.
Commuters, particularly those who live far away, are compelled to prepare very early and allot roughly 3–4 hours to commute for them to reach their destinations on time. However, not everybody can or is willing to follow that ideal travel time, so they have no choice but to arrive later than planned.
Another common reason for the Filipino Time concept is that many people take too long to prepare. Arlin Fabaliña, a student-commuter from Rizal, acknowledges that she spends too much time getting ready before leaving the house. She admitted that she frequently arrives late for class because she occasionally miscalculates the travel duration from home to the university.
For some, being late can also be an unconsciously developed habit that has become innate in our lifestyle. Kriselle Portillo, a Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) student living in a dorm close to campus, has always been a latecomer, even when she was younger.
“Dahil matagal kumilos ‘yung pamangkin ko noon, eh classmates kami, edi pati ako nale-late. Tapos parang na normalize ko siya habang tumatanda,” Kriselle said.
(My niece was my classmate before, and because she was taking too much time getting ready for school, we were always late for class. Then, it seemed like I grew up normalizing that routine.)
Kriselle finds it difficult to unlearn this habit now that she’s already in college because she used to practice it since childhood without realizing it could negatively impact her way of living as she grows older.
Early birds’ biggest pet peeve: Filipino Time
Some may find it hard to abandon practicing Filipino time, but many people still give high importance to punctuality and find it annoying when others can’t.
Renalyn, a student from Iligan, finds it inconvenient when people cannot conform to the agreed-upon time. She stated that she developed the habit of being punctual within their household, particularly due to her father. She mentioned that her father always makes sure to allot enough time to get ready whenever they have a family trip.
“Pero sana as much as possible, ‘di na talaga sya i-romanticize, kasi naniniwala talaga ako sa ‘Time is gold’,” she said.
(But as much as possible, I wish it wouldn’t be romanticized anymore because I really do believe that ‘Time is gold’).
Punctuality should also be observed not only in the professional setting but also in friendships, said Camille Angela Zarate, a PUP student from Antipolo.
“Even with friends, kahit kaibigan mo sila, huwag naman abuso na lagi na lang late, ang pangit din na may connotation sayo yung mga tao na ‘ay si ganito, laging late’, diba, sino ba naman may gusto no’n,” she expressed.
(Even if it’s your friends, don’t get too comfortable with being late all the time. It’s unpleasant that people have a connotation of you as the ‘always latecomer,’ right? Who would even want that.)
She further stated that punctuality speaks volume about one’s character and work ethic, which are essential in any field.
Flight schedules: a great counter to Filipino Time
People can afford to be late for several planned occasions and events — but flight schedules will always be an exception. As we think about it now, missing a flight can be extremely costly. Perhaps for that reason, some people could sacrifice to arrive earlier than usual to catch their flight.
Another PUP student, John Rojell Elizaga, is convinced that the concept of flight schedules disrupts the culture of observing Filipino time. Furthermore, he claimed that if it’s possible with flights, we can also be punctual for other planned gatherings, meetings, and events if we really want to.
Arriving on time is respecting other people’s time
One or two lates are understandable. However, constant tardiness is inexcusable. Always being late is not something we should be proud of or incorporate into our personalities. When we choose to follow Filipino time, we are wasting both our personal time and the time of the people we work with. Therefore, we should learn to practice punctuality as a sign of respect and professionalism.
Always remember, a minute ignored is a minute wasted.
