Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2015 > Oct
Activity > Lucid Thoughts

Oct 30, 2015

Pilipino Time

Location : Cebu City, Philippines

What is Pilipino Time
For backgrounders, it's only in the Philippines that when 2 people decide to schedule a meet-up, it's perfectly acceptable to ask, "Pilipino time?". Pilipino time, being, the other person (or both) will be late - not by circumstance, but by culture, as nobody seems to come on time. Just how late? Very late. If it's just a matter of a few minutes, nobody would bother to clarify if it's Pilipino time. It is not unusual for the late comer to arrive an hour late. What's more unusual, is that the other guy is still there, waiting - not even pissed, but smiling. And that seems to be acceptable and understood in the culture.

The Extremes

I've had my fair share of waiting for the other guy. Some are extreme - they deserve their place below:

UP Skindivers - I was a freshman in UP (University of the Philippines) joining the now-defunct UP Skindivers. We were meeting up at the bus station for a dive in Puerto Galera. The org head organized the dive. He was the last one to arrive at the bus station, being one hour and 30 minutes late. When he arrived, he was smiling and started small talk with the rest of us, completely oblivious he was very very late. The other guys were smiling and went on with the conversation, also completely oblivious that they waited 1.5 hours for this guy.
Tanjay Horseback Riding - I was invited by my Dumaguete friends to join them horseback riding in Tanjay. I was on time at the bus terminal. An hour later, I was still alone. I would have left earlier but I didn't know where the place was. Then I got a call from the organizer who told me he just woke up. Containing my outrage, I politely said I will make other plans instead. This actually pissed him off that I would bail on him. I never got another invite from him - I'm glad.
UP College of Fine Arts - I was part of the faculty then. There was a faculty meeting for one teacher to make a presentation. This teacher showed up one hour late - he was the last one to arrive. Upon his late arrival, that was the only time he started setting up the projector and all his paraphelnalia for the presentation. It took another 30 minutes. I was thinking, "This is UP? Cream of the crop? What a waste of tax payer money."
UP Mountaineers (UPM) - This is the only organization in my experience with the strictest adherence to promptness during the application period. As an applicant, if you are late for even a minute, you fail and have to wait a full year to apply again. Many applicants falter on this benchmark. I applauded this. To my dismay however, I realized that once they become members, they revert back to being late - not all, but a lot. They've already trained hard to be on time. Why drop the ball?

Jeanne and Ricco
A person who comes on time in the Philippines is rare. I could name two in Cebu who are never late - Jeanne and Ricco. They represent the few who are careful not to slide on this slippery slope - making a mindful decision to always be on time no matter how frustrating. They make good role models.

The Upwardly Mobile Executive
I had a conversation with a smart and educated upwardly mobile Filipina executive who heads a department for a multinational company. On the subject of being 'on time', she said a few things that underscored for me, just how deeply ingrained Pilipino time is, in our culture. The conversation went like this:

TheLoneRider: "Can I request you to come on time?"

Executive: "You are strict. I don't want to feel pressured about being on time."

TheLoneRider: "Are you late for business meetings?"

Executive: "Of course not! But this is not business."

TheLoneRider: "If you can be on time for business meetings, then it means you can come on time. Why deliberately choose to be late if it's not business?"

Executive: "Business is different from personal."

TheLoneRider: "7pm is 7pm, regardless if it's personal or business."

Executive: "I'd like to take my time if it's personal."

TheLoneRider: "What about the other guy who made an effort to come on time? His time is not important?"

Executive: "You're pressuring me."

TheLoneRider: "Am I twisting your arm? Coming on time is basic. We shouldn't even be having this conversation. What I am asking for is not unreasonable."

The conversation was coming to an impasse and would inevitably lead to something unpleasant. We both realized it and we both changed the topic. My realization was never talk to a Filipino about religion, politics or being on time!

Ending Thoughts
Here in the Philippines, there is a strong pressure to be late yourself even if you are prompt. Why come on time when everybody else is late? But being late is rude and disrespectful. You're saying the other person's time is not important. Being late also cascades into a domino-effect - a late start pushes everything back to a late finish. Being late puts you in bad light - that you can't manage your time, and therefore unreliable.

My metaphor for Pilipino Time is the lady executive. I was dumbfounded to actually have that conversation - an educated, smart, upwardly mobile executive in the big city who doesn't see anything wrong about being late!

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

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Cebu City, Philippines

tourist attractions

Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city

hotel

Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
S Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.

resto / cafe / bar

Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075
Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811

yoga

Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Yoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan

mountain biking

Cebu Mountain Bike Adventure - MTB tours, bike sales and repairs. Bed and Breakfast + Resto Cafe + wifi
1298-b V.Rama Ave, Guadalupe, Cebu City | 0942.959.7451

Cebu City to Camotes Island

Cebu City to Camotes Islands

via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City

Cebu City to Dumaguete

Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat

George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599

Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)

Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips

Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol

Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
SuperCat (2GO) - Pier 1, departs 08:15-13:30-15:10-18:00-19:40
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs daily 12:30pm, 10:00pm and 1:00pm (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Standard (Lying) Php 150, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 340
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com.ph / www.liteferry.com

Cebu City to Siquijor by Boat, via Tagbilaran

Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran

Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs M/W/SAT at 1:00pm, 10 hours, economy Php 649 (through barkota.com), layover in Tagbilaran 5:45pm-8:00pm, arrives Larena Port, Siquijor at 11:00pm
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com / www.liteferry.com
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs daily at 1pm, 5 hours
Open Air P1600
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300

Cebu City to Siquijor by Bus, via Liloan (Santander)

(as of Jan 2023)

Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.