Superior Culture?

When I took the course "Business Ethics" in Ateneo Graduate School of Business, we learned that although there are differences among moral beliefs and practices, it does not mean that there is no universal good. This goes against the belief that "Since we have different beliefs, let's leave it at that. Do what you do while I do mine." In a more concrete example, it does not mean that if the Eskimo culture tolerate killing female babies and leaving the old to freeze for their survival, that it is right in their context.

We do not even have to put in religion here. In morality, this makes a lot of sense. In any culture, killing, taken in isolation, is morally wrong.

Currently, I am taking Intercultural Management and we are learning the differences of different cultures. (Achievement vs Ascription, Neutral vs Affective, Individualist vs Collectivist, Explicit vs Implicit, Soft-time vs Hard-time, etc) I have actually studied this several times before but something about the way our teacher teaches strikes me.

Of course, since we are in management, the teacher teaches us to tolerate and understand in order to adapt to different cultures. His way of teaching is that no culture is above another. Sure, that makes a lot of sense and I respect that. That is right. For example, Hard-time culture (those who stick to a time-table religiously) sometimes get frustrated to people from the Soft-time culture (those who welcome spontaneity) because in their opinion, soft-time people are inefficient. Where in fact, in some cases soft-time people can actually be more efficient, especially when they are open to adding more hours to work as opposed to sticking to a strict time-frame.

But in certain cases, I believe that certain cultural norms can actually be better than the others. For example, people with an Achievement culture (what you do over where you are from. what you know over who you know) can have more deserving people in important positions than in Ascription culture. Explicit people could have less miscommunication than implicit people and can easily solve their conflicts especially if they are also in the Neutral culture (Facts over emotions).

So in this case, what I'm trying to say is that we should examine our culture and identify which norms put us at a disadvantage. For example, we have so many undeserving politicians or corporate officers because of their lineage. Our Affective culture (emotions) can sometimes be an advantage but it could also put us at a disadvantage as we are sometimes too sensitive and do not listen to logic.

I believe the young ones are slowly adapting and changing the "Filipino culture" especially the time-orientedness. (Future-orientedness over Past-orientedness)

Hopefully, the new generation will be better. :)

The Pinoy Service Crew

My Apologies for not updating :| I have been busy with my Master Thesis so I was not able to update this blog. I think I lost all my followers now, if I have any. Hahaha.

But I have been to different cities since my last upload (Szentendre, Hungary; Balaton, Hungary; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Leiden, Netherlands; and Paris, France). I am currently in Angers, France. :)

I actually went back to the Philippines to have my shoulder checked by Filipino doctors. (I was in Baybay, Leyte; Sibugay, Leyte; Bacolod City; Cebu City; and Manila) It felt great to be back home and just feel the love from family and friends.

After being away from home and then come back, you just realize how great Filipinos are in the service industry. I mean the Filipino service crew literally spoil you with everything as you enter a restaurant or even a fastfood chain! Sometimes, it actually gets annoying when waiters just keep on checking how you are doing. This is so unlike restaurants in Europe where even expensive restaurants make you clean as you go. Of course, the really expensive ones don't. But see, even carinderias in the Philippines clean your table after you leave. But the funny thing is, these Filipino waiters actually get way lesser than their Europeans counterparts.

The way I see it, the reason for this is we basically have an abundant supply of labor. I mean we basically have someone for every position. People are okay with clean-as-you-go abroad because there are no cleaners. But in Filipino restaurants, you have a multiple waiters, janitors, cashiers, a security guard and so many more in one restaurant. And they have to work their butts off 'cause if they don't, they could easily be replaced with another Juan dela Cruz. It's sad but it's a reality.

If we were not overpopulated, the cost of labor would be much higher and employees would be given more importance. So yes, I am hinting something here. It's just unbelievable that a tiny country would have 92 million people while the biggest population in EU is 82 million (Germany).

Of course, overpopulation is not the only reason why we are a third world country and I am actually oversimplifying things. But it is a major reason and we should do something about this.

But on a positive note, at least we are spoiled in our restaurants, barbershops, spas, etc. Next time you get irritated because your order took long, just think, at least you do not have to clean your own table after. :)

 

photo taken from Philippines Today