A few years and some months back, I wrote something about how the Filipino First Policy may have influenced Filipino Time. However, after having a strange dream last night, a part of my high school memory was triggered. I haven't seen either Filipino subject teacher for some time. I was thinking about two books which I wished I still had--Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. It reminds me that people tell me that I should follow Jose Rizal's example over Andres Bonifacio, that if Rizal wanted war, he would've made Simoun's deadly plan succeed in El Filibusterismo.
This time, I'm going to talk about the "Filipino Time" double standard. Let me remind you, I believe in Philippine time. I don't want to call tardiness "Filipino Time", call it simply being inconsiderate, rude, dishonest, no word of honor, etc. It's because when you don't show up on time, you're a liar! Calling it Filipino Time may encourage the practice of being late, even more. To go back on the topic, we need to address the double standard behind Filipino Time. It's pretty much, "It's not okay for you to be late, but it's okay for me to be late!"
This is a common problem in many schools in the Philippines. I'm not going to name names, for a start. Some of them already know who they are. I remember being a victim in one of those many schools. We often get scolded for being late. However, the teachers have had the habit of being late. Even worse, programs start one hour late, much to the annoyance of parents. It was so irritating that we were told to arrive on time, but even the practices started late. That's when I screamed I had enough. Being late in the name of "being Filipino" is a real nuisance. Even worse, those who practice it, say one thing but do another.
Sadly, this problem is also common among businesses. It's a real workplace problem when lower-ranked employees are required to be on time. However, higher-ranked employees or even directors have the bad habit of requiring others to be late, but they show up late themselves. This, in turn, justifies why people keep arriving late. It can make one think, "If my superior refuses to show up on time, why should I show up on time?" Of course, try telling that to your boss, and you can get charged with insubordination. However, why obey a boss who couldn't even obey basic rules?
To trace it further, I'd like to review Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo scenes. If I could remember it clearly, Noli Me Tangere had a scene where Doña Victorina showed up late to get attention. Several people showed up late to get attention. It may be why this double standard exists. These people who practice it, just want attention. They could probably care less what kind of attention they get, as long as it's attention. Just think of why students say things they don't mean and misbehave--it's all for attention. The same goes for authority figures who do the same.
However, this also becomes bad for business. No entrepreneur in their right mind wants to deal with habitually tardy people. I might even consider terminating contracts with habitually tardy people. It's because tardiness is tardiness, regardless of where it happens.