Move away from ‘Filipino time’MANILA, Philippines — As Filipinos make their resolutions for the new year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is intensifying its campaign to promote the value of punctuality against the long-standing tradition of “Filipino time.”The habit of being late for meetings and events – sometimes by hours – has become a source of frustration for those Filipinos who value time. Through its “Oras Pinas: Filipino, Time Ka” campaign, the DOST reminds the public, via giant LED displays and pre-movie commercials, that breaking the habit starts with synchronizing clocks to the country’s official time. Public historian Xiao Chua said in a recent radio interview that the culture of “Filipino time” dates back to the Spanish colonial period. Despite this, it took the government 37 years to pass a law requiring all government offices to synchronize their timepieces with the official standard, as compliance remained largely voluntary for decades. Chua advised Filipinos to be more mindful of how they use their time, stressing that poor time management undermines productivity.

Source: Philippine Star January 03, 2026 16:33 UTC