Chapter 11 - Bridging the Cultural Divide

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While Manila and the Philippines score high marks among foreigners for being among the best places in Asia in which to live, life in the Philippines is not without its stress and its difficulties. An overseas assignment, while offering adventure, opportunity and usually more pay, needs to be considered very carefully and especially where family and children are involved. This type of lifestyle is not for all.

These days, many companies are cutting back on their expatriate packages and localizing their business operations to the extent possible. Servicing an expatriate manager is expensive and if you cannot perform at the peak of your ability then you will do a disservice not only to yourself but to your employer as well.

If you are not on a package but working independently in the Philippines in your own or someone else's business then you will need to give special care and attention to the various pros and cons of living in this country.

Issues to Consider

There are a number of issues to consider before accepting an overseas assignment, many of which are generally applicable while others are specific to Asia and to the Philippines. If the experience is to be an enjoyable and rewarding one then you need to consider a number of issues at the outset.

1. What is your motivation for seeking an overseas assignment? Is your motivation based on positive (example - career growth) or negative (example - escape from boredom) factors. The more positive the reasons you can adduce for accepting an overseas assignment, the greater the chance of successful adaptation.

2. Do you have a sense of adventure? Are you turned on by the thought of being driven to work (or to the shops) in a chauffeur driven limo (Hey Mum! - Look at me) or do you get a buzz from sitting in a crowded jeepney knowing this is something you could never do in Sydney, London or New York?

3. Are you a person with cross-cultural interests? Look at your circle of friends for a start. Are they all drawn from the same socio-economic group or do you enjoy the company of a diverse circle of friends with different backgrounds and interests. Your level of comfort with people who are "different" will be a good measure of how you will relate to the local community. This is especially important if you have a managerial role to play. Remember, it is the outcome that is important and not how that outcome is achieved (within ethical constraints of course).

4. Your attitude to other people needs to be considered also. Are you a team player? Can you motivate other people through leadership by example? You may find especial difficulty managing local staff who have different needs and expectations from those in your home office unless you are sensitive to those needs.

5. Your level of tolerance and ability to deal with adversity and with stress is another factor to be considered.

There are many more of these sorts of questions of course and if you are coming on an assignment with a large company you will probably have a trained human resources department to guide you - but then you may not need this book anyway.

If your spouse is coming with you then you should ask the same questions of her (or him).

Indeed if you are coming as a family unit then there a number of additional issues you and your family will need to factor into the decision.

Is your marriage strong or are you accepting an overseas assignment as a means of "patching things up" or as an escape from a failing relationship. This is an important issue to consider frankly and honestly. Overseas assignments test the strength of family relationships in new ways and unless that relationship is strong then it will quickly fail.

Is there a family consensus that the posting is a good idea? This is a period when mutual support and understanding assumes especial importance.

How does your spouse view her or his career? It is unlikely that he or she will be able to obtain the same career development opportunities during an overseas assignment. Can the family cope with this or will it build resentment into the relationship? There are a number of volunteer organizations that provide opportunities for using talents in worthwhile community service. Some, but not all, spouses find this to be a satisfying outlet.

Health and Education

Finally there are a set of factors that need to be considered especially by families relating to such things as health and education.

Manila is a heavily polluted environment and people prone to asthma, bronchitis or other similar infections need to take particular care. General sanitary conditions are poor by international standards although Filipinos generally practice good standards of personal hygiene.

Medical and dental care in Manila is good but can be expensive unless you have adequate insurance cover. Inoculation against diphtheria, poliomyelitis, typhoid fever and tetanus are recommended. Hepatitis shots are also a good idea.

For women, obstetric and gynecological services are considered satisfactory although there is a tendency among some doctors to over prescribe medication during pregnancy.

Abortion of a pregnancy is illegal in the Philippines.

For young children, there are international playgroups that meet regularly as well as a number of private preschools including Montessori schools. These can be quite expensive however if you are not on an expatriate allowance system.

For school age children there are a number of alternatives with schools that follow the American, British and European curricula. Details of these schools can be found in the Directory section of this book. You would be well advised to contact these schools well ahead of your posting to Manila in order to evaluate the possibilities and make suitable arrangements.

Drugs and Alcohol

Drugs are a problem in many local schools and among the bar scene but to most foreigners the trade in drugs remains below the surface. Nevertheless parents will need to keep a watchful eye on their children for any signs of drug abuse.

Alcohol is widely sold in the Philippines including in supermarkets and minimum age requirements for purchase are not always enforced. Many local people drink a variety of "home brews" and spirits distilled from coconut juice ("lambanog") and other local fruits. These can be very tasty - especially the commercial variants, full bottles of which can be had off the shelf for less than US$1 a bottle - but the results of over-indulgence can make a person quite sick. At best you will have a thumping head. At worst, the consequences can be fatal.

If in rural areas or among local people and you are offered a drink, the origins of which are none to sure, approach with care. It is often impolite to refuse a glass but you can take one small sip to show respect, hold your glass for a while and then discreetly put it aside.

Crisis Support

If you are living in the Makati area then the In-Touch Counseling Service operated through the Holy Trinity Anglican/Episcopal Cathedral in Forbes Park is probably the best place to start.

Generally speaking local counseling activities are not as well developed as elsewhere and many local services only operate during regular office hours - as such they can hardly be relied on in an emergency.

The Emergency Numbers provided in the front of this book provides some basic reference points.



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