Ebb Hinchliffe, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines: Interview

Interview: Ebb Hinchliffe

How would you describe the lifestyle in the Philippines for corporate travellers or new residents who have relocated for business purposes?

EBB HINCHLIFFE: The Philippines is probably one of the easiest countries to adapt to, especially for Westerners, given the widespread use of English. In addition, US culture has deep roots in the country: the political and education systems are influenced by the US model, and there are many cultural references to US brands and Hollywood – more so than in any other country in the region.

By Asian standards, the Philippines offers a comfortable lifestyle for corporate travellers. One of the biggest challenges for professionals being relocated is how their families will adapt to the new country. Families may struggle to feel at home in the local culture of certain Asian nations, but this is rarely the case in the Philippines. A sometimes negative international image of the country might make some corporate travellers reluctant to relocate here – especially in relation to traffic and pollution problems in Metro Manila – but once they arrive, they will realise that the positive aspects of Manila and beyond make life easy here.

Which local practices should foreign residents try to adopt in order to assimilate?

HINCHLIFFE: Like in many other Asian countries, confidence and trust are crucial. The worst thing a foreigner can do is embarrass someone in front of others. In some Western cultures you can openly criticise public figures, but Filipinos tend to be more reserved in this regard. Criticism should be handled carefully at all levels. It is not a culture of confrontation, and this carries over into business customs. If necessary, criticism should always be delivered in private and phrased carefully. The Filipino business community is also very much about connections, and hierarchy is clearly depicted and respected.

On the surface the Philippines is an open country with plenty of public festivals and celebrations where all foreigners are welcome, but this may mislead visitors. Newcomers should take note of the conservatism of Filipino culture and the prominent role of the Catholic Church.

What are the most common challenges that foreign businesspeople face in the Philippines, and how can they be addressed?

HINCHLIFFE: First, it is important to bear in mind the large number of national and regional holidays, some of which are announced at the last minute. From a business standpoint, unexpected holidays are difficult to manage. While festivals and fiestas are an important part of the Philippine culture, they may have an impact on the usual pace of business. This is another difficulty that some foreigners may encounter, as the speed of work is slower than people from overseas may usually be accustomed to. However, these celebrations are also an opportunity for foreigners to engage with locals. In my experience, Filipinos know a lot more about US citizens than US citizens know about them as a result of all the cultural references and connections to the US – especially given the large numbers of Filipinos who live and work in the US.

Recognising and handling our mistakes is a challenge as well. Foreign businesspeople are welcome and respected in the Philippines, but they are also observed carefully, and mistakes can have deeper repercussions than they otherwise would in someone’s home environment. In other countries one-off errors do not usually mean much, and they can even have neutral or positive connotations if a person or company is recognised for trying to accomplish something new, regardless of the outcome. However, one must recognise that mistakes in the Philippine business community can result in a loss of credibility.