Back in late 2016, SM malls began incorporating “escalator etiquette” signs inside their establishments. They inform people on which side to stand on the escalator so that other people who need to go up faster have the space they need. They even paired them with a how-to video on Youtube in early 2017, using a comical approach to convey the message. However, it was only recently that many saw Filipinos finally practicing proper etiquette when it came to navigating the escalator.
This actually puts to light a certain side to Filipinos we often don’t want to confront: etiquette. It has become common that Filipinos don’t necessarily share positive views on this issue, often generalizing the country as a home to nonconformists when it comes to manners. You might have previously heard people saying “Mga Pinoy talaga, mga bastos!” (Pinoys are really rude!) or “Wala tayong mapapala sa bansang ito!” (The country is going nowhere!). Often times, these frustrations are based on what people have seen on queues, the road, and in malls. But do we really need to be taught etiquette in order to practice it?
The Philippines isn’t the only country wherein its people refer to themselves as rude and crass. Other countries also have their own faults, but from an internal perspective, we seem to be so hard on ourselves. We make such grandiose statements that generalize the entire Filipino race—often as a way to teach ourselves a lesson.
Some, however, have argued that such undertakings like SM’s may not be necessary and that in one way or another, Filipinos have changed. That’s how Francisco Zara, a taxi-turned-Grab driver, sees it in certain respects. Having been a driver for most of his life, he’s seen his fair share of road etiquette completely ignored by Filipinos, such as cars overtaking each other and not giving way during traffic, to other taxi drivers usurping one another when picking up a passenger. Although all these annoy him, he doesn’t see Filipinos as helpless causes. For him, there are certain things Filipinos have stopped doing or have lessened, such as crossing the street during traffic and cursing at him when he presses the horn on them. It may not be enough, but Zara certainly sees it as an improvement.
Similarly to Zara, Liza Gusto is also quite divided when it comes to this issue. This former telemarketer-turned-househelp shared that there are certain things Filipinos still do that get on her nerves. They include overtaking when on the queue, people chatting so loud that anyone within a ten-mile radius can hear their conversation, and the youth taking too many selfies. She finds such actions disrespectful and often cringes at them. On the other hand, she did note that Filipinos have lessened their cursing in public and gossiping about one another. Although there still are a few instances of those, she’s relieved that it’s not as rampant as it was before.
One might think that it’s easy to overcome such habits—especially for a highly religious country that is expected to have a high moral compass. However, it’s not that easy. Firstly, a lot of the rudeness Filipinos often exercise are, in one way or another, for a purpose that is more or less understandable. This is particular with people usurping each other to get ahead and is certainly more rampant in urban cities like Metro Manila. Such environments are so busy and it’s as if everyone is racing against time and each other. For many people, you just gotta do what gotta do to get to a certain place at a certain time. Although that’s no excuse, it is the most common reason as to why people overtake each other—be it on the road or the queue.
There’s also the non-confrontational side of the Filipinos that we both cherish and despise. We cherish it because it makes us seem like peaceful people who do not want to start or get involved in any drama. Conversely, we also despise it because such a trait won’t lead to any resolutions. You’d often hear people from a distance, criticizing someone being rude—and yet he/she is not going up to that person to tell them to stop. Thus, it becomes a cycle of rudeness that might never end. Being non-confrontational has its own pros, but at times, it’s necessary to confront a problem head on.
These reasons and shortcomings are what Valentin Bonite, another Grab driver, blames for Filipinos having no discipline. He even stressed that you’ll be embarrassed at how crass people have become nowadays, rarely showing any respect. For him, it’s come to a point that being rude is now part of Filipino culture. He also emphasized that things have gotten worse because of social media, a medium where he thinks Filipinos are at their worst. He says that because of social media, where people can be as rude as they want without any major consequences, that it’ll be extremely difficult for them to change in real life.
On the other hand, maintenance man Rolando Justo is a lot more optimistic. Within his 17 years of fixing other people’s houses and apartments, he sees Filipinos be a lot more gentle, kind, and generous than what they’re given credit for. In his current workplace, he says that the tenants are all polite and patient—never really giving him that much hassle. In all his years of working at the subdivision, there’s only one tenant who he remembers to have been disrespectful when there was a misunderstanding. Other than that, however, generally he sees Filipinos being a lot more disciplined now.
For now, no one can 100% say how that Filipinos have finally learned proper etiquette. It seems we’re just too complex a people that, as a whole, we can’t really be described so definitely. Through the years, we’ve been many things—from the happiest and most giving to the crassest of people on social media. Even when it comes to each other, people have strongly polarizing views on what best describes us. At least, for now, as proven by SM’s escalator etiquette signs—we’re capable to change for the better.
