Filipino - Australia Cultural Differences A description of a typical Filipino and a typical Australian would probably not accurately describe

any one individual. The typical person from any culture is an aggregate, with seldom a real-life counterpart. There is as much difference between individual Australians or individual Filipinos, as there is between Australians and Filipinos as nationality groups. The Influence of Heritage Filipinos suffered hardships for centuries and have a long history of colonization. However, they carry on regardless of setbacks. They look to the future and work for their children to have a better life. The long Filipino struggle for independence from foreign domination has made them very nationalistic. Australia does not have traditions stretching back over centuries and has never been occupied by a foreign power. Australia has had a comparatively easy rise to nationhood and Australians have never had to make comparable sacrifices to achieve nationhood and independence. Australia has an abundance of natural resources, including timber, copper, iron ore, coal, and oil. The fifteen and a half million people are spread over an area almost the size of the U.S.A., but large areas in central Australia are dessert. Australian triumph over drought, bush fires, and floods has increased their independent spirit. This independence has also engendered a feeling that a situation will right itself without too much drama; just as the land recovers quickly from bush fire and floods. Australians tend to take their day to day existence for granted, forget past setbacks quickly, and think that the countrys natural resources are endless. The economic boom in the post war years to 1980 gave rise to many Australian workers with a laissez faire attitude why put money aside for bad times? Earlier generations of Australians had a hard struggle to survive in a hostile land; the present generation is a long way from these hardships and have fewer nationalistic feelings. Australian migrants mostly consider themselves to have dual nationality Australian and the country of their birth. Behavioural Norms Behavioural norms are instilled in children from birth. These are carried into adulthood and affect work and business relationships. Filipino Behavioural Norms Filipino behavioural norms center on family, conforming, and acceptance.

The average Filipino grows up in an extended family which includes grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, close friends, and godparents. He has a strong sense of loyalty to his extended family and is willing to give and receive help from relatives. Included in his loyalty group are compadres and comandres, i.e., godfathers and godmothers of children in baptism, confirmation, and matrimony. Students in Australia regard education as a right and all too frequently do not study hard. Public or government schools are free, but private and church schools charge fees. There are good opportunities, but results are only achieved by hard work. A high proportion of Asian students are now gaining top places in final year High School examinations and a good pass is necessary to qualify for degree courses at universities. Asians work harder and treat education as a privilege. Their increasing numbers in honour rolls at Australian universities, attest to this fact. Though Australians may have an old boy network, they often do not take the trouble to maintain these relationships, perhaps a sign of personal independence. These networks are peripheral in business relationships, in contrast to their considerable use in the Philippines. Traditionally, business in Australia was a mans world. The number of Australian businesswomen is small, but growing. Filipino Australian Relationships The differences in Filipino and Australian behavioral norms affecting business and social relationships can be summarized. Frank and Candid vs. Vague and Ambiguous Australians openly express opinions and ideas about the issue under discussion, or on the opinions of others; Filipinos use euphemisms to express opinions and will not disagree openly. Resents Authority vs. High Deference to Authority Australians can use strong language and openly disagree with their superiors; Filipinos will always maintain non-stressful relationships to those in authority. Independent vs. Interdependent. After finishing school, Australians may decide to leave the nuclear family to live independently, even when this goes against parental preference; Filipinos will not leave home before getting married (if then), for fear of hurting family feelings. Less-involvement in Community Activities vs. Striving for Involvement in

Community Activities Australians generally confine their social activities to their nuclear family or small groups; Filipinos become actively involved in community affairs such as town fiestas, baptisms, weddings, wakes, etc. involvement in community affairs and particularly activities of civic organizations give Filipinos the opportunity to acquire power, which in turn enables them to help members of their extended families. Reciprocity vs. Extended Sense of Obligation A favor granted is repaid by an Australian once; a Filipino will feel indebted for life and feels obliged to return the favor over and over. Mateship vs. Pakikisama Australians only feel the need to band together and depend on each other in times of adversity; Filipinos share gains and losses with the extended family. Individual Control vs. Belief in Fate An Australian makes a decision and carries the consequences of its success or failure; Filipinos attributes success or failure to fate. Individual Decisions vs. Consensual Decisions A typical Australian will usually make decisions on his own; a Filipino will seek the advice and opinion of everybody who matters. Objective Decisions vs. Personalized Decisions Australians make decisions mainly based on facts and less on personalities involved; Filipinos also take into account the feelings and self-esteem of those who will be affected by the decision. Custodial Care vs. Family Care Australian consider it a right to use the services of government institutions to care for the aged and handicapped; Filipinos feel obligated to care for their aged parent, especially as there are few government institutions to provide this services.