Filipino Traits and Values - What You Should Know

Outsourcing can be a great way to bring on additional help without raising your overhead. While Remote CoWorker handles all of the backend work of vetting, onboarding, and training outsourced virtual assistants, it is still important for your company to understand the basic traits and values of your new workforce.

One of the countries that Remote CoWorker sources virtual assistants from is the Philippines. The cost of living and average hourly rate in the Philippines are much lower than those of domestic options, such as local talent in the United States. These cost savings are passed down to you in the form of affordable virtual assistants.

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Cultural Understanding

Let’s cover the fundamental Filipino traits and values you should know, including the history of Filipino outsourcing, the common languages spoken, religious beliefs, and details on the Filipino work ethic. We’ll also cover the top Filipino values and key management tips to equip you with the information you need to succeed with your new outsourced team.

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Top 5 Most Important Filipino Values

The Filipino value system is the set of cultural and personal values that a majority of Filipinos retain. These components guide their work ethic, religion, ideologies, moral code, and more. Here are the top five most important Filipino values:

Family Orientation

Family orientation is one of the most important Filipino values. The Filipino culture believes that family ties and relationships are essential. Supporting each other through good and bad times is non-negotiable for the Filipinos, drawing in characteristics of loyalty and devotion.

Hospitality

The Filipino culture also prioritizes hospitality. When you visit a Filipino family, you can expect generosity and a warm welcome. The Filipinos are always willing to lend an extra hand to family members and friends.

Hard Work

Determination and hard work are essential Filipino values. The strong work ethic of the Filipino is easily seen through their work output in the outsourcing industry.

Compassion

Filipino values also include compassion for others. The Filipinos are caring and empathetic towards each other and those in need. They are always willing to put others first.

Helpful

Being helpful is another core value for Filipinos. Acts of kindness, generosity, and giving to those in need are examples of how Filipinos instill this value in daily life.

These five values are the moral foundation of the Filipino. They shape how the Filipinos approach everyday challenges and guide their work ethic.

History of Filipino Outsourcing

The Philippines is nestled in Southeast Asia, with the country’s roots dating back to the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. After the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, the Philippines was colonized by the Spanish, who maintained control for over three hundred years. In 1898, the Spanish-American War began, and the Philippines was ceded to the United States, becoming a U.S. territory.

For a short time, during World War II, the Japanese occupied the Philippines. After the war, the Treaty of Manila was signed in 1946, officially granting independence to the Republic of the Philippines. Due to its history, the Philippines retains Spanish, Japanese, and American cultural roots, which are all seen in modern-day culture.

Today, the Philippines is one of the top BPO markets in the world and is on track to reach $40 billion in outsourcing revenue in 2025. The BPO workforce comprises over 1.8 million workers across different industries, like accounting, finance, sales, marketing, and technology.

Languages Spoken by the Filipino

Due to the rich history of the Philippines, there are different languages spoken by the Filipinos. In fact, it’s estimated that there are over 180 different languages spoken by Filipinos. Despite the lengthy list of languages, most Filipinos speak a standardized form of Tagalog and English. English is widely used in formal education, partly due to the growing nature of the BPO industry.

When meeting your outsourced team, they will generally be multilingual. First, they will speak Filipino, which is widely used in commercialized cities and public areas. However, your outsourced assistants will also speak English, which is one of the official languages of the country. The widespread adoption of English makes it easy to communicate with your outsourced team, helping eliminate communication barriers.

Filipino Work Ethics

The Filipinos have a strong work ethic, which contributes to the country’s highly regarded reputation in the outsourcing industry. With a low labor cost, a highly educated workforce, and a high proficiency in the English language, the Philippines is a popular destination for outsourcing a variety of services.

When partnering with Filipino outsourced labor, you can expect prompt response times, a commitment to learning, and a work ethic that goes above and beyond. These values are also reinforced by Remote CoWorker’s rigorous hiring process. We take the time to vet and pre-train all outsourced virtual assistants to ensure they are the right fit for your company.

Top 5 Filipino Management Tips

Keeping all of the above information in mind is important when it comes to effectively managing a remote team. In most cases, Remote CoWorker handles outsourced virtual assistant management, with a dedicated Project Manager and QA lead. However, it is still important to know the top five Filipino management tips, which include:

Define Work Scope

The Filipinos work best with clear instructions, guidelines, and deadlines. Take the time to communicate your goals and expectations upfront.

Prioritize Communication

While communication challenges are minimized with Filipino outsourced assistants, it is essential that you find the right communication modes. This is made easy with the use of Remote CoWorker’s proprietary platforms.

Find the Right Fit

Finding highly skilled or specialized talent is important if you have specific projects you need to complete. Remote CoWorker professionals can help pair you with the right assistants.

Know When to Scale

With Remote CoWorker virtual assistants, you can easily scale your workforce during high demand times. Knowing when it’s time to scale can help avoid costly business disruptions and keep your team engaged and efficient.

Consider Feedback

If your Filipino team has feedback, take the time to listen. You might uncover ways to increase efficiency or productivity that ultimately help your business scale.

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