National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility

History of National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility

Acts of tardiness and procrastination have long been established in Filipino culture and were formerly regarded as normal and acceptable — but this did not occur overnight. These customs date back to the 1500s when the Spanish Empire ruled for about 300 years. Being late for meetings and events was historically seen to be a ‘status symbol,’ denoting upper-class and royal rank. According to Dr. Louie Benedict Ignacio, a professor of sociology and political science at the University of Santo Tomas, the Spaniards established the cultural normalcy of latecomers since they were considered superior to everyone else.

However, this changed during the American colonization in 1901 when they introduced strict compliance to time, deadlines, and schedules. Most Filipinos found this a difficult adjustment because there had been a 300-year tradition of tolerating tardiness. Americans would refer to Filipinos arriving late for meetings or scheduled appointments as ‘Filipino time.’ This word has persisted in Philippine culture to the present day. For decades, Americans instilled in Filipinos a strong sense of punctuality and decency. As a result, the practice of valuing time as a responsible citizenry and respectable citizenry began.

In 2008, former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared November as the National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility. This was issued under Proclamation No. 1638, which denotes valuing the time of others and respecting the essence of time itself. This was officially promoted by the Organized Response for the Advancement of Society, Inc. (ORAS) — a non-government association dedicated to producing a new breed of Filipinos who completely eradicate tardiness and procrastination.

National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility timeline

1500s

The Normalization of Tardiness

The Spanish regime introduced the status symbol of tardiness to Philippine culture.

1901

The Origin of Filipino Time

Americans coin the term ‘Filipino Time’ for those who are constantly late for meetings and scheduled appointments,

2008

National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declares November the official National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility.

2013

Synchronized Philippine Time

President Benigno Aquino III signs R.A. 10535, which aims to synchronize everyone’s time to avoid tardiness.

National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility FAQs

When is National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility?

National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility runs throughout November 2026, from Sunday, November 1, to Monday, November 30. It’s a full month dedicated to fostering better habits.

How does 'Filipino time' impact society?

The cultural phenomenon of ‘Filipino time,’ often characterized by chronic tardiness, can lead to significant productivity losses, missed opportunities, and a erosion of trust in both personal and professional settings. It can disrupt schedules and create inefficiencies across various sectors.

Who established National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility?

National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility was established by Presidential Proclamation No. 1044 in 1997 in the Philippines. This proclamation designated November of every year for the observance, aiming to instill these values across the nation.

What are some ways to practice punctuality and civility?

Practicing punctuality involves planning ahead, setting reminders, and aiming to arrive early for appointments. Civility can be shown through courteous language, active listening, respecting personal space, and offering assistance when appropriate. Small actions can make a big difference.

National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility Activities

Educate your kids about the value of time

The best way to instill the value of time to kids is to educate them about the cons of tardiness. Educate them while they’re young and let them carry this virtue for the rest of their lives.

Make a plan with friends

A fun way to celebrate National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility is to make a plan with friends and request that everyone is early or on time. Whoever arrives late will have to treat everyone to a meal later that day.

Follow a scheduled routine

Planning a routine is a good way to exercise to avoid tardiness. Schedule your activities ahead of time and make sure to strictly follow them.

5 Interesting Facts About Tardiness

National pet peeve

In 2013, tardiness officially became a national pet peeve among Filipinos.

The ‘late’ president

Former Philippine President Elpidio Quirino was late in receiving his honorary doctorate at Fordham University in 1949.

Filipino time was mentioned in “Noli Me Tangere”

Dr. Jose Rizal mentioned the habit of tardiness as a Spanish influence in his novel, “Noli Me Tangere.”

Lower-class Filipinos were discriminated against

During the American colonization, lower-class Filipinos, called ‘Indios,’ were discriminated against due to tardiness.

‘Filipino on time’

There’s an ongoing movement to switch ‘Filipino time’ into ‘Filipino on time’ as a way of respecting other people’s time.

Why We Love National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility

Tardiness is inexcusable

Being on time is a sign of respect and professionalism. Tardiness is just inexcusable and should be completely eradicated.

Time is gold

Time is a valuable commodity. In corporate settings, squandering other people's time implies wasting their energy and resources.

It’s time to change the Filipino image

It’s about time to eliminate others’ notion of Filipinos regarding timeliness. National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility overhauls the character of Filipinos by implementing the virtue of responsible citizenry.