As our company has a subsidiary overseas (in the Philippines), we are often asked, "How do you manage it?"
In fact, we receive inquiries a few times a year from people who wish to visit our Philippine corporation.
What I tell those who are interested, individuals or companies, is: "One of the important things in management is to understand the country and its people."
In other words, an understanding of culture and customs is essential.
For example, just taking "Christmas" as an example, it's very different from how Japanese people celebrate it.

This time, we will introduce Christmas in the Philippines and how this event affects the management of Philippine corporations.

Differences between Japanese and Philippine Christmases

When you think of Christmas in Japan...
A special day for lovers.
Don't you have an image of... etc.?
In the Philippines, it's
Therefore, many Filipinos return to their hometowns for Christmas.
Furthermore, the Philippines has a tropical rainforest climate, so the temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius even at Christmas, making it a Christmas in perpetual summer.
There is Kentucky Fried Chicken in the Philippines, but not a single person eats it just
By the way, the Kentucky Fried Chicken in the Philippines has rice lol
Christmas in Japan is significantly different in this way.

This is only natural. In fact, over 90% of Filipinos are Christian, and it is known as the only Christian country in Southeast Asia. It's natural, then, that Christmas holds a different meaning for them than it does for us Japanese people.
I don't know if that's the reason, but Christmas preparations (decorations, etc.) start as early as September!
Christmas in the Philippines is said to be the longest in the world, with September, October, November, and December considered the Christmas season. Filipinos call this period the "Ber Months."
Around this time of year, dioramas depicting the birth of Christ in a stable are displayed in the streets and also placed on car dashboards.
Additionally, from December 16th to 25th, Filipinos attend Mass daily to celebrate the birth of Christ.
The mass is held not only in the church but also in a special venue set up in the shopping area.
By the way, shopping malls in the Philippines have churches. Japanese people who see this are surprised.
Unlike Christmas in Japan, this is characterized by a very strong religious significance.
Against this backdrop

Philippines Christmas from a Management Perspective

One thing to keep in mind when managing your team is that as Christmas approaches, Filipino staff tend to become distracted.
Therefore, we must strive for management that takes that into account and adjusts the content and volume of work.
It's a true story that sounds like a lie.

For them, the most important company event is the "Christmas party." (It's as important a company event as the company trip, which is called an outing.)
Incidentally, this Christmas party doesn't have much religious significance and is easier to imagine if you think of it as similar to a Japanese bonenkai (year-end party). (However, there will be a prayer at the start of the party.)
Because most companies hold Christmas parties, restaurants and karaoke rooms are fully booked from late November to mid-December.
During the Christmas season, you can often see many Filipinos practicing dances in the park, as some companies have their employees perform dances as part of their holiday celebrations.

Companies don't just have to prepare for Christmas parties.
There is a tradition of giving “Christmas baskets”—gifts containing a variety of items such as canned goods, wine, and pasta—so preparations for these are also necessary.
When the season arrives, Christmas baskets begin to line the grocery store aisles. You can see an incredible number of baskets, including those reserved by businesses, overflowing inside and outside the stores.
Basket prices vary wildly, but our company purchased baskets for about 5,000 yen per person in

Furthermore, the company is obligated to pay a "13-month pay" bonus, and the monthly financial statements during this period always?! end up in the red lol

In previous articles, I have also written about the importance of understanding a country's culture when employing foreigners or collaborating with them.
I hope you now understand that Christmas can be a completely different celebration depending on the country.
When operating a base overseas or working with international staff, management that understands these differences is essential.