{"id":893,"date":"2016-02-13T11:47:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-13T11:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ofwcanada.wpengine.com\/?p=893"},"modified":"2025-05-28T11:13:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T11:13:34","slug":"filipino-attitudes-you-should-not-bring-to-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/893-filipino-attitudes-you-should-not-bring-to-canada.html","title":{"rendered":"8 Common Filipino Habits to Overcome Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Filipinos are known for their warmth, resilience, and sense of humour. But like all cultures, we have habits that can hold us back, especially when adjusting to life abroad. Moving to Canada or any new country is a chance to leave behind unhelpful attitudes and embrace a mindset that supports personal growth and success. Here\u2019s a guide to common Filipino traits to be mindful of and practical tips to help you thrive in your new environment.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Letting Go of \u201cFilipino Time\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>Being chronically late\u2014known as \u201cFilipino time\u201d\u2014is a habit we\u2019re better off leaving behind. In countries like Canada, punctuality is not just polite, it\u2019s expected. Arriving on time for appointments, work shifts, and social events shows respect for others and helps build your reputation as a reliable person. Start practicing time management\u2014set reminders, plan your routes, and give yourself extra time to avoid unexpected delays.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Overcoming \u201cCrab Mentality\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>Crab mentality\u2014dragging others down instead of supporting them\u2014can damage relationships and hold back the entire community. Instead of comparing yourself to others or feeling resentment, celebrate the success of fellow Filipinos and learn from their experiences. Collaboration and encouragement foster a supportive community, making it easier for everyone to succeed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/canada-day.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"509\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/canada-day.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/canada-day-300x191.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/canada-day-768x489.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/canada-day-660x420.webp 660w, https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/canada-day-150x95.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/06\/canada-day-696x443.webp 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>3. Avoiding Jealousy and Comparison<\/h2>\n<p>Jealousy often goes hand-in-hand with crab mentality. It can lead to negative gossip, backstabbing, and a toxic environment. Remember: everyone\u2019s journey is different. Some people might have taken on debt to afford something new, while others are saving quietly for future goals. Focus on your own progress and celebrate others\u2019 milestones as motivation\u2014not competition.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Breaking the \u201cMa\u00f1ana Habit\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>The ma\u00f1ana habit\u2014putting things off until \u201ctomorrow\u201d\u2014can lead to unnecessary stress and missed opportunities. When it comes to tasks like submitting paperwork, renewing insurance, or updating immigration documents, procrastination can have serious consequences. Prioritize important tasks, tackle them early, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from staying on top of things.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Steering Clear of Gossip<\/h2>\n<p>Gossip is a common social pastime in the Philippines, but abroad it can create misunderstandings and damage trust. While catching up with friends is great, steer clear of negative talk about others. Use your conversations to uplift and support each other\u2014share helpful information, resources, or simply offer a listening ear.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Replacing \u201cBahala Na\u201d with Proactive Action<\/h2>\n<p>The \u201cbahala na\u201d or \u201cwhatever happens, happens\u201d attitude has roots in faith, but can sometimes lead to passivity and a lack of planning. In a new country, it\u2019s crucial to take charge of your goals and decisions. Don\u2019t leave your future to chance\u2014make a plan, take small steps forward, and ask for help when needed.<\/p>\n<h2>7. Avoiding the \u201cOne-Day Millionaire\u201d Mindset<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s tempting to celebrate payday with a big shopping spree\u2014especially when thinking of loved ones back home. But overspending can quickly drain your resources, leaving you stressed about bills or emergencies. Canada\u2019s credit system can make it easy to overspend, so create a budget and stick to it. Save for the future, including emergencies and bigger dreams like education or home ownership.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Embracing a Growth Mindset<\/h2>\n<p>Lastly, remember that adjusting to a new country is a journey. Be kind to yourself as you learn and grow. Seek out resources\u2014community programs, financial literacy workshops, or job training courses\u2014that can help you build a better life abroad.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Filipinos are known for our smiles and laughter, but real strength lies in our willingness to grow and adapt. By letting go of old habits and embracing new ways of thinking, you can build a life in Canada that honours your roots while unlocking new opportunities. Celebrate your progress, support others, and keep moving forward. Together, we can show the best of what it means to be Filipino\u2014anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Filipinos are known for their warmth, resilience, and sense of humour. But like all cultures, we have habits that can hold us back, especially when adjusting to life abroad. Moving to Canada or any new country is a chance to leave behind unhelpful attitudes and embrace a mindset that supports personal growth and success. Here\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-893","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-living-in-canada"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=893"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2534,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/893\/revisions\/2534"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinoy-ofw.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}