技術本部の高岡です。
語学研修を受講するため、先日フィリピンに行ってきました。
滞在中に感じた、フィリピンならではの習慣を紹介します。

研修期間中の週末は、近くのショッピングモールで買い物などを楽しんでいたのですが、そこでは必ずエントランスでセキュリティーチェックを受けました。

Hello! My name is Takaoka from the Technical & Engineering Service Division.
Recently, I had a chance to visit the Philippines to participate in an English training course.
I would like to introduce the customs and culture I experienced during my stay in the Philippines.

On the weekends, I enjoyed shopping in the nearby mall. At the entrance, there is a security check point. Everybody who wants to enter the mall has to go through this security check.

最初は何か事件でも起こったのではとドキドキしましたが、モールやビルなどに入るときは、セキュリティーチェックが行われるのが一般的な様です。金属探知機によるボディーチェックや、鞄の中身の確認などが行われますが、余りにも出入りする人が多いので、中に入るまで少し時間が掛かることもあり大変でした。さすがに銃を手にしたセキュリティーガードには少し驚きました。

語学研修は5週間のスケジュールで行われ、3週間の語学学校での授業と、2週間の当社マニラ事務所での実習研修でした。

At first, I became nervous because I thought maybe some incident happened but it seems it is a common practice in the Philippines to have a security check before entering a mall or building. The guard does a body check with a metal detector and also checks inside our bag. It was tough because you have to wait for a long time since there are many people coming and going. I was also surprised to see a security building guard carrying a gun.

The English training course I participated was a 5-week course, consisting of 3-weeks in the language school and 2 weeks of OJT (On-the-Job Training) in Manila office.

こちらは、マニラ事務室の様子です。
飛び交う言葉が英語であること以外は、普段勤務している日本の事務所と同じ雰囲気です。

事務所での実習研修が始まって直ぐのある日の午後、全員が集まった立食パーティーが行われました。

Above photo is a picture of Manila office. I felt that the atmosphere is similar to the office I worked in Japan, the only difference is that English was the main language for communication among staffs.

One afternoon on the week I started OJT in Manila office; everybody gathered and had a buffet style party.

趣旨も分からず参加して楽しんでいたのですが、事務所のスタッフの誕生日会でした。誕生日をお祝いするすばらしいイベントだと思ったのですが、よく聞くと主催は誕生日を迎えたスタッフ本人...ビックリです。
フィリピンの習慣としてお誕生日の人が、日ごろの感謝を込めてお世話になっている人達に料理を振る舞うとのことです。

事務所には100名程のスタッフがいますので、数日毎に誕生日会が開催される計算になります。私も2週間の研修期間中に2回も誕生日会に参加させてもらいました。

異国の習慣を体験する良い機会でした。次の自分の誕生日には家族や日ごろお世話になっている人達に料理を振る舞ってみようかなと思いました。

I was enjoying myself without knowing what kind of party it was but then later on I found out it was a birthday party of one of the staff. I thought it was such a great thing for the office to organize and throw a birthday party for the celebrant. But to my surprise, this party was organized and paid by the birthday celebrant herself.

They said this is a custom in the Philippines to serve food to other people on their birthday, as a means of expressing their gratitude for the kindness of support in the daily life. There are about 100 staffs in Manila office. That means a birthday party is thrown in every few days. And in saying so, I was able to attend twice during my 2 weeks of training.

It was a very good opportunity for me to experience different culture and customs. Now I am thinking that on my birthday I should also cook food and throw a party for my family and for the people who support me every day.