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Very good, Filipini!

The UAE is second home to about 200 nationalities. And Filipinos are a stand-out, preferred by employers across all industries from oil and gas to hospitality

‘Filipinos have high emotional intelligence. We care for our customers, we think that interpersonal skills (evident through constant smiling) can aid in performing our jobs.’

DUBAI: So, what makes Filipinos tick? Why are they at times likened to the battery-operated bunny playing the drums non-stop in that TV ad? What’s in them? Better yet, what are their batteries made of? Why do employers prefer them?

The Filipino Times burned the midnight oil and came up with the following answers:

1. Good conversational English skills.

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This perhaps is among top factors why Pinoys are a stand-out. Having been taught English from head start school thru college, they have excellent grasp of conversational English – they know the ropes like the back of their hands.

“We are good in English – verbal and written. It is very important in this global age, where English is the primary medium,” said Joanne Rico, The Filipino Times 2017 Marketing Executive of the Year awardee and currently sales manager at an international medical facility in Abu Dhabi.

2. High emotional intelligence.

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There once was a Filipino mechanic who, upon giving back the car he fixed to its owner, said with a smile: “If you need any problem, just call me.” The owner laughed, turned on the ignition and left. Of course, he knew exactly what the Pinoy meant: “If there’s any problem just call me.” And it’s the Pinoy’s subtle way of establishing relationship.

Filipinos are natural-born public relations gurus; work doesn’t end with the handing out of receipts after payment for the service rendered.

“Filipinos have high emotional intelligence. We care for our customers, we think that interpersonal skills (evident through constant smiling) can aid in performing our jobs. Sensitivity (hygiene for instance) is a trademark of a typical worker from the Philippines,” said Dr. Rommel Pilapil Sergio, The Filipino Times 2016 Educator of the Year awardee who also was recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding OFW-Individual Category in the Philippines, among other commendations both at home and abroad.

He added, “Education and culture is also important in the formation of excellent work values. That’s contributory to Filipino’s excellent performance.” Sergio is Chair and Associate Professor at Canadian University of Dubai.

3. Capable of critical thinking.

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A typical Filipino is one capable of analytical thoughts. Pinoys have the “ability to critically evaluate situations and offer options,” said one of UAE’s renowned Filipino educator, Dr. Rex Venard Bacarra, Dean of General Education at The American College of Dubai.

“Filipinos are collectively known to be able to look at issues and vitally analyze them as to what works and what or why it doesn’t,” he added. Ergo, Filipinos can offer multiple possible solutions and weigh the benefits – a skill set that many employers find to be inherent to most workers from the Philippines, Bacarra said.

4. Able to take leadership role.

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Intrinsically, Filipinos are adept at taking on leadership roles – something acquired and honed back home growing up in chaotic environs.

“Not necessarily by and in position but by being accountable and functional. Employers generally trust the Filipinos’ judgment in doing the right and most beneficial thing as they see it without making a fuss,” said Bacarra.

5. Never a fault-finder.

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Filipinos would rather stay focused on his or her work and find solutions when something goes wrong.

“Ang OFW ay kakaibang magtrabaho, madiskarte, professional and dedicated,” said Engr. Frankie Boton.

Adds Bacarra: “We are uncomplaining to a fault, we work in silence preferring to offer results than fault-finding and gripes.”

6. They don’t count the hours.

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Filipinos are so dedicated that they rarely count the hours. Of course at times, they find time to make fun of their overtime and call it “overtawad,” instead. But end of the day, they go back to work and give it their 100%

“We give more than what we are receiving. We don’t count the hours we are extending in our work. We intend to give it to our employer as bonus,” said Rubie Baltazar, who for the past 11 years, has been working project administrator as a multinational energy company.

7. Multitasking experts.

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Filipinos can easily adjust to the demands of UAE’s economy because they are good at multitasking, said Beth Fabic, general manager at a facility management company.

“Magaling kasi sa multitasking ang Pinoy kaya preferred ng mga employers,” Fabic said. “Madaling makaintindi sa instructions and hardworking.” (Filipinos are excellent in multitasking. They can understand instructions easily and are hardworking.)

8. Work ethics.

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This is a primary employee attribute that many employers put a premium on, said Bacarra.

“Filipinos in the diaspora have developed a sense of discipline when living and working outside of the Philippines,” he said, adding that there is a “conscious awareness” among Filipinos that work retention is “gauged based on being on time, possessing honesty and dependability, and being able to adapt to the demands of working with other people of different colors, social backdrop, and beliefs.”

Filipinos “walked the extra mile,” said Engr. Elmer O. Casao, the Filipino umbrella organization, Bayanihan Council’s president.

“We always value professionalism in the workplace and strive to deliver results expected from us, maintaining the quality of work at the same time. Most of us are innovative and really provide added value to the organization we are in. We never fail to showcase good ethics in the workplace,” he said.

9. Team player.

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Basketball is a team sport and Pinoys just so love the game such that they have inculcated its values in their daily grind. “We are always a good team player, a quality that makes us preferred by employers,” said Casao.

10. Fashionistas and gadget-conscious.

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Of course, presentability is always an asset; companies would always consider a sharp, even flamboyant, dresser over a shabby one.

“Ang isang OFW ay may pagka-fashionista, mas maayos magdamit, mas malinis tingnan at mas mabango. Hindi rin sya papahuli sa uso. Maging electronics man o gadgets, online games, social media – lahat ‘yan carry nya,” said Boton. (An OFW has a good sense of fashion and is wont not to be left behind in the latest gadgets, being tech-savvy.)

11. Value for money.

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Hiring Filipinos give employers more value for their money.

Explains Rico: “The quality of work output is very high; perfect from A to Z, compared to that of other markets. For the quality of work OFWs give, the salary range is lower compared to other Western and Arabic markets.”

She adds: “At the end of the day, employers need to make decisions that will make business sense. Why hire someone who will give the same output at the a higher cost?”

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