Language and communication
Under the 1987 Constitution, Filipino is the national language, and Filipino and English are the official languages for communication and instruction.
English is widely used in business, including correspondence and contracts, according to the U.S. Commercial Service. Many people mix English and Filipino in everyday conversation, often called Taglish.
The Philippines ranks 28th of 123 countries and regions in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, in its “High” proficiency band.
We screen written and spoken English for each role, so your hire can work with your team and your customers.
Time zones and working hours
The Philippines is on Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8, all year, with no daylight saving time.
Your employee works the hours you set, whether that is US, UK or Australian business hours. A 9-to-5 day in your time zone lands at these Manila times (standard time; daylight saving moves them an hour):
| Your 9 to 5 | In Manila |
|---|---|
| New York (EST) | 10 PM to 6 AM |
| London (GMT) | 5 PM to 1 AM |
| Sydney (AEST) | 7 AM to 3 PM |
Work between 10 PM and 6 AM is paid a night shift differential of at least 10% (Labor Code, Article 86). As the employer, we run it through payroll.
Holidays and the Christmas season
Christmas is a big part of the year: celebrations often start in September, in the so-called “ber months,” and run into January. 13th month pay is paid by December 24.
The Philippines has 12 regular holidays and 8 special non-working days in 2026.
See the Leave and holidays guide
Values you’ll hear about
Researchers and writers often describe a few ideas in Filipino culture. Every person is different, so treat these as background, not rules:
- Bayanihan: described as the custom of group work and mutual help, named after neighbors carrying a family’s house together.
- Kapwa: in Filipino psychology, a shared sense of identity with others, with values like pakikisama (getting along) seen as building on it.
- Family: often described as a person’s first loyalty and an important part of life.
The IT and business services industry
The Philippine IT and business process management industry had about 1.9 million workers and more than $40 billion in revenue in 2025, according to its industry association, IBPAP.
How Remote Employee® supports your team
Your hire is exclusive to you: staff aligned to your goals, workflows, and culture. No freelancers, no shared resources.
They work from our Class-A offices in San Fernando, Pampanga, with perks and team events, while working your hours in your tools.
Sources
We checked the Philippine rules on this page against these official sources. Rates and rules change, so check the latest before you act on them.
- 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Article XIV (LawPhil)
- U.S. Commercial Service: Philippines business travel and customs
- EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Philippines
- Time zone database: Asia/Manila (IANA)
- Labor Code of the Philippines, Book III (DOLE)
- IT-BPM revenues breach $40 billion mark (Philstar, Jan 2026)
- Bayanihan after Typhoon Haiyan (Humanitarian Practice Network)
- Pakikisama and Filipino values (De La Salle University)
- Philippines: a country study, values (Library of Congress)
