Welcome to Procrasti...Nation

MARVIN Mamaya is an interesting Filipino who believes he speaks for the Unhurried Majority, the great mass of procrastinators.
“Filipinos are a race of do-it-later,” he said in a TV interview. “This makes them a unique people and a race to watch for inspiration.”
The program dwelt on the need for punctuality and civility among Filipinos. The host reminded viewers that President Gloria Arroyo has proclaimed, as she does every year, November as National Consciousness Month on Punctuality to emphasize respect for time and to promote good manners in society. Jose Magalang, the other guest, supported the President’s initiative.
Mamaya said the culture of procrastination is not new in the mainstream society. Even during the Spanish colonial period, the natives lived by the “mañana [tomorrow] habit,” the only value the Castila cared to share with the Indios.

Deadlines missed

Procrastination has ruled our lives in history, Mamaya noted. For example, he said the Commonwealth-era Filipinos took their time pushing the statehood movement in Manila and Washington so the Philippine Islands missed being a member of the great American Union.
But current and recent practices are more numerous, he observed. Hundreds of thousands missed the October 31 deadline for registration of new voters so a party-list group petitioned the Supreme Court to extend the registration period.
Each year, thousands of taxpayers file their income-tax returns at the last minute, harassing the BIR staff, missing the deadline and paying fines for delayed filing, he added.

Congress takes it time

Each time the government enforces a program and set a deadline -- car registration, SSS payment, driver’s license application or renewal -- people show up at the last minute.
Government offices are also notorious for putting off decisions and actions. The Commission on Elections often resolves election protests at the 11th hour. Judges and justices have been disciplined for late decisions.
The host seemed to agree. “Even our congressmen and senators take it easy during regular sessions, marking their time with tardiness and absences, then rushing work in the last days of the regular session making a special session and sine die proceedings necessary,” she volunteered.

Mail Christmas cards early

Magalang chimed in, “The Post Office has urged us to mail our Christmas letters and packages early, to beat the rush and late deliveries, but I haven’t mailed my Christmas greeting cards yet.”
“See, you agree with me that every other Pinoy is a dedicated procrastinator!” Mamaya exclaimed.
“Wait a minute,” the host protested. “We are missing the theme of our program, which is to call respect for punctuality and the rights of our fellowmen.”
“Which explains, why my group organized the National Association for Punctuality [NAP]. This ‘Filipino Time’ is giving us a very bad image abroad,” Magalang interjected.
“Tardiness is the other face of procrastination. When you show up late for a friend or a meeting, you simply reaffirm your basic character,” Mamaya replied.

Cultural flaw

This bothered the host. “Why are you promoting procrastination when it is a big flaw in the national culture?”
“I am not promoting it, because it’s already endemic. But we can turn it into an advantage or even enjoy it. Haven’t you heard of ‘haste makes waste’ or ‘take time to smell the flower?’ or that people work best under time pressure?
“What’s the rush? The world is in enough trouble because of the busybodies and the workaholics. I tell you, a low national blood pressure is a better gauge of development than the Gross National Product.
“That’s why I propose a new nonworking holiday, a National Do-Nothing Day, where we are free to do as we please. Actually, most national holidays are not observed for the purpose they were set for. People go instead to the malls or the Luneta. A Do-Nothing Day will be a genuine nonworking holiday.”

Society of Procrastinators

Winding up, Mamaya said he planned to organize a National Society of Procrastinators that would eventually evolve into a party-list group.
“We will ask, Vice President Noli de Castro to be our adviser. Our motto is ‘slow by slow.’ Our policy is, study all options. We welcome applicants who can’t make up their mind. We plan to put up our office on Taft Avenue after it’s been renamed.
“We offer tourists, retirees and foreigners an option to the dog-eat-dog, rat-race lifestyle. Watch us dictate our vision on the national agenda.”
“And when do you plan to organize and compete in politics?” the host asked.
Mamaya took his time to reply. “Maybe next year?”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives last December passed a bill that seeks to cure “Filipino time” or tardiness habit by synchronizing the standard time nationwide.
“By synchronizing the official watches and clocks in the entire archipelago, all Filipinos can sing the national anthem at the same time," House Bill 6905 said.
Should the measure become law, all national and local government offices shall display the PST on their official time devices, including bundy clocks. They will base their time on that provided by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) using its network time protocol.
The bill calls for the installation of synchronized time devices to be displayed in key public places all over the country to help “develop appreciation of punctuality and practice the use of time wisely to be more productive at home, school and the workplace.” (The Manila Times)