Oras Pinas Filipino Time is taking center stage this new year as the Philippines pushes for a cultural shift toward punctuality, discipline, and respect for time.

A brand-new year is a few hours away, and surely, every Filipino can relate when they say that high on their list of New Year’s resolutions is a simple but powerful goal: to finally stop being late for appointments.

And to help achieve this, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), alongside its attached agencies, the Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), is leading the celebration of National Time Consciousness Week from January 1 to 7, 2026.

The campaign this coming year, titled “Oras Pinas: Filipino, On Time Ka!” aims to end the negative culture of ‘Filipino time’ and replace it with a new standard of discipline and respect for others’ time.

The Surprising History of Being Late

Why is “Filipino time” even a thing? According to historian Prof. Xiao B. Chua during an episode of the radio program Radyo Siyensya, it was not always this way. Before colonization, our ancestors followed a spatial concept of time based on the sun’s position—like takipsilim (twilight)—and natural cycles like harvests and a month featuring the Moon’s continuous cycle through its eight phases.

The habit of being late actually has two historical roots:

1. A Status Symbol: During the Spanish era, high-ranking officials would intentionally arrive late to theater shows or events to demonstrate their social importance.
2.  A Colonial Label: American administrators later used the term to characterize Filipinos as “lazy,” a label that ignored the fact that Filipinos simply had a more relaxed view of time compared to industrial ‘time is money’ cultures.

The High Cost of Every Second

Being late isn’t just a bad habit; it’s a massive drain on the nation as economic productivity is directly tied to punctuality.

A study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) revealed that the Philippines loses a staggering PhP 3.5 billion every day due to severe traffic and the resulting delays in Metro Manila. These delays cripple investment and production across the board.

The Science of Atomic Precision

To help everyone stay synchronized, Republic Act 10535 or The Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013 established DOST-PAGASA as the nation’s official timekeeper.

In 2015, DOST-PAGASA acquired a new time equipment known as the PAGASA’s Precise Time-Scale System. This timing equipment is an independent timing chain (real-time clock) consisting of three high-performance cesium clocks, real-time clock steered to UTC using GNSS timing information, distribution for 5 MHz, 10MHz, AM/DC IRIG-B, 1 PPS and NTP.

The new timing equipment was purchased by PAGASA to establish a national timing reference and to satisfy the requirement of the existing laws on time and frequency services in the country.

The time equipment was about the size of a large refrigerator, composed of three high performance atomic cesium clocks for holdover redundancy and is plugged into the network time protocol (NTP) of the Philippine Standard Time. An atomic clock measures time by detecting the oscillations of energized atoms in an electromagnetic field.

How You Can Join the Movement

One does not have to be a scientist to participate in this cultural shift. The DOST is working with partners like Project W.A.T.C.H. and SM Prime to spread the word. During the first week of January, “Oras Pinas” banners will be displayed on giant LED boards nationwide and special commercial slots will be shown in cinemas.

The goal is simple: sync everyone’s timepieces, mobile phone’s time, and mindset to the Philippine Standard Time (PhST). By choosing to be on Oras Pinas, one is not just following the time but showing respect to fellow Filipinos and helping the economy grow.

The “Oras Pinas’ campaign is one of the initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All. (PR)

Written by Rosemarie C. Señora