GIVE GIVING ETIQUETTE

International Gift Giving Etiquette – Philippines

GIFT GIVING IN PHILIPPINES* - Gift Giving Etiquette BUSINESS GIFT GIVING / PERSONAL GIFT GIVING General Guidelines Giving gifts, particularly flowers and food, is especially popular in Filipino business culture. Moreover, exchanging gifts is an essential step in solidifying business ties.   Once a contract has been signed, prepare to give your new partners a gift of greater value. These gifts include dinner at a fine restaurant, whiskey for men, and perfume for women. Whatever you decide, avoid being so extravagant in your selection that your gift is perceived as a bribe.   When selecting wrapping paper for a Filipino recipient, you may use any colour you wish, which makes the Philippines somewhat of an anomaly among other Asian countries.   When invited to a Filipino home, bring a gift of flowers, candy or chocolates. Another option is to arrange to have these items sent before your arrival. Avoid bringing alcohol or heavier foods as these gifts may imply that the hospitality is inadequate. Allowances are made, however, for a specialty dish or food that is unique to your home region. Be sure to send a thank-you note afterwards; another small “thank-you gift” is also a thoughtful gesture.   At Christmas, you will be expected to give a small, modest gift to practically everyone you encounter in a business context. This includes everyone who works for you and all service personnel you depend upon regularly.   When you receive a gift, follow the Asian custom by not opening it in front of the giver. Instead, wait until you are alone.   During certain family events, particularly baptisms, it is customary to toss a handful of small coins to any children present.   At weddings, guests will sometimes use pins to attach money--typically bills in small denominations--to the clothing of the bride and groom. Appreciated Gifts a gift item related to the country or city you inhabit fine pens stationary imprinted with your company logo  dinner at a fine restaurant  whiskey [for men only]  perfume *Peru Business Etiquette - Gift Giving.  Executive Planet.  09 Aug. 2004 http://www.executiveplanet.com/business-culture-in/132444010609.html> Gift and Gift-giving Customs in Vietnam Gift giving is important in Vietnamese because of the significance of interpersonal relationships in Vietnamese culture. ·         First and foremost, do not encourage corruption. There is a clear cut between gift-giving and bribery. Nevertheless, it is common in Vietnam for exchanging small gift on certain occasions such as anniversary, and holiday… to express your respect, appreciation or gratitude. ·         Gift-giving customs depends on the context. If it is private gift for one Vietnamese partner you should give the gift at private occasion or at a business meeting if no other one presents. If you have gift for the whole office or company, you should give it after the business meeting with the whole office’s employee. ·         Do not wrap a gift in black paper because this color is unlucky and associated with funerals Vietnam. ·         Gifts that symbolize cutting such as scissors, knives and other sharp objects should be avoided because they mean the cutting of the relationship. ·         Vietnamese may or may not open these gifts when they are received; leave the option to them. ·         You will also receive gifts and should defer to your host as to whether you should open it when received or not. Regardless of when it is opened or what it is, profuse thanks are always appropriate.

GIVE GIVING ETIQUETTE IN TAIWAN

 

Taiwan is a great gift-giving society. When you visit someones house for dinner, it is customary to bring a gift. This may be some fruit, a box of chocolates, some pastries, or a bottle of wine. One shared gift is acceptable, and maybe some small items for the kids will be enough to score some brownie points. While most small gifts can be bought in Taiwan, it may be a good idea to bring a few small gifts with you form home to give special friends you will develop. It must be noted that the Taiwanese are generally big on brand names and 'designer' items.

When you present a gift, tradition dictates that it be presented with two hands and received with two hands (the same is true for name cards and anything else exchanged at a social occasion). The host will usually not open the present in your presence unless you request them to do so. When opening the gift in the host's presence, it is important to open the package carefully to avoid ripping and crumpling the paper. The wrapping paper should be folded up and put aside, not ripped open and promptly disposed of as is usual in other cultures. For nice presents it is recommended to wrap it carefully as appearance is important. There's plenty of wrapping paper available in Taiwan. You can find some as well as gifts at Watson's stores or at a bookstore. When giving a gift, it is often customary to demean it's value by saying something like, "It's just a small gift to show my appreciation".

GIFT GIVING IN TAIWAN* BUSINESS GIFT GIVING / PERSONAL GIFT GIVING General Guidelines Exchanging business gifts is popular in Taiwanese business culture. Be sure to take an assortment of gifts, so that you can have at least one for any occasion. This strategy will be particularly useful if you are unexpectedly presented with a gift.   You may be presented with a gift during a first meeting. Ensure that you have gifts on hand so that you can reciprocate.   Good gifts for a first trip include items featuring your company logo. Do not give a gift, however, that has been manufactured in Taiwan.   It is Chinese custom to decline a gift three times before accepting; this ritual prevents the recipient from appearing too acquisitive. In the face of these protestations, continue to insist. Once your gift is finally accepted, say that you are pleased. When you receive a gift, you will be expected to go through the same routine.   A gift should be received in both hands, palms facing upwards.   Gifts are not opened in front of the giver. Opening presents alone allows both the giver and recipient to 'save face.' There is a cultural belief that the giver and recipient may be embarrassed if the gift turns out to be a poor choice.   It is customary to reciprocate a gift with one of similar value. Therefore, choose a gift that takes into account the recipient's financial resources.   The Taiwanese tend to give very generous presents and Western visitors should be prepared to reciprocate with gifts of the same value.   Gifts of food are appreciated by the Chinese, but avoid bringing food gifts with you to a dinner party--unless it has been agreed upon beforehand. To bring food suggests that your host's hospitality is inadequate. Instead, send food as a thank-you gift afterwards: candy or fruit baskets are safe choices.   Give an even number of flowers. An odd number of flowers will only be perceived as an omen of bad luck.   At Chinese New Year, it is customary to give a gift of money in a red envelope to children and to the service personnel who frequently assist you. This gift is called 'hong bao'--a government-mandated type of gift-giving that may be of importance to you if you are considered an employer in the country. Give only new bills in even numbers and even amounts. Many employers give each employee a 'hong bao' equal to one month's salary.   Gifts and wrappings in red, pink, and yellow are happy, prosperous colours.   Avoid using black or white gift wrap.   Be careful about the number of presents you give someone. The Taiwanese place great emphasis on numbers and their meanings. The following points highlight the meanings ascribed to certain numbers. Numbers and their Symbolic Meaning 4: 'Si' sounds like the Chinese word for 'death.' Doing activities in fours or mentioning the number should be avoided.   6: 'Liu' (lee-oh) signifies the six Chinese elements, which include the wind, river, lightning, mountain, sun, and moon. This term is believed to have a lucky meaning, so it's perfectly acceptable to give items in multiples of six.   8: 'Ba' sounds like 'prosperity' in Chinese, so it is a lucky number.   13: Just as in the West, this number is considered unlucky. Appreciated Gifts items featuring your company logo   imported liquor   gold pens   magazine subscriptions   perfume   anything “high-tech”   anything related to baseball Gifts to Avoid a gift made in Taiwan   knives, scissors or cutting tools--they suggest the severing of a friendship or similar close bond. Gifts Associated with Funerals (Avoid!) gift wrap in white, black or blue clocks towels handkerchiefs straw sandals *Taiwan Business Etiquette - Gift Giving.  Executive Planet.  16 Aug. 2004                           <http://www.executiveplanet.com/business-culture-in/132161242033.html>.

Above:  The flag of Taiwan

Visits and gifts in HAWAII

 

• When visiting a home, it is considered good manners to bring a small gift (for example, a dessert) for one's host. Thus, parties are usually in the form of potlucks.

• Most locals take their shoes off before entering a home, with haole (caucasian) residents being the occasional exception. A shoe rack on the porch or footwear left outside a doorway of a residence indicate that shoes should be removed.

• The offering of food is related to the gift-giving culture. The pidgin phrases "Make plate" or "Take plate" are common in gatherings of friends or family that follow a potluck format. It is considered good manners to "make plate", literally making a plate of food from the available spread to take home, or "take plate", literally taking a plate the host of the party (or the aunties running the kitchen) has made of the available spread for easy left-overs. It is gracious to take the plate, or make a small plate, even if you don't intend to eat it. In part, this tradition is related to clean-up, being a good guest by not leaving the mass of left-overs at the party-throwers house and making them alone responsible for clean up. In more recent times, this has also evolved into donating your left-overs to the homeless population, especially if you're having a get-together at a public park or similar location, as it is likely there is a homeless population living nearby as well.

• It is considered thoughtful to bring back gifts from a trip for friends and family. Some people use the Japanese name for such gifts, omiyage. Others use the Hawaiian word, "makana" or the Samoan term "oso." Gifts of special foods unavailable outside the region visited are particularly appropriate. For example, Krispy Kreme is not available on the island of Oahu (a location on Maui opened recently), and many people, when going to Maui or, very commonly, Las Vegas, bring back a box or two for their family members to show respect. Conversely, locals traveling abroad will take foods from Hawai'i to friends/relatives where local foods are unavailable

• If someone has given you gift items or has done a service for you (helping with a lu'au, family gatherings) without asking for repayment, it is always wise and of good upbringing to at least give them something in return or offer them money. When it comes to money in particular, people play "hot potato" and refuse to accept the money. However, the main idea is that you at least offer. Many locals don't always like to feel as if they're taking and will always return the favor of giving with giving. When someone outright refuses to accept your donation, some locals will make it a personal challenge to make sure this person is repaid by slyly hiding the money in the other person's belongings and making sure they are out of sight as to not be given anything back. In that case, it is best just to keep the form of repayment and be sure to do something special for the person the next time you see them.