The coffee shop culture in the Philippines is a pretty controversial topic for many Filipinos, especially after a Scottish vlogger criticized them.
In the U.S. and other countries, many people are also going to coffee shops to read, work, and study. However, unlike in developed nations-where people can buy more than one coffee-it is quite different in the Philippines.
This photo taken on June 2, 2022 shows Sharon Angeles, a relative of a victim, working at the Silingan Cafe, a coffee shop devoted to remembering victims of the drug war, in Quezon City, suburban Manila.
This is because many Filipinos tend to purchase just one coffee of their choice and then spend two or more hours working or studying at the cafe.
But, is it really okay to make this a practice? Here's what Filipinos say.
Is It Okay To Buy One Coffee Then Stay At Cafe for Hours?
Recently, Dale Philip, a popular Scottish vlogger posting about the Philippines, faced criticisms after he criticized the habit of Filipinos of purchasing one coffee drink and utilizing the cafe's electricity, internet, etc., for hours.
He complained about how Filipinos make coffee shops, including small cafes, their own work offices or study areas. This wasn't taken by Philippine citizens.
"I would hate to have a business where people just come and use it as their personal office, use your WiFi and electricity, and buy like one coffee," said the vlogger via Manila Bulletin.
"Look at all these guys with their laptops just sitting, using it as their personal office. I would hate that," he added.
After watching the viral video of Dale Philip, many Filipino netizens bashed him. Some of them said that the Scottish vlogger has no right to criticize the coffee shop culture in the Philippines since he's just a foreigner.
Others said that it's okay to use all the amenities as long as Filipino customers order something at coffee shops. Netizens also argued that Starbucks and other popular coffee shops tend to have corporate marketing strategies, meaning their target consumers are employees and students.
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Filipinos Also Against Buying Only One Coffee and Stay for Hours
A coffee shop employe walks past a display showing the Tagalog language version of social networking site facebook in Manila on May 15, 2012. Facebook may be the year's hottest stock issue -- but try getting a piece of it.
To clarify things, Filipinos who criticize Dale Philip don't support those who only purchase one coffee and then work or study at cafes for more than two hours.
What they are saying is that it's okay to stay at coffee shops for more than two hours as long as you purchase other products or more coffee as well.
This was noticeable after Beans & Bones co-owner Lee Bueno, a Filipino sales manager, complained about the coffee shop culture in the Filipinos.
"Despite several reminders from our baristas which was a hard thing for them to do because they didn't want them to feel embarrassed, they still continued to stay for longer hours without purchasing any additional order," said Lee Bueno via his official Facebook post.
To make matters worse, his customers even bought outside food in their cafe. Bueno said that this is not the first time it happened at his coffee shop.
Many Filipino netizens sympathized with the coffee shop owner. In the comment section, some of them suggested cutting the free wifi and limiting electrical outlets in one area to discourage people from taking advantage of their amenities.
Others said that there are apps that can limit the use of free wifi to one to two hours. Netizens also said that implementing new guidelines, such as requiring customers to have a certain purchase amount when staying for two hours or longer, would help the coffee business.
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