Pinoys and Elevators

Jaye and I started with one observation about Pinoys and elevators. Having been to other countries, we can't help but compare how us Pinoys have unusual quirks when it comes to using elevators especially from office buildings. After making one observation, we started observing things more closely and came up with the following:

How come Pinoys press the buttons even if it’s already activated? Ganun ba kasigurista mga Pinoy?

How come Pinoys do this Indiana Jones-like scene where they would sprint towards a closing elevator door and lunge forwards to keep it from closing as if a serial killer was chasing them.

How come Pinoys who enter elevators also enter this parallel world where everything is the opposite? If you ask them to hold the door open, they will close it. If they get an alarm that the elevator is full, they still force themselves into the elevator (but more quietly this time… baka nga naman di mahalata ni manong elevator).

How come Pinoys treat elevators like MRT’s during lunch breaks? Kahit puno na yung elevator, they would still force themselves in like that scene in 300 with the Persians on the cliff.

How come Pinoys panic so much when the elevator sends out an alarm that the door has been kept open for too long? “Ayan kasya pa… *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*… “AAAYYYY!!!!! DALI!!! DALI!!!”

How come Pinoys ask if it’s going up when there’s a big up arrow on the side that’s blinking? If you point to the blinking arrow they'll tell you you're rude. So? It's better to be rude than stupid.

How come Pinoys are absolutely terrified when elevators creak, bangs or make unusual movements? It's like a vertical moving jeepney: it creaks and sputters but it will take you there.

How come Pinoys never talk to the operator over the intercom if they are asked if everything is ok? "M'am? m'am? Ok po ba kayo dyan? M'am?... *deadma*"

How come Pinoys never go to the back of the elevator?

How come Pinoys, especially a group of friends would only ride elevators all or nothing? If they’re a group of 6 and the elevator can only hold 5, no one gets on.

How come Pinoys don’t wrap up their conversations with someone who’s getting off a floor? “Ay oo, kumain kami kanina sa Mc… *door closed*”

How come Pinoys continue their conversations with someone who’s getting off a floor by holding the door (even with other people in the elevator)?

When an elevator stops on a certain floor, how come Pinoys still press the open door button? They also press the close door button while the door is still opening. Yep, every second counts.

How come Pinoys talk very loudly in elevators?

How come Pinoys continue phone conversations inside elevators then would be surprised if their conversation gets cut then finally, blames their service provider for such crappy service.

In a full elevator, how come Pinoys never ask someone else to push the button for their floor? They would try to reach around a couple of people to press the button for their floor ala plastic man. Oh right, note that the button is already pressed. Again, they just want to make sure.

How come Pinays would stand so close to the elevator buttons that it’s impossible to press the buttons without brushing against… you know. Yeah, I’ll just catch for the round trip. Baka kung ano pa mapindot ko.