the truths.

i was told that the japanese have two truths:

public truth and private truth.

a public truth is something that they will tell you because that is what you want to hear.

a private truth is something that they know is true but they will not tell you because that is not what you want to hear or that it is in contrast to what you believe it. 

telling a public truth does not necessarily constitute lying. similary, keeping a private truth is not also lying. it's a way of saving face and keeping a good relationship. 

I thik we filipinos also have that concept although it remains unnamed. In the office i also do not tell my japanese bosses that their filipino counterparts don't like them because that will ruin the relationship. I just suggest to them what their filipino counterparts think is better, the way that it will sound really good. 

i am also afraid of lying hence, this concept of public and private truths is very convenient for me. When i lie, or when i plan to lie, it usually takes me about an hour or two to make a script and practice it so i cna deliver it well.

right now, the jappy is talking to another jappy (the big boss) over the phone. the big jappy is in japan. the smaller jappy is here, in our little dusty cubicle in the philippines. 

usually, an angry filipino boss would come shouting to the subordinate over the phone and the subordinate would usually be left speechless, except for the sporadic "sorry" or "yes". but the little jappy is allowed to talk. and he talks. right now. 

so i presume big jappy is talking public truths to him. 

after 15 minutes they are done talking.

little jappy approaches me and tells me about their project in mindanao.

i tell him they have to pay me for hearing him out about other projects because my TOR is only for this project. he laughs.

and tells me about work.

public truths are very nice concepts.