Filipino time

Typical scenario: intended meeting time is scheduled 9 o'clock but people arrive minutes, if not hours late. Organized events would say that the planned actual time (wise move); yet people will still trickle in behind schedule. This chronic habit is what we call Filipino Time, the thwarting tardiness amongst Filipinos, which entails unnecessary waiting - something I am, as well as other people, (I suppose) are impatient for.
Why is this phenomenon pervasive? Is this a trend or an obvious indication of complacency? Considering the two concepts of time, the Eastern notion of time is circular or spiral - implying continuity and 'second chances', that we incessantly commit slip-ups until we learn. On the other hand, the Western concept of time is linear - 'once time passed, it is gone forever', it visions life as a succession of quandaries and also involves overlooked opportunities, errors, etc. We are geographically located at the east, yet we are heavily westernized due to Spanish occupation and strong American influence. Plus consider our laid-back passive-aggression culture due to colonialism. And since traffic is notorious over the years, we have imbibed and translated this Bahala Na attitude and 'we'll-get-there-when-we-get-there' mentality on a daily basis action. Problematic.
Being "Fashionably Late" and pa-importante. I do not know why people are into this. Is it because they feel that if they are strictly needed/wanted, they would be found; that people are greatly preoccupied with something (chitchatting, IM, texting, etc), or for the reason of that they want a 'dramatic entrance'? The answer I do not know, but these prove thoughtlessness and inconsideration to others. Normally, when one comes late, most of us would just shrug it off. Talk about seeing a problem but not having it addressed.
The key to this is simple - Awareness. Being aware that the time we have is God's gift, it is our task to demonstrate our gratitude for this endowment by making the most of our time, being on time, and valuing or respecting the time of others. As what Cesar Montufar, an Ecuadorian Colonel said, "He who is late steals time from another."
My message is purely simple: Be on time and do not waste your time and anyone's time. Promptness is an indicator of soaring ambition and driven aspiration. Attest that we Filipinos are not flagrantly inconsiderate. It's now time for setting Filipino time right on the exact dot.