⌛ Local habits

I have owned an Apple iPhone since they first came out in 2007.
I moved here 10 months ago and upgraded my iPhone to a 3G and bought a new 3G for my wife.
The iPhones work great everywhere in the world, but I am mystified as to it's use here.
Can anyone explain to me why, when my wife answers a call, she turns it on speakerphone, then holds it about a foot from her head and yells into it.
Nomatter how many times I explain that this is not necessary, she continues to do it.
It is just a phone......like any other regular phone......and I notice that friends and neighbors do the same thing.
I guess it's like "lip pointing"

 

Maybe they can't hear it unless it's on speakerphone?

 

Maybe it's genetic...we haven't had any similar issues with ours in Bacolod....