Monday the 9th of January Mayang and my daughter Hanna went to the Globe Office to pay our monthly phone bill on our plans. Low and behold we had been such good customers that we were blessed with a brand new phone for FREE! When she got home she had in her hand, a brand new Samsung Galaxy Y pro B5510 (TOUCH SCREEN fancy dancey high tech jobber do).
She was using a Nokia 6730 Classic, while I have a Nokia 6600 Slide phone that I used to go on line with for three years because it was a 3G phone, until I found the Globe Super Stick Dongle (I still love that word, thanks Bob!) which has been great for internet connection.
Four months ago our Daughter in Singapore upgraded her phone to the I-Phone 4, and sent her other phone to Mayang which is the Samsung Omnia II (Touch Screen High Tech Jabber Wonky type phone.
So there I sit, with baited breath wondering which phone I will be blessed with. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a jungle bolo. Then after much thought by Mayang I was handed her old Nokia 6730 Classic, and was damn lucky to get it.
Hold on champ, whoa Nelly, what is this all about? No high tech touch screen phone for Paul? Nay not so, was the reply from House Commander. She said; “Honey-K0 you fight the simple phones and I know you don’t want to deal with all these buttons and functions, debar?” True enough, but you could have offered one to me I was thinking to myself.
Now the shocking part, unlike my wife, when I replace something that has worked long and hard on my behalf; I pass it on to a family member that has a need for it. There is a drawer in the china cabinet that has no less than seven of her old (Still working) phones
There in the middle of all this phone intrigue is my granddaughter Heather Colleen, I asked her if she wanted my Nokia Slide phone, and she could have it if she passed her old phone to a cousin that didn’t have one. She agreed, and it came to pass. I failed with the older generations, but I might succeed with this new one.
Then the problem with my new old phone arose, the power saver is on, and six times through the instruction book I can’t locate the part on how to turn it off. It must be off to make the screen light up for 90 seconds vice the 5 it does now, try texting when your screen goes black every 5 seconds. Note; the book does explain that pertinent fact to me, but offers no solution to the problem. I have the phone and ring volume at the max, and can hear the phone very well. I can’t tell you the amount of missed calls I had with my old Slide phone. And yes I read the instruction manual.
I also need that light feature to get me down the stairs in the morning to find the light switches. No I don’t need a cane yet! Thirty five years on ships has taken its toll on both hearing and vision and I guess advancing age.
Then my Son-in-law Chris stopped by, and within a few moments shut off the power saver somehow, he asked me if I would like him to show me how it’s done? I replied; “No thanks, I know you’ll out live me and you can fix it the next time too.”
Now here is the burning question, why if I’m the one to have the larger phone bill for the last three years, was my wife the one to receive the new phone. Or (Speculation only) were we both eligible to receive an upgrade and someone (Offering no names) opted to combined them both in exchange for one Touch Screen High Tech Phone? Hmmm…
It gives me pause and makes me wonder, but the truth is I really don’t care, because if Mayang is happy, then it just stands to reason that my life will become happy, and that’s really the goal, isn’t it? Call me; my number is BR-549 (if you have to ask you’re very young!)
Bad news. I know who’s phone number that is.
Mike;
Then you’re no youngster and a fan of Buck and Roy!
BTW: Bad news for whom? (lol)
Ha ha, lol, what an episode Paul.
No wonder you missed calls on your old phone, you had the “trouser vibrator” switched on,lol. I tried it too, also missed calls, switched back to the ringer.
Someone told me you have to be aware of the new all singing, dancing phones.
Apparantly if you leave Data roaming switched on the mobile network it eats load, you only get free Data roaming if its picking up signal from WiFi. I would check that out with someone more knowledgeable.
Last year i bought a 3 month old Blackberry phone, very cheap, off a guy who was desperately broke. The damn keyboard was that small, i would have to be a midget with tiny fingers and binoculars to use it,lol. Kids love them, so i sold it on Ebay and made a tidy profit. I’ll stick to my old faithful flip top Motorola, does everything i need, anything else can be done on the PC.
Take care,
Have fun,
Chas.
Chas;
I read in the back of magazines about this cell phone that has huge buttons, is very loud and all it does is call or text, nothing else! It’s made for the geriatric sect.
After I went back to the fairly simple Nokia I found that Mayang was right, with all those tiny buttons, there was noway I’d be able to use that type like she has.
Yup! it was originally used on Hee Haw, and it was used as a phone number, too; plus…
it is the name of a great Alt. Country band originally based in Nashville, TN, too. (www.br5-49.com)
Greg;
I never heard of the band but I will look it up. Hee Haw was one of the ways I started to like Country Music.
Paul,
I remember them days of my youth. As a result of watching them girls pop up in the cornfields I was a pickin and a grinnin. Mom was wrong you won’t go blind!!
Neal;
Daisy Mae’s popping up in a cornfield, that brings back fond memories. I drove through Nebraska one time and was very disapointed!
Paul, Neal,
If it was Lulu popping out of the cornfield you wouldn’t be pickin and grinnin and you would be very disappointed lol. I’m like you Paul, i don’t need those high tech I Phones and Android Phones. As long as i can text and call thats all i need. If i need internet i’ll use the laptop. Leave those for the younger ones. Have a nice day and continue making us laugh.
Paul/P Duck
I probably got you both beat as far as simplicity, I have a T Mobile flip phone that I have to put pre-paid minutes on once in a while.
Was Lulu that fat chick that had a price tag hanging from her hat, or maybe I am confused.
Neal;
Yes Lulu was the PLUS sized lady, and Minnie Pearl wore the hat with the tags. And your phone sounds like the old folks I was talking about earlier. (lol)
Papa Duck;
You didn’t find Lulu HOT?
Pickin’ and grinnin’, she was picken’ and eatin’ the corn.
I agree about the simple cell phones, I don’t even need the cameras.
Paul: Funny about Globe… About two months ago, I had an Air 21 package show up from Globe… Rather bizarre. It seems I was made a Platinum member (Whatever that is… I think it was because I spend so much on mobile… Trust me, that you would not envy my bill).
So this pretty large box shows up, and I’m thinking, “OK, maybe they are sending me a new phone or modem or something”. What was it? A jewelry box for watches. (I gave it to Juanito so he can “park” his little toy cars in the “garage”)
Funny… After receiving the letter (and reading it), gift, and fancy card they sent, I still don’t know what a platinum membership is!
John;
We can only guess that the platinum membership means you’re special, they could have given you a discount on your monthly rate or an upgrade to a newer phone. I found out they base it on the amount of international calls you make (Which should be quite a few for you) I’m jealous, as I never got the fancy toy box from Globe!
I think I’m a Tin Member, working my way up to Brass. (lol)
Any time I need phone adjustments I imediatly look for a youngster to fix it; saves me from uttering profanities & growing more gray hair.
Loren;
As I just wait for my son-in-law! It is a good plan we have.
Hey Paul,
I called BR-549 and got Sonny’s Auto sales.
I know what you mean about keeping the wife happy. I waited in line for 4 hours just so she could have the new i-phone 4S, in white of course.
Hudson;
I’m assume it was a surprise gift for your special lady, or I’d be asking where she was while you stood in line? (lol) My daughter in Singapore has that type of phone, but she paid for it, not me.
You good men.
I wanted a phone upgrade and I used Christmas and New year for an excuse and was given a flat no for an answer. Hmmm. I must have been married too long. Perhaps Anniversary and Birthday will work. lol!
Cheers,
Alfre
Alfre;
When my father wanted something new, like tools or a car or boat, he would start griping about the old item and wouldn’t stop until my mother told him to go get the new one. But my mother always knew what he was doing, and knew by the amount of time he spent complaining, which item he really wanted. It still works for his sons.
Paul, when you figure out the answer to that burning question, please, share the info with the rest of “man”kind. I spent last year driving a ’97 Ford 1 ton 4×4 while my wife cruised around in her Mercedes, with the automatic everything. As I’ve been accused of intentionally breaking the MB, I may soon be footing the bill for a BMW which, of course, I won’t have a set of keys for(I’ve been given “interim” possession of keys to a ’98 Ford Contour, the quality-wise successor to the Pinto station wagon). Cell phones, yes, Jeanne has 8 & I was once allowed to carry one, but lost the privilege of having a 2nd when I sent my first off to Portland, somewhere in the bowels of a barge(2006). I’ve tried to trade hidden stereo & t.v. remote controls for a cell, but, no dice.
Perhaps, if you’re not too busy, you could have a club house built in Subic, one that has a big sign stating “No Girls Allowed”. We asawa’s/bana’s could buy & keep “cream of the crop” cellphones there. When we wanted to view them we could call you & use the passwords; “I’m allowed out to play, today!”(tomorrow, next Friday, etc.) Who knows, if you built a large enough clubhouse, perhaps, we could hide cars and motorbikes there, as well.
Mike;
By the time any of get the answer to the “Burning Question” we’ll be to old to care. But the club house is a great idea, I’ll ask my wife and get back to you on that.
I may be one of the very few, I have never wanted a Cell Phone until my last visit To Iligan City. I had heard about a new store that I wanted to visit, I found out I could get a name brand ” Basic ” Cell Phone for under 1000 PHP, I knew I would be surrounded by Filipino Cell Phone txt ” Pros ” that could easily ( I hoped ) teach me how to use it. I already knew about how Cell Phone usage in Ph can be easy ” pay as you go ” in the ability to buy Load just about any place and any time, no monthly account necessaary.
On my previous visits, one of my friends handled all of the txting for me and I think it was getting kind of a burden for my friend although they never complained so that was another reason I decided to learn how to do it myself.
I got to the store I wanted to go to, selected just the right phone for me at the suggestion of a friend, price was about 800 PHP. I introduced myself to the store manager and told her how I heard of their store and was invited to sit down at a table right in the middle of the Hi-Tech showroom and have coffee and conversation with the manager for about 45 minutes. This seemed like more fun than buying the Cell Phone !
An engineering student from MSU-IIT taught me how to use the Cell Phone and it really was helpful for me to have it although I primarily only used it in the hotel. The last txt I sent on it was just prior to baording my flight home from Manila to say goodnye to my friends in Iligan.
Obviously, that phone will not work here at my home in the USA so I have put it all back in the box, pre-packed in the suit case for the next visit.
For me, learning ” Cell Phone ” in The Philippines really was More Fun !
Bob;
I remember uttering those famous words; “I don’t need no stinking Cell Phone”, oh how wrong I was, when we built our house and found no access to land lines I got my first one in 1999. Then of course my wife and both teenage daughters had to have one. Then I noticed that my load ran out four times quicker than theirs. That’s when I knew I had to learn to text. All my buddies were texting and I was the last hold out. Now I’ll text quicker than I could call. Welcome to the new century Paul!
Just got me a new phone for my birthday. The asawa said lets go and get you a new phone for your birthday so I said ok. I told here that I just need a smiple phone and I ended up getting a Samsung Galaxy Y, that the same one that your asawa has but, it dose more than I need but i like it.
Keep the asawa happy and you will be happy too.
Bill;
I’ll admit it is quite the phone, and it also takes great pictures. But all those tiny buttons and my vision plus fat fingers preclude me and that phone becoming friends. But if I could I would! Enjoy the phone.
Took me 2 days to find my new phone last week…all I wanted was a PHONE! Cancel the camera, cancel the radio cancel everything contraption… but just give me a %$#@# phonE!!! I finally found it … Simplicity is beautiful !!!
Don’t be shy brian,complete” I finally found it … Simplicity is beautiful !!!” an old geezer is curious.
Brian;
The salespeople look at us like we’re crazy or behind the times. My needs are easy, I want to hear it. I want my fingers to fit the buttons. LOW BATT come fast enough without playing games, or listening to music. The KISS plan works “Keep It Simple Stupid” I live by that motto.
Hi Paul, We don’t do much texting up here in Austria, so my last trip to the Phils was a shock to me. I had the phone, I received a text. How to answer it? I tried to send a return message. All these words kept popping up on screen that I didn’t want. Got that sorted out by the young guy in the hotel. Then I couldn’t find how to capitalize anything. Had to ask for help again. Don’t you hate it when the young know more than you do?
John;
I ran into those very same problems, how do you space between word and punctuation. I don’t shorten words and do try (off times I fail) to spell correctly. But like it or not the world belongs to the young now, we’re allowed to visit.
Hi Paul,
I know android phones or smart-phones ( like the Samsung Galaxy Y that ate Mayang has, which I’ll be getting too.) has mobile speech recognition that allows you to give instructions to the phone either to text or call someone on your contact list. no need to worry about those crazy buttons. Maybe you could make ” lambing” to the wifey and ” hiram lang ” the phone for awhile to try it out. “Hiram lang” can always be extended with more lambing!
Speb Freespiritme;
Android phone? Wow is that like Star Wars R2D2 and Three CPO? I will tell you the truth, I’m so behind the times I’ll have to get my granddaughter Colleen to explain what you just told me. (LOL) Talking, Texting is my speed! Enjoy your new phone, Mayang likes hers alot!
Hi Paul, I got a “Droid” about 18 month ago, wow, what an awesome toy! It takes pictures, videos, and I can send & receive texts. I can play Angry Birds”, bowling, play Texas Holdem’ and search the web. I can even XOOM pesos to my nephews when I need to. It plays music, Youtube videos and I can save articles with the adobe app I downloaded. I also have a facebook app on it.
Sure wish I could figure out how to answer a phone call on it!!
Also, last time I was in the PI, my funny little honey wanted a new phone, she called it (or I thought I heard her say), Cherry bye-bye. So I went to the Mall in San Fernando and asked several phone clerks for a Cherry Bye-Bye, they just laughed at me.
When I got home, we were watching Big Time Wil Time, and I saw the commercial for “Cherry Mobile”. Damn, I need a friggin hearing aid! My tenitus is getting loud, very loud.
Hi Mike,
Cant help it the Cherry Bye bye got me LOL! Cherry Mobile is a local brand for mobile units and is very cheap, you can get a text and call unit for 900 pesos.
Pita Mike;
Now that you brought it up the Cherry Bye Bye phone, it is the one for me, It will ,make a call, and receive a text, and I like watching Wil Time Big Time, and the young ladies that help him on the show. Oh and they are cheap! Keep your Droids and Alien phones from Finland that have a Korean sounding name. I’m getting a Cherry Pie Bye Bye Phone!
Paul,
Cell Phones nothing today those gadgets are mini computers witha call feature.
My wife upgraded to a Samsung droid touch and had me get one to because y old flip phone was being phased out. Heck I can’t even work the darn thing so I leave on my dresser. She keeps telling me to take it but there it sits. She then askes the questions what if I need to get a hold of you or you get into an acciedent? My answer to thoses questions is simple. Hon where do I go work and home and anywhere else I tell you. Call anytie and I’ll be there. As far as an emergency their or enough cell phones out their I can ask to make a call. Besides I know all the police because their my co-workers. So their it sits collecting dust. All I need is a phone to make calls no more no less. Besides I don’t even know how to text talk about stone age.
Bruce;
When you get here buy the Cherry Pie Bye Bye Mobile phone, there cheap, and all they do is let you call or text. Sorry no fancy smancy stuff here, unless you want it.