Why TEXTING is so popular in the Philippines?

Philippines
October 9, 2008 5:24pm CST
Ever wonder why texting (sending SMS) is very popular in the Philippines? Well, I'm just listening over radio stations and find out that it seems a lot of people are looking for textmates. Are you fun of having one too? Me, I just send message towards my buddies only if I have important matters to discuss or to a close friend whom I've never get in touch for a short or long period of time, but I never replied to someone whom I never known. For some, they consider it a hobby. That is why maybe, there are couples nowadays always get into trouble with their relationship because of this kind of stuff. You there? Are you fun of having textmates?
1 person likes this
17 responses
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
9 Oct 08
you can tex 10 or more people all at the same time while you can call only one person at a time. that would not be a lot of fun lol. texting is more practical for call can suck up your load so fast. texting is more afforcable than calling. specially if your sim is for buying loud and not like the business man uses.
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
i dont text people i dont know. i answer at once when somebody text me but that is all for the people i know. plus my relatives too. i dont entertain people i dont know.... except if it is about work. so those who are seeking for textmates i am the wrong person to text.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
I once have textmates before. That is when I was first introduced by this cellphone technology, but then I realize it cost me a lot on load, I stopped. But why some people purposely looking for textmates on air?
• Philippines
9 Oct 08
i think the reason as to why majority of the people here in the philippines use txt msg a lot is because a phone call is just too expensive.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
Yeah,, basically that's the idea. Having to use SMS instead of calling. But as to what I've noticed there are some that are publishing their cellphone number on air just to have a textmate.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
we'll people who published their phone numbers just for the sake of finding a txtmate are what we call lonely fellas. god knows I'm lonely too haha
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
I just read from the news that we sent as much as 2 billion text messages per day. That is amazing. My cousin can send as much as 4000 text messages a day because of the unlimited promo of sun cellular. Even her classmates sent as much. There was a time I was hooked too but not now that I have a steady job and it is not allowed here at work.
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
Really got addicted to text messaging. Well, nothing to loose anyway. Somehow its one way of social networking. I can't even think of sending even hundred of messages, wow, they're really into it.
@chris1314 (784)
10 Oct 08
I dont think its just there where everyone is mad at texting. Over here (UK) i know textiong is massive, with an average of 16 texts per person a day! i send 30-40 a day, and nearly everyone i know does, even my mum and dad! I think the whole world is a bit text mad, especially with all the new cheap tarrifs, now for £20 / $40 you can have unlimited texts to any number, and time, every month! So for 20 pound a month, people can be glued to their phones for 24 hour a day! Chris
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
Wow, you mean you can avail unlimited text to any network in your country? How I wish we have unlimited inter network messaging here too. We only have unlimited text messaging with the same network. Yours is very cool.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
i guess texting is so popular here in the philippines because filipinos value relationships a lot and one way of communicating with loved ones is through the use of cellphones. a lot of people are idle too so they entertain themselves using their mobile phones.
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
In one way or the other, our tradition will play a role sometimes, even at the point when we think its out of the way. In our way of life, text messaging plays the role of the thread that binds people together and fill the gap that bridges distance towards family members.
@nlcapricorn (1114)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
In the world of those people who cant hear and talk if they will say people using cellphone by text they will ask if he is deaf. But its not because texting is cheaper than making a call. So that is why in the philippines it is usual. Childrens, mothers and fathers, our grandma and grandpa..most of us loves to text than call..because we cant afford to always call rather than text. I will just make a call if i do want to hear their voice because i miss them so much but most of the time i will always do texting..lol
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
Very true. I remember when I first step up in college, that was the time where cellphone is at its height. Other universities prohibited the use of cellphone inside the classroom, nevertheless they want it to be turned off during class hours. In my school, cellphone is considered a necessity, almost everybody has it and we can just switch it to silent mode to be able to use it while inside the class -- important matters of course.
@rsa101 (37933)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
Well I guess texting is almost instantaneous and the most affordable at the moment. I too was hooked by it especially when I worked here in Manila. The only link I have was thru texting. It is very mobile that is why where ever I am my love ones always know where I am. There even came a time that texting was given for free before. I have seen that many has taken advantage of that.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
Me either. It's the easiest way of communicating people at home for me. I don't usually make a call not unless there's an emergency situation.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
10 Oct 08
A fad is a fad is a fad, that's all. I don't think its more than that. We all have these fads and I suppose texting can be very popular. Its very popular in Trinidad. People here text all the time although I've never heard about texting partners before.
@pehpot (4762)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
I was also amazed by the reason why text messaging is very popular here in our country. As for me, I am not into text mates, I actually seldom send text messages to my friends, I prefer calling when I have something to tell them.
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
Wow, it seems you've got plenty of credits. Me, I seldom call, unless I avail the sun cellulars promo. Often times, I don't really text that much nor even call, I'm just waiting for someone to do it.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
like what everyone posted here its cheap to text than to call.
• Philippines
9 Oct 08
Hi there. I don't usually accept textmates, unless I've met them in person or through a friend. I usually just text my circle of friends and some people whom I have something to discuss with. As to your question about why texting is so popular in the Philippines, well, I think part of it is because texting is relatively cheaper than placing a phone call (though, we all know that in some countries, the SMS feature comes free with mobile phone plans). Also, as opposed to making calls using a landline, texting allows you to keep in touch with people virtually anywhere (where there is a signal). I also think that Filipinos are fanatics in nature so, when a fad is started, we usually go all out.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
Yeah, that's basically true. We are really fanatic in nature. Our attitudes sometimes can be compared that to a child. We are great imitators. Also I considered that texting is economical than placing call, but there are some who just in one way or another makes texting a hobby. They even print their numbers in publications just to attract attention to other texters.
1 person likes this
@warrior_777 (1392)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
Texting is very popular here in the Philippines because of the charges that are much cheaper than calling. And we can express more our feelings through texting because we can send personalize messages and graphics. We can also compose just one message and can forward to all our friends. Also a money and time saving way to communicate..
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
Yeah, very true. A lot cheaper than putting call. I wish they could lower it down to .50 cents per messages, 1 peso is still a bit costly specially when you only have a couple of letters to make. I mean, only a short reply.
@mayrah (1144)
• United States
10 Oct 08
According to statistics Philippines is text capital of the world. A lot of my friends used to send me never ending forwarded inspiring quotes. I don't have habit of wasting time on that stuff. but I used to send messages or quotes when I need it or when I mean to do such. It's when I want to comfort my depressed friend or when I need to say something important to a particular person. But I remember before, when I was new in using cellphone, I used to have textmate also.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
Yeah, I send quotations too. I love sending love quotes and inspirational quotes. I also got textmates way back then, but I stopped when it cost me a lot. My phone is simply for friends and family.
10 Oct 08
Your topic reminds me a Chinese film named "CELLPHONE", which shows some funny stories caused by our phones. The leading role is a famous compere in a local TV. His veiled himself as a honest man in public but in fact he is a big lier. He had an affair with a young beautiful woman. When the woman date him through cell phone, he cheated his wife that he has a urgent meeting to participate. When he enjoy a time with his lover, he called to his wife and said that he was paying a business trip to another city. Finally, the video of his scandal was publicized on the internet by a peerer who recorded the scene by a cellphone. My point is we should use our cell phone in less frequency even our life is becoming more and more reliable to this easy communication way. Phone is just a equipment but not a friend. In some way, phone is a bomb. The more you trust it, the fast you will die.
@tikei18 (359)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
I don't have textmates that i don't know. my only textmates are my friends and family. You can use the phone to talk to someone only one at a time compared in texting.
@zeroflashx2 (2491)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
I think it's really in our nature as Filipinos to always go with flow especially when there's something new. I remember around 7 years ago when text messaging started to become popular. Most probably, it was also heightened the the cell phone models. To a number of people, if you have a better phone model, you're in. Text messaging became really popular and almost everyone have cell phones. It's easy and you can send multiple messages/forward messages that was sent to you to other people as well. And yes, text messages are saved on the phone and it can be proof of anything. I've seen one in the office where my friend who is a married man got involved with another one of my friends who was a married woman and he was caught by his wife. I don't condone that kind of relationship especially since they both have kids and they're both living with their spouses. They've sent sweet text messages and they got caught. I like having textmates before though but now, I just send text messages if they are important and it still costs a lot if you send messages everyday. Take care.
@meticulo (1286)
• United States
10 Oct 08
It's definitely one of the easiest, cheapest, fastest way of communicating with our loveones. Filipino's really have that by nature trait of treasuring relationships that even if we are busy we really find time to greet or inform our significant others, friends, family, relatives about what's happening with our lives. And texting made it easier for us to do all these. Apparently, there are also disadvantages of texting. As what you have said, couples get into trouble because of this. Because of easy accessibility to other cellphone users. Wherein if you just know the number of a certain person, you can communicate right away. One thing is that it can cause some driving accidents. Others use it to exploit other people by sending negative issues and wrong informations to many people. It can be done easily because of unlimited texting offers. But anyway, theres always a pro and cons in every situation. Maybe we just have to make use of texting in a right manner and in a right way. Happy texting!