Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Mobile phones or cellular phones, as it is more popularly called here in the Philippines, has become a very important personal commodity. Almost all people of all ages and from all walks of life own a cellular phone. Latest statistics show that there are 1.52 B mobile phone users globally. Last 2003, there were more than 22M subscribers in the Philippines alone and is projected to increase to 35M by the end of 2005. For many, mobile phones are primarily used for sending text messages. In our country, each user sends > 6 SMS/day. People text to update each other about their lives, join game shows or vote for their favorite candidates for beauty contests, singing contests or personality contests. In the business sector, the mobile phone is used to negotiate contracts; telemarketers use it to promote and sell their products. Teenagers use their mobile phones to get a date, court prospective girl/boyfriends or as a means to plan outings with friends. For us in the medical field, nurses and residents text or call us to update us about our patients, relay laboratory exams or to inform us of hospital admissions. Some medical societies also use the mobile phone to inform their members of scheduled medical conferences. Patients sometimes text us too to relay laboratory exams and sometimes to consult us (I don't allow it however in my practice because nothing can beat a good history and physical examination in the treatment of patients).

I can still remember the very first time I used a mobile phone abroad. My father was an OFW and his company gave him a mobile phone so they can easily get in touch with him anytime need him. During the 80's, as soon as school was out, we would pack our bags and spend our summers with him and would just come back several days before school starts again leaving behind our house to some relatives. I remember once, a day after we arrived, my father brought out this huge box-like thing with a handset and told us to call my Lolo in Manila to tell him we arrived safely. With huge eyes, my brother and I took turns touching the box-like thing which turned out to be a mobile phone. Back then, it was still a novelty and very expensive hence wasn't very popular.

The very first mobile phone I owned was a graduation gift (medical school) from my brother. Yes, you read it right - my brother. He was already better at money matters than I was even then. Mine was the latest, smallest phone back then and I would proudly use it inside the intern's quarters to call home every so often. I don't know if it can send SMS but I doubt it because mobile phones weren't made yet with that capability and if ever it was, I am sure, the mobile phone companies back then didn't have that service yet. I bought my first SMS capable phone when I was already on residency training, it was a dark blue Nokia 5110. Since then, I had been though three other mobile phones. Those phones have seen me thru a lot of happy and not so happy times in my life. Although I don't hold on to it like a lifeline, it has become a very important part of my life. It's like something is missing if I don't have my phone inside my bag.

Mobile phones have since evolved into what it is now and for many of us, it has become a way of life. Even our neighborhood kutcheros can be seen texting while cruising along Sta. Cruz on top of their calesas and pick pockets have now learned a new trade - mobile phone snatching. Some people would even scrimp for food just so they will have enough money to have their phones loaded to be able to text their friends. Still some would postpone buying a much needed new school shoes for their kids so that they can buy the newest camera phone in the market. I am happy that Filipinos are becoming more and more tech savvy everyday as evidenced by the millions of mobile phone subscribers. There is nothing wrong in wanting to own the latest mobile phone but if you need to sacrifice some essential things just so you can afford it then it becomes a luho which we all can do without.