Interview with Prof. Milagros Carreon-Laurel

"Interview with Prof. Milagros Carreon-Laurel,University of the Philippines.
Milagros Carreon-Laurel is Professor for English at the University of the
Philippines and is currently doing research on the development of
English(es) in SMS-exchanges among Filippinos.
Q.)Please point out some instances in which the use of cell phones in the Philippines is different from other countries.

Laurel:I have read that in some foreign countries people make more voice calls on their mobile phones than here.In countries where the writing system requires a different script or character which the phone probably does not provide for,for example,the message must first be encoded in the Roman alphabet.This would require more time than just simply making a voice call.Filipino phone users do not have a problem with this.In countries where voice calls are not so expensive,people do not mind paying a little more for the convenience.In the Philippines,texting became popular because of economic reasons.It costs only one peso to send a message,while a voice call can cost 6 pesos and more.The overseas workers,I understand,do spend a regular part of their income to buy pre-paid cards to be able to get in touch with their family through texting.Then they don't have to make expensive long-distance calls.A lot of our young kids use their cell phones in very noisy places too,like
at parties or on the bus,and by texting they can continue to talk with their friends via the mobile.And nobody else would hear what they are talking about.So apart from the fact that text messaging is cheaper,it also allows for private communication in public places.Even the person next to you won't have hear the "conversation" taking place on the phone".

[ Txting culture in the Philippines,pt 2]