Cell Phone in the Philippines?

I would like to first thank everyone for responding to my previous post. I got lots of great advice and am going to take it with me and put it to good use.

My next question is...

I am going to the Philippines the first 2 weeks of April. I wanted to know what people thought about the idea of getting a cell phone for the time I am there. Do they have pay as you go cell phones there kind of like a Trac Phone here in the States? If so what is a good one to get and where would I get one from? Should I buy when I get there or before I get there or should I even get one at all??? Would I be able to order it off of the internet and have it sent here so I would have it when I land?

The reason I am thinking about getting one is because my Girlfriend is flying there about a week before me and she is going to be picking me up at the airport. I am a little nervous about not finding her and also if I get seperated from her and get lost I could give her a call. She is going to have her brothers cell phone to use. Or do you think I am worrying about it too much, which I tend to do quite often. lol

Thanks again... I can't wait to go

The Philippines uses the same GSM mobile communications system used in the almost every other country. You can just buy any old GSM phone, get a pre-paid SIM card from a 7-Eleven upon arrival and be up and running straight away. You could pick up a used phone when you arrive (a cheap one could be just a couple of thousand Pesos), or bring one with you. For example, I'm using my Thai cellphone in the UK right now, all I needed to get was the UK SIM card, put it in my Thai phone and hey presto, I have a working UK number. I can effectively use my GSM phone in any country, even on CDMA networks in the USA and Japan. See: SIM cards

Thanks for the advice. I think I will just get one when I get there for cheap then get a sim card at the local 7 eleven.

I am getting really excited... I will be there in about 3 weeks, I can't wait.

This is a very worthwhile thread, too bad it isn't in a "must read" section. Newbies should by a cheap 1300 to 1800 peso cell phone, get a sim card and buy their load as they go. Keep it for the next time you come back if you think you will be back in a reasonable time period.

If not, make her happy and give it away. What, 30 or 40 bucks, maybe? Now, if you really want to make her happy, get a nicer one to give. Nothing says "I love you" like a cell phone. She may not keep it. She may give it to her sister, brother, mom, tita or lolo. But it is all good, to quote a member here.

Note, if she's in a metro area and rides a jeepney regularly, a very nice cell phone is an invitation to be robbed. My wife owns two, one nice, one cheap. I simply hide mine under my pot belly which makes it very hard to nick without getting my attention.