Budget Friendly Roaming Calls in the Philippines
How to keep Phone Bills Lows with Local SIM and Google Number (Travel Tip #05)
How do you keep phone expenses low while traveling to the Philippines? Well, it depends on who you have to call and what you need your phone for. In this post, I will share how I minimized phone bills for internet connection, local and international calls but still enjoyed additional benefits (like Apple Watch and Internet connectivity).
I just bought an Apple Watch before I travelled to the Philippines on September 2022. Ting Mobile, my US carrier, did not offer eSIMs that will enable my cellphone to connect to my iPhone. Does a Philippine phone company offer eSIMS and Apple Watch connectivity? Globe Telecom does for its postpaid phone. I decided to get one the moment I land in Manila.
Note: If you want Philippine SIM cards to work with your current phone, make sure it is “unlocked” or not tied to your phone carrier. Call your phone service center to ask if you can unlock your phone. If not, you need to buy an unlocked phone.
From Pre-Paid to Post Paid
I bought a Globe prepaid SIM card from eBay before traveling to the Philippines. I installed it on my phone while my airplane was landing in Manila and it immediately worked. However, I still have to convert it into a post paid account to:
get an eSIM that will connect my phone to my Apple watch
get loads of internet connectivity (just in case I have spotty WiFi while doing work conference calls)
ability to have unlimited local land line calls
unlimited mobile and text messaging
I went to a Globe store in Robinson Galleria and applied for a post-paid plan. I got the 999-peso plan that had a lot of GB for internet and other perks, As it turned out, my friends’ and relatives’ WiFi were reliable; I was not able to use all that GB. A 599-peso plan should had sufficed. Anyway, to apply for a post plan, you can use your foreign passport if you do not have any Philippine ID. After a few days, Globe told me they are ready to install my eSIM. I did not have to go to the Galleria Mall where I applied. I can go to another store in Metro Manila. So I went to the SM Megamall branch where I waited for at least an hour before they installed the eSIM.
Isn’t Post Paid More Expensive than PrePaid?
Yes, post paid phone plans are more expensive. Remember, I wanted my Apple Watch to work. And it did! I was able to receive and answer calls with my watch! Moreover, it worked also in the US even though I was receiving calls with my US number. The eSIM made it work! I also needed my Philippine number to work in the US so I can receive bank text messages, so I maintained the 999-peso plan for 12 months as stated in the contract. Right after its one year anniversary, I switched to Globe Plan Zero (a misnomer) which maintains the number for only 50 pesos per month. This is a relatively unknown Globe plan that I luckily stumbled upon in an old Reddit post. Now my maintenance fee for receiving text while away from the Philippines is much cheaper.
Use Google Voice to Call North America for Free
But what about calls to the USA or Canada? Well, I use Google Voice and call for free using WiFi. The person or company you are calling will see a US phone number and not your Philippine number. Here’s how to do it while you are still in the USA:
go to Google Voice and log-in using your Gmail or Google account
on the upper right, click on “setting” to see the screen above
either get a new number or port your number (I got a new number)
download the Google Voice app to your phone so you’ll be able to call using your mobile device
What about you? Who do you need to call? If you will only call people within the Philippines, make sure you “unlock” your phone then get a local SIM card. If you want to activate your Apple Watch like me, then you need a post-paid Globe account. If you need Internet connectivity (they call it “data” in the Philippines) consider both prepaid and postpaid plans. And if you need to call the USA or Canada, get a Google Voice number. Next, we’ll talk about food and how to maintain a low-carb diet while eating at a carb-filled Filipino table.