Philippines

PLDT SMTP server.

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Man this is the best kept secret in the entire telecoms industry … I've been trying to send email through PLDT's SMTP servers as I'm a broadband customer of theirs, and my normal SMTP server wasn't working. I needed to get an email out, and I was getting a little desperate. So apparently the published … Read more

Strange SmartBro URL hijacking

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I'm at a loss to explain this unless SmartBro's DNS or proxy servers have been taken over. Here's the deal. I'm surfing normally, and then suddenly I try to go to a normal site (economist.com, yahoo.com, facebook.com, google. com, iptools.com etc) and instead of getting the correct page, I get a weird spammy advertising page, even though the URL in the Address bar looks correct.

The image to the right is an example. Click on the image to get a full sized view. I have more examples saved if anyone is interested.

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Bunch of Yahoos.

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Don't do it ...
Don't do it ...

I'm continually startled by the way people use email in the Philippines. Using a Yahoo address is phenomenally popular, even for business. I could forgive a mom and pop company from using [email protected], but when you get top management handing you cards saying [email protected] there is something clearly very wrong.

In no particular order, here are a few reasons why you should NOT use yahoo for your business email address.

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Oh the horror.

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This is the ultimate breakage: a breakage in the beer chain! In a country where cheap beer is a lifeline out of the inefficiency and brokenness, the danger of an interruption in the beer supply cannot be overestimated. Nevertheless I've been noticing dwindling supplies of bottled San Miguel Beer in Manila over the last few … Read more

ID Badge solution

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Not sure if I've ranted about ID cards in the Philippines yet. Seems like every building you go into, you have to leave a photo ID and sign in. I hate leaving my passport with them, but that's the only photo ID I have. I normally try and argue my way in. Once I left … Read more