Why Can’t WiFi be Free in Manila?

When I was in Manila in June of this year, I had my Compaq laptop with me thinking I can just chill in cafes in the city and surf the Internet via WiFi. I was dead wrong. It costs P100 at Starbucks for 60 lame minutes! It’s a shame that everything that I wanted to do in Manila cost me something and it’s not even cheap! Parking in particular was expensive. I dunno. It’s either Manila just got ridiculously expensive or I’m dirt poor. To think I’m not exactly the thrifty type.

Comparatively, Davao City has a long way to go in terms of development. It’s a bit tricky to do business in the city. There’s this thing called the “Davao fad mentality” where businesses thrive only when they’re a few months old and eventually fade away until they close down. It’s different in Manila because every time I hang out in Makati, all the restaurants and bars are packed! Here, restaurants make money only in the weekends. But the cool thing about Davao is that WiFi is free everywhere. I just need to buy a cup of coffee and I’m good to go. I guess one reason for that is there is no B2B WiFi service available here such WiZ and Airborne Access. And I doubt that Davaoenos will ever bite WiFi for pay.

Update: I’m wrong. WiZ is already being used by several establishments but is offered free.

Here’s a list of free WiFi hotspots in Davao City:

Apo View Hotel
J. Camus St.

Basti’s Brew
Victoria Plaza, JP Laurel Ave.

Blugre Coffee
LandCo Building, JP Laurel Ave.

Bo’s Coffee
Metro Lifestyle, F. Torres St.

Casa Leticia (Hotel)
J. Camus St.

Davao International Airport
Sasa

Figaro
Sales St.

Formula Pete’s
Wheels n More Compound, JP Laurel Ave.

First Floor of Gaisano Mall of Davao
JP Laurel Ave.

Grand Regal Hotel
JP Laurel Ave.

K1
F. Torres St.

Karl’s Koffee Korner
SM City of Davao Branch
Quimpo Boulevard, Matina

Kasagingan Coffee Shop
F. Torres St.

Marco Polo Hotel
Cor. CM Recto and Roxas Sts.

Matina Town Square (MTS)
McArthur Highway, Matina
(6 pm onwards only)

NCCC Mall of Davao
McArthur Highway, Matina

Royal Mandaya Hotel
Palma Gil St.

Waterfront Hotel
Lanang

If you know more, please leave a comment. Thanks.

7 comments

  1. I was thinking of another person I know who lives in Apo View. Hehe. Hi Macky! If you need help with your site just send me a note.

  2. WiGOspot Locations:

    # Bel-Air Village, Brgy. Park, Makati City
    # LKG Tower Food Odyssey, Makati
    # National Library, Manila
    # PBCOM Tower – Food Patio, Makati
    # Power Plant Mall, Makati
    – Block 9
    – P1 – Concourse Level
    – R2 – Level 2
    – R3 – Level 3
    # Shakey’s Rada – Jaycem Bldg, Makati

  3. i am not sure about nccc. the only place where i got an internet connection there was at discovery-3rd floor and only for a short time. Jolibee and Chowking both at NCCC Mall? NADA! Why do they advertise that it is a wifi zone–the mall i mean when you can’t even get a connection in the first floor. Bos Cafe is another story because if you connect to their electric ports to use the internet then you have to pay minimum of P300 consumable.

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