Bumibili ng Sirang SIM (Part II)

(Sequel to Bakal! Bote! Dyaryo! SIM!)

I found an old SIM among my accumulated junk in my office table's bottom-most drawer - my drawer "basement" or "bodega" if you will.

I tried out the SIM - "No Carrier...", my phone reported. This must have been a SIM which lost it's signal when I upgraded my SIM for the bigger phonebook and message storage. That P200+ SIM upgrade was a mistake. I didn't realize that my next and current phone, the Smart Amazing Phone, would solve my need for a bigger address book.

So, this morning I decided to sell this old SIM. I wasn't after the extra cash. I just wanted to further investigate this Bumibili ng Sirang SIM phenomenon.

I approached one stall with the Sirang SIM sign beneath the Boni-MRT station. I showed the teenage girl my SIM. She clarified the rates and told me my SIM was only worth P20 and not P30 because it wasn't a Globe 64k SIM.

This morning's prevailing rates were:
P30 for a Globe 64k SIM
P20 for other Globe SIMs
P20 for Smart and Talk n Text
P10 for Sun Cellular

When asked how many SIMs she buys per week, she said it varies from 10-30 SIMs per week. There are days that she isn't able to buy any SIM. I asked her what she does with the SIM, she was naturally hesitant to tell me. She just shrugged her shoulders saying she just gives it to her amo.

I approached another Bumibili lady in her 40s. This lady was a bit more open than the first. She gave me info that should have been a trade secret. She said she'd have the re-purchased SIMs SIM-Swapped at the nearby McDo. "Pa-isa-isa lang para 'di halata".

So, I gave her a nod of approval, and walked away.

I'll SIM Swap my SIM myself, thank you. Then I'll have my free ice cream sundae and eat it too. Ü

- edwin
June 3