MaryChristine.Me

I fell in love with the Internet for the first time sometime in 1995 when I first acquired my internet subscription from the now defunct Sequelnet. Before that, I participated in the earlier versions of online communities via BBS. While I already had a mobile phone (Motorola flip phone with the retractable antenna, anyone?), SMS was only possible within the same network at the time and mobile phones were hard to come by. At this time, I also used a pocket messaging device, more popularly known as “beepers”. Years before that, my siblings and I were addicted to the VHF two-way radios (my call sign then was Kilo Golf Bravo or KGB). But there was something about the World Wide Web that lured me much earlier than most people I knew back then.

I recall my first emails in 1996. Not knowing many email addresses then, it was always a treat to receive a notification that “You got mail”, never mind that it was a billing statement or unsolicited advertisement. Once during a computer lab class, my Brazilian seatmate Pierre Moreau sent a test message via email saying “You’re beautiful. May we invite you to our dorm after classes?” Anyone would have been excited over the content of the email, but I was more thrilled at the inbox notification of “You got mail.” I dare not mention which school and course we were attending at the time, lest he find this post after all these years. <rotfl> And lovie, my seatmate was not a love interest. No worries. <lol>

Fast forward to the year of uncertainty and vaccination status, I have separate email addresses for law firm work, consular work, personal and business matters. Emails are also synced to mobile phones and tablets for immediate access across all my devices. Some emails are aggregated into one mailbox for efficiency. But this is not all that Internet is for.

We use the net for messaging, maintaining an online presence in various platforms, shopping, entertainment and more recently, for completing more work online. Online tax returns and payments have been around for some time now, but the periodic lockdowns prompted the implementation of more online tools and options at government agencies. We now have the SEC’s Online Submission Tool for companies’ annual reportorial requirements, the IPO’s eServices for online applications of intellectual property registrations, the Department of Labor’s email submission of requirements for Alien Employment Permits, the PEZA’s electronic submission of requirements for special visa applications, and court hearings via video conferencing apps.

And shopping! Where do I begin?? The usual portals are presumed, so there’s no need to go into more detail there. Restaurant meals are also on the food app. Grocery shopping here is still in the toddler stage but it looks promising already. I’ve learned to plan purchases a day before and book deliveries for our supermarket needs. This has been a life saver, literally and figuratively. I still am thrilled just thinking of the time and effort saved by using the shopping apps.

But the key to all the online convenience we’re now enjoying is the robust connectivity of a fiber broadband connection. With our 5G connection at home, shopping online and watching Netflix on HD video quality is a satisfying experience. Staying home no longer feels like a prison when you have Internet to keep you occupied and engaged.

P.S. This is actually a rave post, <lol> something I felt like doing after receiving and testing my fresh delivery of electronic accessories this afternoon. And something I preferred to do than crafting a document for a client. <groan>