Woman in airport

Waiting for a flight in Manila's domestic airport, a woman taps out a text message on her mobile phone.

Text messaging is far cheaper for Filipinos than making phone calls. Globe, one of the largest mobile carriers in the Philippines, charges between 6.50 and 7.50 pesos, or 15 cents and 17 cents, per minute for a voice call. But text messages cost only 1 peso, or 2 cents, per message. What's more, prepaid plans offer as many as 65 free text messages per load.

"I can't even use all the free text messages they give me," said Stephanie Rahill, an American living and working in Manila.