Wireless in Argao
MUNICIPAL WI-FI. I spent a day in Argao and was pleasantly surprised to find several dependable and free Wi-Fi hotspots. I was surprised because in Cebu City, free Wi-Fi access isn’t as widespread as they say it is in places such as Davao City. When I say free, I mean full Internet access without having to enter passwords or keys. At least full “http” access, I don’t mind not being able to use the other protocols.
Many shops, at least the last time I went warbiking or going around on a motorcycle to check for free Wi-Fi hotspots, just depend on zones ofPLDT and Globe for their customers’ wireless Internet access.
But not Argao.
The municipal government turned its beautiful plaza into a free Wi-Fi zone. There you are, surrounded by Spanish-era buildings, three cannons, beautiful masonry, and music that comes from cleverly hidden speakers, and you have free high-speed wireless Internet access.
I was told that the Wi-Fi zone was set up last year by Argao town officials. Now it isn’t, technically, municipal Wi-Fi—the term means the entire city or town is covered by wireless Internet signal—but it’s a start. Its munisipyo Wi-Fi.When I was at the plaza on a Saturday night, I saw one person park his multi-cab near the Argao town hall, take out his laptop and thenaccess the Internet. I opened my Asus Eee PC, which is such amarvelous piece of gadget, and checked my e-mail. The connection was relatively fast.
I wasn’t able to do speed tests, though, because I was supposed to beon a quick vacation—to “get away from it all” and my family was already on their way to the museum.
VOIP. I asked Ruel Rigor, who showed us around, on the extent of the Wi-Fi spot’s usage and he said only a few locals use it. The availability of free Wi-Fi in the town plaza is such a huge help for tourists and locals who need to access the Internet.
It also opens the possibility of using the signal in the plaza to make VOIP calls for free. If you have a Symbian-based phone, you can use Fring with Wi-Fi not only to chat with your friends, but also call themvia Skype or the application itself, if they’re also using it. The call is free because you’re connecting through Wi-Fi.
I was able to chat with some contacts using Fring, but none of my Skypecontacts were online when I was in the town center so I couldn’t testcalling with Fring.
OTHER SPOTS. Wi-Fi access isn’t just limited to the area near the Argao town hall. I was able to detect another Wi-Fi access point, albeit secured, a few meters away. The resort I stayed in near theMahayahay beach resort also offered uninterrupted free Wi-Fi access. The signal covers part of the public beach resort so you can probably get away with piggybacking near the beach, even at night.
I hope other local officials, especially in tourism areas, follow Argao’s Wi-Fi deployment. Heck, I hope more Cebu shops follow Looc Garden Resort and start offering free Wi-Fi to costumers.
The last time I was in a coffee shop in Ayala several months back, I was told to buy a card when I asked about Wi-Fi access. But things are starting to change. I’ve been told many coffee shops are starting to offer free Wi-Fi to costumers.
Asking the city where I live in, Lapu-Lapu, to follow the example of athird class municipality might be a pipe dream or a financial nightmare—remember how much Lapu-Lapu City Hall paid for computers it distributed to schools?
(Max Limpag maintains a blog at max.limpag.com)
hello to everybody!..have a nice visit to Argao..
I’m a native argawanon and I’m so excited to be home on september…Can’t wait!!!!
you know i really appreciate what the argao governance doin’ keep up…
you’ve done a very useful and purposeful thing..hopefully those people who are in the position in the government will follw what you have done.
GOD BLESS.
wow!!!!!!!!!
sipa najud kaa u ang argao 400!!!!!!!!1
samot pa jud ma cover ang whole barangay sa Argao og wi-fi connection sipa najud kaAyo
i thnk na properly develop na jud ang Argao 400 through tourist spots and it’s facilities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that we can also do WIFI in our plaza (Samonte Park), Cavite City.
Davao is a big city. Hoping sana si mayor at anak niyang si Vice mayor kasama na ang isa pa noyang anak na konsehal na maging example sa kanila ang argao.
we davaoenos… envy argao
I’M SO PROUD TO BE AN ARGAWANON.WITH THE EFFORT OF OUR BELOVED MAYOR, AT LAST ARGAO IS THE ONLY WI-FI ZONE IN THE SOUTH.SO GUYS, IF YOU GOT A LAPTOP, YOU CAN CHAT FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN FOR FREE. GRABEEEEEEEEE!!!! GO! GO! GO! AND IT HAS ALSO A LOT OF CHANGES SINCE MAYOR EDSEL GALEOS DID HIS JOB AND SO WITH THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILORS TO SERVE US ALL WITH DIGNITY AND PRIDE. IN FACT, THE ARGAO COMPLEX IS ALMOST DONE AND I’M QUITE SURE THAT IT WILL BE FINISHED BY FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER OR EARLIER.FIESTA IS FAST APPROACHING, SO THE NIGHTLY ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE NEW ARGAO COMPLEX.RAIN OR SHINE,THE SHOW WILL BE DONE.WE GOT ALSO A VERY NICE PLAY GROUND IN DON GIL FOR THE KIDS WITH MATCHING MELLOW MUSIC AND SO WITH THE MUNICIPAL PARK FOR THE LOVERS,FRIENDS, GROUPS AND FAMILIES TO RELAX AND TO FEEL THE EASE AND COMFORT. AND LASTLY,IF WE’RE HUNGRY, WE GOT OUR LARTIAN SA ARGAO LOCATED IN TULIC SEASIDE.YOUR’E MY IDOL MAYOR.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! MABUHAY KA!MABUHAY ARGAO 400 YEARS NA!GRABEEEE! YAHOOOOOOO!
Hurrah! Argao is the best!…sadya na kaayo ang argao…busa ang mga balikbayan bisita unya kamo sa argao karong pesta…mag-enjoy kita diri…
as n d best ang argao.poro gwapa taga diri…………..bolhoooooooooooootttt!!!!!
anhi mo diri ky hapit na fiesta..
[...] ruled the land. Learn how to go around this progressive second-class municipality that offers free wi-fi connectivity at the town plaza. Avail of the many tours to nature and heritage sites offered for minimal cost by [...]
ARGAO…RULES……
SA HINAY-HINAY….OG
DI LANG DAMHUN IT WOULD BE ARGAO CITY……..
YEHEEEYYYYYYYYY…………
argao is the best of course!!I’m very excited to be home this december!! see you there,,have a nice visit in ARGAO!!thnx for the good goernance!!keep it up……..
Bahalag di ma city ang argao, mamaintain lang ang kalimpyo ok na.
hey!gudluck to my fellow argawanons,hoping makaattend
ko.jejeje,,thinks to our beloved mayor!!see ya guys sooN!regards to all………….
go arga,, hapi fiesta..taga Lamacan ko..its nice to be back to enjoy our wireless Argao
Albeos family?kmusta na dhaaaa…me here in taiwan miaoli city… cs
hala! naa na diay wi-fi sa argao? kanindot na diay! asinso na kaau akong lungsod. proud ko sa mga opisyalis nga nagdumala diha.di naku kahulat mo uli dha sa nobyembre. kanindot kaha noh kun maka-abot sa bogo sa gpuy-an ako ginikanan. pero nkoi nabal-an nga pwd daw magamit ug laptop unya gamiton ang celphone i conek lang sa usb.ambot sulayan ko gyud na kun mu-ubra ba. hala sge kita kita rta ninyo dha pohon!
Sayang i’m her in taiwan pa,its so nice cguro to be back..my home,my country…my memories…Hapi Fiesta Argaoanons
Any single gorgeous looking ladies who want to e-mail me?ages between 20-25 yrs..pls dont hesitate……….
halloo argawanon!!!!! mabuhay…
Its nice and good to see that argao is now starting to bloom…(hahah late bloomer bah??? LOLZ!!:-))
Before i thought that argao would not go these far…that it was only one of those poor towns in cebu merely known….(less progressive and malayo sa kabihasnan) but now as we can see and witnessed we are now moving towards… nkisabay nata sa ato technology… like the opportunity of free internet access…(tanx to sir momongan… i salute U sir)dn for the first time and the only plaza nga naay say music!!! layshu!!
I just hope that mayor edsel would finish what he had started….
that he would not left argao ang argawanon hanging, for all we know hes the man behind the BIG improvement of oUr town….but syempre with the help sad sa iya mga co-officials ug nato mga argawanon…
long live mga taga argao!!!
MABUHAY!!!!