Broken Cellphone

   Perhaps some of you have read my entry about LOST WALLET and that one about LOST FILES. This time my entry pertains a broken pre-loved cellphone. I loved this phone not only because it was given to me by my dad but also because it was my laptop’s best mobile buddy. It is HSDPA-capable so you can plug it into your laptop’s usb (or use Bluetooth if battery life of your laptop is not an issue) and enjoy Globe’s internet connection of up to 2Mbps or even faster.

Sometime last week while i was on the bed, this phone fell on the floor. At first, it functions normally as if nothing happened. Few days thereafter, it’s LCD started displaying different weird colours. I ignored it at first as the strange display comes to back to normal after a couple of minutes. The next day, the screen be came totally black. Despite this issue, it still can receive calls and text but of course I can’t read the messages. I had it checked by a technician (who looks more of a snatcher than of a skilled repairman haha i had no choice) stationed alongside of Munoz market. He said it can be repaired outright and the repair will cost me only Php 350.00. I replied with a nod then he started dismantling my phone. Ooops be careful as you might scratch it with your screwdriver, i uttered gently. While figuring out what could be my phone’s illness, he started to perspire. And, so as to give him a private moment with my phone haha, and to free him from any pressure brought about by my prying eyes, i told him that i’ll be back after half an hour.

I left and walked towards the street peddlers of pirated DVDs. I briefly browsed what they are offering for sale and then asked if they already have Season 4 of Prison Break. Luckily, i found one and it’s being sold for Php60.00. Before i tendered my payment, i looked around if Edu Manzano’s men are present in the area (no one wants to be indicted with a crime for violation of the anti-fencing law haha). There being none, i paid then immediately kept the dvd in my backpack. A number of most viewed American TV series are also available like One Tree Hill (mys favourite) but i didn’t mind them. The peddler also offered me to buy his collection of porn movies but i readily declined while saying to myself this: “i have better collections in my harddisk hahaha. (kidding). Such kind of videos has no room in my wholesome hard drive. I swear i watch them online lol.

When i got back, the technician said it cant be repaired as the LCD is broken and that they still need to order one in Plaza Miranda. He added that the LCD costs an arm and a leg. A second opinion was needed thus prompted me to bring it to another repairman. To Grand Central Caloocan, i headed next. The first repairman who called my attention looks professional so i brought it to him. He has helluva lot of fancy stuff (by stuff i don’t mean hello kitty dolls lol) and tools in his shop so i thought he’s a master in that kind of vocation. Several minutes later, he started consulting the other technician sitting at the other booth about my phone’s problem. Oh men! i scratched my head and felt regretful. He then made a couple of solderings as if he’s well-abreast of what he’s doing. He applied the principle of Trial and Error, did some more consultations and did things as advised by his mentor-over-the-bakod.

Using a magnifying lens similar to that of ROBO COP haha, he began scrutinizing the motherboard perhaps looking for traces of peanut butter jelly spilled over it LOL. Having exhausted all the options known to him but still to no avail, he told me to come back the following day. Before i left, he further said that the cost of repair is Php1,500.00. i gave him a straight face then nodded a bit. Perhaps half of it will cover the consultation fee haha.

When i got back a day after, the technician said that: my phone is already beyond repair; that he exerted utmost and diligent effort to bring it back to life, but to no avail; that perhaps the phone fell from the summit of tower of pisa; that my phone probably figured in a stampede; that its spare parts are not yet available there and elsewhere; that.. that… that…. and that.. to the infinity.

I simply asked him to hand me my broken phone, tapped his shoulder, said thanks then left.