A FEW days ago, I blogged about the iPhone launch in the US and included an Agence France-Presse photo of Jonathan (not John, as he was identified in the AFP caption) Mariano, who was first in line at the Apple Store at The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles, California.
In that blog entry, I wondered aloud if Mariano was a Filipino, and guess what? He is! He posted a comment on that blog entry simply saying, “Pinoy ako (I am a Filipino)!” and included a link to his blog that documents the iPhone launch in LA and his unexpected brush with fame when he turned out to be the first in line.
How cool is that?
Here’s a YouTube video of Jonathan being interviewed by Macy Gray.
And here’s an excerpt from his entry on the questions he gets asked by interviewers:
Popular Questions
What time did you get in line?
4AM although the line didn’t officially start until 7AM. I scoped the place out since 7PM the night before.What is the big deal about the iPhone?
Many “phones” have a phone, music player, and browser, but none do it as elegantly as the iPhone. It has a simple touch interface, and the “real” internet. Not the scaled down mini mobile version.How many are you buying?
Two 8GB. One for me, one for my girlfriend.;)
Congratulations, Jonathan, and thanks for visiting @play 
July 12th, 2007 at 6:51 am
so what’s the big deal about being the first to own an iPhone?
July 12th, 2007 at 6:34 am
RLJ, inggit ka lang! wala kang pambili! bat ako mag dodonate pati? eh ugali nating mga pilipino ay UMASA NA LANG NG UMASA kasi “andyan naman sila eh?” tinulungan mo nga ayaw naman tumayo sa sarili nilang paa (tamad). Ikaw ang naghihirap mag pakatrabaho overseas tapos sila ang nagsasaya? ano yan? and they have the luxury to be lazy ass?
July 12th, 2007 at 2:15 am
It’s not a big deal, right. But can we just be happy for that person who got the iPhone first instead of telling him what to do with his money or critisizing him?
Some say it’s materialistic and should donate the money instead. Do you ever know how hard it is to earn money even if it’s earned in abroad? You don’t find money on the streets in industrialized foreign countries as others think. You have to sweat for it. And if you do so it is just right to spend your money on things that you like. You don’t know that person, maybe he had helped alot of his relatives in the philippines and for that no one writes about him in the news.
Some of you here are full of jealousy. Pls don’t forget it’s also a sin!
July 12th, 2007 at 1:03 am
Give the man a break. I bet he worked his butt off to buy that iPhone. And for those who are suggesting he should have donated his money to a charitable Inst in the Phils, well who knows, maybe he’s already doing that and no one published it. Besides, it’s his money and he can do whatever he wants with it. Before people start begging for help from OFWs, who can only do and give so much, they should start poking the Arroyo goverment. It’s the goverment and the damn corrupt officials’ jobs to provide better living conditions and jobs Filipinos in the Philippines.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Inggit ka RLJ kasi di ka makabili ? Lahat kami nagtratrabaho ng matino and working very hard. So what kung bumili kami ng para sa amin ? Wala kang karapatang magdikta kung san namin gagastusin ang pera na pinaghirapan namin. Kung gusto mo magdonate ng magdonate, di magdonate ka.