Poor Globe Plan subscribers. While the millions of prepaid card users get all the goodies, such as the recent Text Nonstop promo that gave them unlimited texts for 24 hours for just 15 pesos, us Plan-holders basically have to sit and sulk in the sidelines, our loyalty unrewarded.

Well, not exactly. Globe Handyphone has had a Cool Rewards program that was soft-launched last June 2005. And since September, the program has gathered more steam.

Here’s how it works: loyal Plan-holders can text CLAIM to 2279. They will then receive a text message detailing how much of a reward they have, in peso value.

For heavy users, it can be big. In my case, with an average monthly bill of just PhP 900.00, I’ve been granted PhP 11,000.00 in rewards.

You can then use this reward to (a) load a G-Cash card with the stated amount, (b) cover future bills, or (c) apply the amount towards the acquisition of mobile phones. If you choose the latter, I suggest you call up Globe at 730-1000 to have them email you a shopping list of available phones and their prices.

(Note to you savvy shoppers, though: Since you’ll be shopping from Globe, these won’t be street prices.)

Caveat. If you choose to avail of your reward, you will have to accept being locked up with Globe for another year or two. Claiming rewards of PhP 10,000 and below will lock you up for another year, while rewards above PhP 10,000 will mean a two-year lockup.

That means two years for me. But then, I’ve had my mobile number since 1997 so I think I’ll stick with it for a couple more years.