My first brush with the Manila Bulletin in the mid-90s felt like stepping into a time capsule. Landlines rang nonstop, the air crackled with fax tones, and editors treated bulky Compaq laptops with reverence. Beepers were still a thing, and the internet, in its dial-up glory, was a luxury, not a lifeline. It was a world away from the hyper-connected, screen-saturated reality we inhabit today.

What's a beeper? It's a small plastic device that chirps and vibrates, alerting you to urgent messages. They were our constant companions in the pre-smartphone era, keeping us connected with the office. I still have my trusty beeper tucked away in a drawer, a nostalgic reminder of the days when breaking news meant sprinting to the nearest phone booth and dictating your story with adrenaline pumping. It's a symbol of the resourcefulness and dedication of journalists in an era before instant connectivity, where every word was precious, every scoop hard-earned.

Back then, tech news was a niche corner in the paper, a vibrant bazaar of gadgets and jargon. We were the digital detectives, deciphering specs and trends for a curious but tech-averse readership.

Then came the smartphone explosion. iPhones, BlackBerrys, and a kaleidoscope of Android devices flooded the market, transforming the lives of Filipinos. Suddenly, tech wasn't just a niche; it was the pulse of our daily lives.

The Manila Bulletin's tech section had to evolve and evolve fast. We embraced accessible language, focusing on stories that resonated: protecting privacy, navigating the digital world, and using tech for good. Social media became our playground, Twitter (now X) our newsfeed, Facebook our forum, and YouTube our storytelling canvas. We built a community, debunking myths and answering questions, one tweet, post, and comment at a time.

But covering events outside Manila wasn't a matter of live blogging or instant uploads like what's happening now. Back then, it was a symphony orchestrated by the trusty landline and the fax machine, a relic of the pre-internet age.

Imagine this: you're at a tech conference in Davao, buzzing with the latest innovations. Your head is brimming with insights, your notebook with scribbles. But getting that story to the editor back in Manila? That's where the PLDT landline became your stage. In an era before instant uploads and conference calls, the landline was your portal to the newsroom. You'd jam the grimy receiver to your ear, instantly hearing the dial tone, a digital heartbeat. "Operator, collect call, Manila Bulletin," you'd be connected to the editorial section and hear the familiar voice of your editor at the other end. Sentence by sentence, your voice would traverse the crackling wires, a testament to the slow, deliberate dance of pre-internet journalism. Today, news travels at the speed of light, but back then, each word was a hard-won victory, a nugget painstakingly mined from the day's events. If you check Manila Bulletin issues in the mid-1990s, you will see PLDT datelines. This is because the story was reported via the only available landline back then.

What's a dateline? It is a line at the beginning of a news article that contains the date and the location where the story was written or reported. The purpose of a dateline is to give readers context about where and when the news occurred or was gathered, which can be crucial for understanding the significance or relevance of the information. A story written in Davao on August 1, dictated via phone, will appear as "DAVAO CITY, August 1 via PLDT --"

And then there was the fax machine. Your meticulously typed story, complete with edits and annotations, would be scanned and transformed into beeps and squelches, transmitted over phone lines, where it would be reassembled, printed, and finally grace the pages of the next day's paper. It was a slow dance, a testament to the dedication and resourcefulness of journalists in an era before instant connectivity.

OK, here we go again... What's a fax machine? A fax or facsimile machine is a device used to send and receive documents over telephone lines. It scans a document and converts it into a series of electronic signals. These signals are then transmitted over a phone line to another fax machine, which decodes the signals and prints a replica of the original document. This technology was revolutionary during those times, as it allowed immediate transmission of documents across distances without the need for physical mail. Fax machines were especially crucial in the newsroom before the arrival of digital communication methods like email and online file sharing.

Today, the Manila Bulletin's editorial department is a digital newsroom buzzing with activity. But the energy is different. The newsroom used to be chaotic, a Sunday market of shouts and laughter as breaking news arrived. Stories were cut and pasted, not with a mouse, but with scissors and glue, a physical manifestation of the creative process.

Now, the energy is quieter, a symphony of fingers tapping keyboards and voices echoing in Zoom calls. The newsroom is a digital landscape dotted with avatars and shared documents. We connect virtually, share ideas globally, and collaborate in real time, a far cry from the physical hustle of the past.

Do I miss the old days? Sometimes. The camaraderie, the shared gasps at breaking news, the physical act of crafting a story on paper. But the truth is, the evolution of journalism has been exhilarating. We're not just reporting the news; we're shaping it, analyzing it, and even creating it, all from the comfort of our own screens.

And the best part? I can now do it all from anywhere, especially at home! The Manila Bulletin's embrace of hybrid work has been a game-changer. But there's one crucial ingredient to my home office productivity: a reliable and fast internet connection.

With my son attending online classes and my wife working remotely, internet stability is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. Lagging videos, dropped calls, and buffering screens can turn a productive day into a frustrating nightmare. I am using PLDT Home Fiber at home. I have two subscription plans to keep us connected and my WiFi 6 Mesh — the newly launched TP-Link Deco X55 – that is very helpful when it comes to being connected in all spots of the house. Fiber-optic technology delivers fast and reliable connections, but a WiFi Mesh system guarantees that these connections are available throughout the home, ensuring everyone in the family can work, learn, and play online without a hitch regardless of their location within the household

It’s actually interesting to know that the TP-Link Deco X55, with its breakthrough technology, can elevate the online experience of users in every household around the country through increased data transfer speeds, a better capacity to handle multiple devices, and the ability to perform in traffic-dense areas. Wherever you are at home, you won’t worry about speed and connection due to its ability to support high-bandwidth usage in high-density environments. If your household wants to upgrade your home network, this tool is accessible anywhere in the country through PLDT Home.

So, as I continue to chronicle the Manila Bulletin's digital odyssey, I'm grateful for the tools that make it possible. A reliable home internet connection isn't just a tech perk; it's the foundation of our family's modern life. It fuels our son's educational journey, empowers my wife's remote work, and allows me to stay plugged into the ever-evolving tech landscape, all from the comfort of our living room. It's a reminder that connection transcends the physical, even in the digital age. It's about sharing ideas, collaborating on projects, and finding moments of joy, all powered by the invisible threads of internet connectivity.

Today, the newsroom's energy might be quieter and more digital, but the essence of journalism remains. It's about connecting stories with audiences, whether through the physical hustle of the past or the virtual collaboration of the present. The Manila Bulletin's adaptation to these changes, from embracing social media to moving towards a hybrid work model, reflects its commitment to staying relevant and connected in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

My personal story of using a PLDT landline for reporting and now relying on a stable home internet connection care of PLDT Home for work and family life illustrates how these technological tools have become integral to our daily routines. They are no longer just tools for work but are foundational to our modern lives, supporting education and remote work and making more meaningful connections.

As we look to the future, it's evident that technology will continue evolving, changing how we live, work, and interact. The Manila Bulletin's journey is a testament to the power of adaptation and the enduring importance of connectivity in whatever form it takes. It's a reminder to embrace change, value the past, and look forward to the possibilities of a connected world.

So, here's to the future, where the gentle hum of a router replaces the buzz of the newsroom and where the cacophony of voices might be replaced by the rhythmic tapping of keyboards, all seamlessly woven together by technology. The Manila Bulletin's story continues. I'm excited to see what the next chapter holds, one byte at a time, fueled by the power of a perfectly connected office, home, and us users.

And to all my fellow tech enthusiasts, remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. Embrace the evolution, cherish the memories, and keep that internet connection humming. It might be the key to unlocking a world of possibilities right from where we are.