Pinoy waits in line more than 72 hours to gift wife with iPhone 18 Pro

How far would you go for your partner? 

One dedicated husband lined up since Monday, Oct. 12 just to be the very first in line at Power Mac Center Greenbelt 3's Midnight Pre-Order Event this Friday, Oct. 16. His goal? To buy an iPhone 18 Pro Max as a birthday gift for his wife, Cheska.

Aristotle Gamo told PhilSTAR L!fe that camping out for the latest iPhone launch has become a tradition he does every two years, recalling that he was once fifth in line during a previous release. Whenever he buys a new phone, it goes straight to his wife, who celebrates her birthday in October.

When asked if he got a phone for himself, he admitted with a laugh, "Yung luma niya, kinukuha ko na lang. Hangga't gumagana, okay pa."

His message to his wife as he picked up the device in color Burgundy: "Happy birthday, babe. This is for you."

Meanwhile, CJ, who was 112 in line, shared that he lined up in the same store since 6 p.m. of Oct.14. 

He shared that he made several friends during those 24 hours and that he lined up not just for the midnight launch freebies, but for the experience itself.

"I wanted to experience a midnight launch. I have been an iPhone user since college, about 10 years ago. This is my first phone na binili ko na bagong release lang," CJ said.

Vice Ganda accompanies the first buyer

The midnight launch featured a surprise appearance by Vice Ganda, who joked that she couldn't wait to try the iPhone 18’s advanced camera to make herself look good.

In a more serious tone, she gave an advice to those who are getting the latest Apple smartphone.

"Hindi biro ang magkaroon ng iPhone 18 Pro. Dahil sa pinagpaguran niyo yan, dapat hindi masayang kung ano man ang gusto nating achievein," she said.

"Kung magkakaroon kayo nito, pahalagahan niyo at gamitin niyo sa pinakamakabuluhang paraan," Vice said to the crowd. "Use it para makagawa kayo ng mga magagandang bagay, mga memories... hindi lamang panandalian kundi yung may eternal value."

During the launches in Greenbelt 3 and SM Mall of Asia, the first 75 customers, including Gamo, received exclusive freebies like a 65" Smart TVs, Nintendo Switch 2, portable power stations, Bluetooth speakers, and mini fans. Plus, the first 1,000 customers received P33,000 worth of midnight launch freebies and P18,000 worth of pre-order freebies.