Well, it seems like the race to release the iPhone 5 here in the Philippines has been won by Globe, as the local telco has given their first ever iPhone 5 to none other than global celebrity Zac Efron. This particular move is a bit puzzling, as our friends from Yugatech point out, this is the first time the local telco has gone ahead and done a promotional move without ever launching the device first. This is probably a strategic move by the telco to one-up bitter rival Smart, as the rival telco has yet to release a similar promotional move for the iPhone 5. Zac Efron will be heading to Manila for Penshoppe’s FanCon later this week, where he’ll probably get to use the device to phone home. The appearance of the iPhone 5 in a somewhat official capacity also probably means that the telco already has stocks for the device here on our shores, and an announcement for it is imminent.
Guess what just came in? A brand new iPhone 5 exclusively for ZAC EFRON as he is welcomed to the Phils by @enjoyglobe twitter.com/PublicityAsia/…
— Joyce A. Ramirez (@PublicityAsia) September 25, 2012