"Visiting Australia to discuss Linux and open source software in
education at this year's linux.conf.au in Melbourne, independent
open source consultant Ricardo Gonzalez, said there were a number
of factors that led to Linux being chosen over the venerable
Microsoft Windows.
"Gonzalez, based in Manila, told Computerworld Linux became
popular in the Philippines soon after the 1997 Asian financial
crisis when open source was investigated for its value proposition
to organizations. "Open source was a viable business alternative
because no one was doing it commercially," Gonzalez said."