One of those consumers was Romar Cabinta, a self-confessed Mi fan until now. Philippine team Way back in 2012, I know Xiaomi as a software company that brought MIUI based on the Android operating system. During that time, I was using a locally-branded smartphone. I was younger and had no source of income to buy more expensive options. I was really impressed with the interface of MIUI, so I ported it to my locally-branded phone. Wala pang Xiaomi sa Philippines in 2012,” he recalled. As proof of being a Mi fan, Cabinta had joined forums that were financially sustained by other Mi fans. These communities have been around before Xiaomi was launched in the country in 2014.