(With the writer’s permission. 🙂 )
We might not be “close” personally, but I kinda feel we are, because of your cuz Ophel who’s my real close-friend (I guess your clan knows that ..)
Well, I just can’t help reacting to how articulately you put out the “Cataingan Electric Power Black-Out Experiences” before! In that case, hindi ka po nag-iisa! As a matter of fact, as the Cataingan native (like us!)leaves her/his little hometown for whatever reason , the “brown-outs” (as it is more commonly called there) will always be one of the memories tucked-in under her/his armpit!
Hmnn.. We might be laughing about that now –as we might have our own share of a funny brown-out anecdote or two — but it takes one to go to, reach and live in other places to realize, and although not really wanting it, compare just what we were missing way back in our hometown in terms of electrical comfort as a progressive edge…
It brings me to the next question: Are the power outrages still experienced by the Cataingan folks? or the entire Masbate provincial folks, for that matter? (sorry but I’m not updated..) Or to rephrase: “How outrageous are the electric power outrage now, as compared to a decade or two way back then?” Kidding aside, how often (or is it rare now?)do they experience “brown-outs” there these days?
Don’t get me wrong! But I’m not living outside the Philippines (just like Au at a comfy2 Singaporean city!); but I can say people living in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna where I am based for 4 years now, do rarely experience power black-outs except during typhoons or on regular linemen checks (however it is called!).. And oh, to think that Masbate became a city years before Sta. Rosa did become one! Is there an IRONY somewhere? Should I be asking that? Obvious naman, di ba?!
In fairness to our beloved hometown, it will always be home to me despite it’s shortcomings on us townfolks. But I’m just glad now that my kids are not experiencing how difficult it is to study on a “hasag”(forgot the english term!), gaslamp or a candlelight at night (when the battery-operated fluorescents had to be turn-off!); to wait for water to be delivered because the faucets only poured-out water for an hour in the morning (we were kinda “lucky”, my father had that water connection to our house before!); to manually fan ourselves to sleep because it was just too hot under a mosquito net..
Actually, I’m just adding my experiences to Au’s list.. And why, as a parent now, do I have to say these? DAHIL PO WALANG MATINONG MAGULANG NA AYAW NG KOMPORTABLENG BUHAY PARA SA KANYANG MGA ANAK, di ba? Come to think of it, if the basic needs are met; our children will become more productive, creative, skillful and competitive individuals. Their talents and creativity will be explored to the fullest! They will not be contented with mediocrity, as they will be aiming for more than the basics.
Need I say more? For once Cataingan,THINK GLOBAL!
(thanx again au for the “eye-opener” , keep up the good work in singapore! )
“manay arlyn”
(ms.arlyn v. manuel)
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Mercifulrain 
