a black out starts in the morning
at around 8:00 A.M.
and lasts for at least 4 hours.
Then another one
begins in the afternoon or evening
and lasts as long as in the morning.
People in Mindanao
are already used to this occurrence
most especially during summer.
But some couldn't control their emotions
and express themselves through social media
in cruel, harsh and insulting ways.
Their outrage is directed towards electric companies
and the Philippine government in general
for this unforgiving nightmare.
In this day and age
when the world depends on electricity
especially when it comes to business,
a blackout costs much even for just few minutes.
Here in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur
and surely the rest of Mindanao,
businesses big and small
are groaning much for lost sales or revenue.
Using generators are more expensive to use
that not everyone can afford.
There are solar panels with lights
gaining popularity already
but people don't rely entirely on them
for they also require additional expenses.
Most affected are internet cafes,
barbershops and beauty parlors,
tailoring shops that are supposed to be very busy
doing uniforms for students
in time for the June opening of classes, etc.
Restaurants can't keep their foods fresh very long
because they always use the fridge and the freezers.
And students have a hard time coping
with using candle sticks and emergency lamps
in their study time.
People are mad and sad
the whole time this happens
for lost time and lost income
and being unproductive during blackouts.
Hot heads coupled with the severe weather
intensify emotions and blame everything
to the not-doing-anything government.
But everyone has to cool down
when clearly there's nothing he can do about it.
And how does anyone cool down during blackouts
when he can't use any fan or air conditioning unit?
There's no need to expound on
the daily blackout in Mindanao,
for it involves complex and complicated matters
and even conspiracy theories.
Powerful entities who are mostly
high government officials and big businessmen
are the only ones who knows so well.
But this is not a hopeless case
but something that depends on God's time,
and a happy ending for Mindanao
is already shining brightly in the distance.