Hermecila Telabon, 48, has three children aged 13, 18, and 19 respectively, all of whom are enrolled at the local grade and high schools. She said it’s still very easy for her to remember how life was before they had electricity 24/7.
“Our lives were harder then. There were very few livelihood opportunities, even fewer productive things to do with our time. Sure, we’re still poor, but the quality of our lives has improved. We’ve been able to buy more electric fans for our house so we can have a respite from the heat during the afternoons. We also have a freezer now. We make and sell ice and ice candy, and we even sell halo-halo! All this adds to our income,” she said.
Before 24/7 electrification in Pamilacan, the Telabon family used to pay P80.00/month for electricity. Now, they pay an average of P1,000 a month. Hermecila, however, is quick to dismiss the big difference.
“We use more electricity now. Apart from the freezer, we also use the television in the afternoons to watch the “variety shows”. We also iron the children’s uniforms. We know that using the iron consumes a lot of electricity, but at least the children no longer have to go to school in rumpled clothes,” she explained.
More income and no more spoiled food Hermecila estimated that daily, she and her husband earn a net income of P600 to P700 from selling food to the local students and teachers. They sell ice candy, pancakes, and banana cue (bananas fried in sugar). Hermecila, along with a few neighbors, also started a small catering business. Their regular customers include the small resorts and bed and breakfasts that have popped up on the island since 2017 when electricity became accessible around the clock.
“Sometimes we cook for 40 to 50 people like when there’s a birthday party or a similar gathering,” she said. The mother of four is also happy about how they are now able to store food and keep it fresh longer. “We couldn’t store food before. We were forced to eat and finish everything in one sitting every time because leftovers would often spoil in the heat. It was so wasteful, and we always felt bad about it,” she said. Because of the 24/7 electricity, they no longer have to worry about food spoilage. This is also why it became possible for her and other mothers in Purok 3 to sell cooked meals, cold drinks, and halo-halo. “Life is still hard, but the electricity makes it less so,” she said, smiling.