TYPHOON “Tino” on November 4 did not spare even the billionaire Enrique Razon-led Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power).
“Tino” inflicted more than P20 million worth of damage on this one-year-old distribution utility servicing Bacolod City and parts of central Negros Occidental.
The typhoon toppled electrical poles, severed major and secondary lines, damaged substations, and destroyed transformers and feeders across Negros Power’s service area.
In short, “Tino” delivered a harsh test — not only of Negros Power’s financial strength but, more importantly, of its ability to master the art of forbearance amid intense public outcry.
Online Hates
After “Tino,” a total power blackout immediately blanketed 100% of Negros Power’s franchise area — Bacolod City, Silay City, Talisay City, Bago City, Murcia, and Don Salvador Benedicto — sending more than 200,000 consumers into a literal “state of tenebrosity.”
During the first three days, people seemed relatively understanding. But before the blackout reached its fifth day, complaints began to mount — especially online, particularly on Facebook.
And the ranters were no ordinary netizens. They included academics, lawyers, hacienderos, business leaders, and even members of the media.
Cursing online suddenly became trendy. In short, Negros Power was not spared from the surge of online hate.
Sense of Professionalism
The people behind Negros Power, however, showed a commendable level of professionalism.
I had the chance to speak with Engineer Bernard Bailey del Castillo, the company’s chief operating officer (COO). Soft-spoken and data-driven, this Cebuano executive explained the extent of the damage in precise detail.
He disclosed that during and after “Tino,” Negros Power recorded:
* 146 broken electrical poles
* 8 destroyed transformers
* 100 damaged insulators or live hardware
* 355 shattered primary lines
* 1 impaired substation on Gonzaga Street, Bacolod
All these, he stressed, cannot technically be repaired in just one or two days—not even close. Some repairs could take months.
Yet amid the massive technical challenges, Negros Power refused to be consumed by the avalanche of online hate.
‘Game of Sureness’
Negros Power moved toward restoration at the only pace responsible for its situation — choosing what I call the “game of sureness.”
Its linemen — along with reinforcement teams from sister companies MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) in Iloilo City and Bohol Light in Bohol — battled weeks of rain, thunder, and lightning.
But Negros Power never forgot to remind its teams: their job is not a “chasing game.” Their safety must come first, before restoring electricity to any household. And that mantra worked.
Within two weeks, Negros Power restored power to almost 99% of its more than 200,000 affected consumers.
The remaining 1% — as of this writing — are located in remote areas with the most severe infrastructure damage.
Negros Power says it aims to fully reenergize all remaining households within the week.
Not About Speed
Let’s be candid: Negros Power faced a crisis that no theoretical formula could instantly solve. What the situation demanded were actual, complicated, and high-risk field operations. Thus, speed could never be the solution. Carefulness was the key.
Ranting online? That certainly wasn’t.
Yes, Negros Power endured the sting of online hate. But its mastery of the art of forbearance allowed it to “stand out with pride.” Why?
Because amid public outcry, it offered astonishingly patient ears, listening even to the nastiest insults—without lashing back. And most importantly, it protected lives: no casualties among its linemen and troubleshooters.
Negros Power delivered a remarkable service — ending the blackout without losing a single life. That achievement deserves recognition.
When Patience Matters
Lesson learned: not all problems can be solved by money alone.
True, electrical problems require financial resources — replacement equipment, materials, manpower. But while the technical work was ongoing, Negros Power also faced another battlefield — public perception and condemnation. Their forbearance carried them through.
Their ability to remain calm, composed, and professional amid hostility elevated public trust to a new level.
Mastering the art of forbearance is no simple feat. It requires self-control, patience, and emotional strength — especially in difficult, frustrating situations.
Negros Power is fortunate to have people who embody these virtues. Because forbearance builds community respect. It architects trust.
Thus, despite the public outcry during the blackout, Negros Power shone by doing its best — at its own responsible pace — toward full restoration. It refused to drown in public hate. Instead, it produced “beautiful sparks” worthy of praise.
Mabuhay, Negros Power!/PN
