Bong Espiritu of the Philippine Violators, a long-time punk band, laments the cost of electricity even if his other house is not occupied.

“Never I complained because I’m not overacting and even until now I forgive and understand what I do, but MERALCO (the utility company mostly operating in Metro Manila) during three weeks in July, there wasn’t anyone in my house in Cavite (a nearby city) all of us are in Manila, we were charged Php3,225 (US$51). The Filipino masses are suffering, you are making things worse. I don’t know if I got it wrong or I guessed because they got used to toying with the surcharges, from Php3,000 to Php5,000 but it’s injustice. Do your job!”