It's best to have handy kit intended solely for power outages so you could avoid behaving like a headless chicken when the lights suddenly go off. Here are a few items you should always have handy in times of unexpected darkness.
Flashlights
It goes without saying that flashlights are one of the critical things you will need during the rainy season, especially in the Philippines. Rainy season is usually accompanied by unexpected power outages, due to storms knocking over electric posts and cutting electric cables. And when it happens at night (and it usually does), you'll be having an extremely difficult time feeling your way around the house if you can't get to a flash light pronto. No matter how many phone backlights you flash around, nothing beats the instant relief of a flash light. That said, the next important item would be...
Batteries
Always be prepared with portable power sources such as batteries, so you don't run out of charge in the event of an extra long power outage. You will need this to power flashlights, radios, and emergency lights.
Rechargeable emergency lamps or gas lamps
Every Filipino home needs a couple of these, as they are invaluable sources of light during nights without electricity. They also last several hours and can sufficiently provide light to any room. These are available in most hardware stores, so be sure to secure at least two for your use during the inevitable power outages in the coming months. These can be quite expensive though so if you're not willing to spend this much, then you could get the cheaper alternative. Which is...
Candles
Candles are cheap and plentiful and last for a few hours, making them the inexpensive alternative to rechargeable lamps.
Fans
Fans, or pamaypay are typical items in a Filipino household. Our climate is tropical, and we are no strangers to heat. A fan is your basic counter to heat, requiring only a repetitive motion of your wrist to allow a cool breeze to grace your skin. It can get tiring after a while , but it's the best you can do until the power gets back.
Board Games
Let's face it, we are completely dependent on electrical gadgets to keep ourselves entertained. We fear not being able to connect to the internet or miss our favorite show on TV, or not finishing the last stage in Rockband. So when the power is out, we panic and fret about what to do to stave off the boredom. The easiest answer? Board games. They're fun, require no electricity, and can accommodate the whole family! Challenge your vocabulary with Scrabble or Taboo, go test your negotiating smarts with Monopoly, or even exert your inner hustler in a friendly poke match. With board games, you can turn a warm, electricity-less night into a fun and exciting one.
