A quick visit to malls and supermarkets in the Metro Manila area revealed, however, that people were not buying more candles, batteries nor cup noodles. The long lines were made by people buying food items for media noche, the traditional meal a Filipino family partakes on New Year's Eve. Since the 31st is sandwiched between a holiday and a Saturday, it was declared a non-working holiday. I wish those radio announcers would tone down a bit. In the provinces, that figure rises to 48 percent.
Anxiety seems to be higher among the lower classes of society.
Most Y2K planners are aware that Jan. 1 is no magic date, but they fear a quiet weekend might leave the public with a false sense of security. If this attitude is transmitted over the airwaves, don't be surprised if the Filipino people become less vigilant. On the bright side, some Philippine companies have a Y2K Plan that extends all the way to March 2001. Power outages unlikely, petroleum supply assured, while air transport is considered safe. Perhaps that telco is really Y2K compliant, but not congestion proof in case people really use their phones.