For seven months, Marissa Espares and her six children were forced to scramble in the darkness inside their makeshift home at the foot of the mountainous town of Majayjay, Laguna.

Only candles and a pair of tiny solar panels were the source of light for their house – an inconvenience she resiliently endured for several months, as they were left with no other choice. While she herself could bear the lack of electricity, what pained her was seeing her children endure the heat while sleeping without an electric fan, completing schoolwork in the dark, and having no access to television for entertainment.

“Nahihirapan po [‘yung mga bata], lalo na ‘pag gagawa ng assignment kasi madilim,” Espares said.

(It is difficult for my children to do their assignments in the dark.)

To address their need for electricity at home, Marissa resorted to submetering electricity from their neighbor. But when their neighbor's electrical access was cut, her family was then forced to live in the darkness.

“Nagtiis po kami ng seven months na nakakandila,” she recalled.

(We had to use candles for seven months.)

It is in these instances that Meralco’s corporate social responsibility arm, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), steps in to make a difference.

Through its Household Electrification Program, OMF and the Meralco Sta. Cruz Business Center partnered with the local government unit (LGU) of Majayjay to help bring light and power to underserved households.

Thanks to the Foundation’s flagship program, families from Barangays Pangil, Panglan, and Gagalot received financial support and technical assistance to apply for their own electricity service connection.

At last, Espares and 85 other low-income households in Majayjay finally saw light shine in their homes. This time, it’s a light they can call their own.

“Salamat sa Meralco kasi nagkaroon ng assistance para sa mga kagaya ko na kapos sa budget para makapagpakabit ng kuryente. Nagpapasalamat ako kasi nagkaroon na kami ng kuryente,” Espares said.”

(The assistance that Meralco provided is a big help, especially to applicants like me who do not have enough budget to pay for the full connection fee. Now, we are able to have our own electric meters. I am thankful that we now have access to electricity.)

“Nakukuha mo na yung gusto mong gamit. Tuwang-tuwa yung mga bata kasi kahit anong oras, puwede silang gumamit ng kuryente.”

(We can now buy appliances that we want. Our kids are happy because they can now use electricity anytime.)

Beyond the convenience and immediate relief this development brings, its impact goes even deeper.

For OMF beneficiaries, this also opened new opportunities for a brighter future. Many residents are now planning to make the most of their access to electricity by starting small businesses, such as selling ice candy and halo-halo to beat the summer heat.

The families in Majayjay are just some of the more than 79,000 low-income households that Meralco has empowered and uplifted over the years through the Household Electrification Program.

OMF remains committed to continuously supporting the government in achieving a 100 percent electrified Philippines by 2028—an effort sure to create meaningful change in the lives of millions of Filipinos, one light at a time.