Owned by the Lopez family, it has a big advantage: sister company Manila Electric Co. has a network of power poles across Metro Manila and many parts of Luzon island.

CNN: BUSY SIGNALS

Manila, on the island of Luzon, and the nearby province of Rizal bore the brunt of the storm.

CNN: Philippines flood survivors count blessings

The senator has filed a bill to set up appeals courts in key cities outside Manila: Baguio and Naga in Luzon island, Iloilo and Cebu in the Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro and Davao in Mindanao.

CNN: Senator Fernan's 10-year crusade for speedy justice

Digitel has installed 300, 000 lines in Luzon island (except Metro Manila, which is outside its franchise area) and plans 800, 000 more by 2000.

CNN: DAD AND ME

The western coastal road is mostly paved, and comfortable air-conditioned buses now come straight to Sablayan from Manila via car ferries that chug from the Philippines' main island, Luzon, to Abra de Ilog.

BBC: The undiscovered jewel of the Philippines