As almost 50 percent of the Philippines was plunged into darkness from Thursday until late Saturday afternoon because of the ravages brought by Typhoon "Milenyo" (international codename: Xangsase). Interesting scenes of socioeconomic disparity were being played out in the various hotels and the squatting community.

While the rich and the ultra-rich checked into first-class hotels ato await power restoration. Those who have less in life had to endure the sweltering heat, not to mention disease carrying mosquito bites.

A long line of expensive SUVs (sports utility vehicles) and other luxury cars lined up outside the Manila Hotel, the country's premier hotel and other swanky hotels along Roxas Boulevard in Manila as their owners chose to wait out the storm and electric inconvenience. They arrived donned in home attire - shirt, shorts and slippers - expecting to make the hotel rooms home for the next two days.

Trailing these hotel guests was their entourage of staff carrying bags of clothes and groceries to last them probably two nights at the five-star hotel.

Many of the guests killed time listening to a pianist at the lobby or a band's performance that came as midnight approached.

A hotel security guard told reporters, "We're fully booked today."

Elsewhere, in obscure squatter communities in Metro Manila, poor families had to endure the unusual heat. For these people, spending a night even in the cheapest hotel was an impossibility. Afterall, most of them earn an average of $4 per day.

Not only did Milenyo uproot trees and topple billboards and power poles, its brief onslaught on Thursday also emphasized the growing social divide in the country.

"That's the way it is," said Lino de los Santos, 45.

For the poor families, blackouts are not only caused by natural calamities but also by poverty. It is uncommon for the poorer in the community to have their supply of electricity cut off because of non-payment of bills.

Some middle-income individuals, or those who can afford to, spent their entire day in shopping malls to escape the oppressive high temperature at home.

At Robinson's Place in Ermita, Manila, many shoppers waited until closing time if only to delay the inevitable trip back home.

Similarly crowded was the supermarket on the ground floor where many shoppers appeared to be panic-buying. Carts contained packs of candles, mosquito repellent, matches, mineral water, canned goods and instant noodles.