People read the papers about Y2K and brush it aside since it probably just deals with personal computers. There are a lot of non-computer issues. Instead of listing all of them, let's just focus on one: the availability of electricity.
Ask Meralco or the Napocor if they will guarantee electricity in January 2000. Chances are they won't be able to guarantee it because there are many others they rely on. For Napocor to guarantee electricity means they also have to guarantee the y2k readiness of other people involved in the entire power distribution system.
Remember the power crisis that hit the Philippines in the past? Remember the inconvenience? Now imagine if instead of 8-hour brownouts, we had week-long blackouts. I'm not saying this will happen, all I'm saying is that some people throughout the world think this will happen not just to the Philippines but to their own countries as well.
No electricity means no communication, no business, no distribution, and even no services (water, for example). Generators will last for only so long. Ice cream melts, no movies, no shopping, no banking, no business....
It is a chain. This is the Domino Effect.
And even if we do suffer a temporary power failure in early 2000 for "normal" reasons, what do you suppose people will do if they *think* the failure is due to Y2K? How do you think they will react? Will there be rioting (remember L.A. and Indonesia)? Is the government prepared?
I am not trying to scare you. I just want you to realize that a potential problem goes beyond computers. Discuss this with your families and friends, and think of how you can prepare. Ask Meralco, ask your banks, and ask your barangay captains. The more we prepare, the less we will panic.