Article from Bloomberg:
_http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-08/blackout-hits-manila-as-six-power-plants-shut-in-philippines.html
Article from GMA Network (Philippine's TV/News network):
_http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/307335/news/nation/widespread-blackout-hits-luzon-due-to-outage-in-five-power-plants
Both articles mention that the cause, while unknown is most probably "an external grid event".
No overhead explosions reported for Philippine airspace so probably not an EMP
The Japan meteorite explosions were reported to have occurred May 6th. The powerplants shut down on May 8th, around 2pm. So probably no connection there.
There is also the stuxnet virus to consider but iirc, that was specifically for nuclear power plants.
Also, there will be general elections to be held on Monday, May 13th so that is also another possible connection.
(_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_general_election,_2013)
It could also be that only one plant shutdown and a chain-reaction occurred and the other power plants shutdown one after another as a protective measure.
_http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-08/blackout-hits-manila-as-six-power-plants-shut-in-philippines.html
Article from GMA Network (Philippine's TV/News network):
_http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/307335/news/nation/widespread-blackout-hits-luzon-due-to-outage-in-five-power-plants
Both articles mention that the cause, while unknown is most probably "an external grid event".
No overhead explosions reported for Philippine airspace so probably not an EMP
The Japan meteorite explosions were reported to have occurred May 6th. The powerplants shut down on May 8th, around 2pm. So probably no connection there.
There is also the stuxnet virus to consider but iirc, that was specifically for nuclear power plants.
Also, there will be general elections to be held on Monday, May 13th so that is also another possible connection.
(_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_general_election,_2013)
It could also be that only one plant shutdown and a chain-reaction occurred and the other power plants shutdown one after another as a protective measure.
