Mel arrives home to find family without food

Bern, gud eve[ning], I'm here now at Magdapio. Gladly we're here bcoz dey don't have food here to eat dinner, I only have 1 problem now.

Hunger and lack of money pervade community

At 7:24 p.m., Filipino time, Tina texted that she had received a message I had sent to her brother-in-law Mel and herself.

Sad to say, Tina advised, Darwin, the live-in partner of her mother-in-law Josie, had not done anything to provide food for Josie or others in Josie's household.

Payday for the Power Station security guards (who owed money to Tina) would be on the forthcoming Thursday night; the problem was how her roadside diner business could survive while she was waiting for the money owing.

One bright aspect was that for Coca-Cola there was "lots of demand" and this would continue until the 15th day of the month.

Scarce resources remitted and allocated with difficulty

Tina (08:41:41 GMT+8): Bern, if you don't mind, if you send money to both of us, Mel and I? Can you send it to my name; I'm d 1 [who will] send it to Mel, coz he felt jealous to me, when he know[s] d amount you [have] given to me.

Bern (12:21:35 GMT+10): Tina, unfortunately the UAE Money Exchange is still not open. The manager altered a sign on the door: it will open at 12:45 p.m. I'll wait.

Bern (12:55:54): Tina, I've sent you 5,745 pesos 49 centavos via MoneyGram 838 . . . 489. Pls ensure Mel gets help ASAP to visit his mother. I worry also about Josie's health and Mel's future.

Tina (14:42:56): Bern, I'm now in Cebuana [pawnshop and remittance agent] to claimed d money. I sent 2,000 [pesos] to Mel, coz I buy 1 sack [of] rice, 1,800, 1 kg [of] meat for dinner, 500 vegetable, 500 groceries, I hope you understand, we will visit Nanay Josie later. Sorry, I try my best to budget wisely.