At 09:54am this morning, Philippine time, Jason contacted me from an internet cafe in San Isidro, Laguna using the Yahoo Messenger program.
He was sad and worried, having received text messages yesterday from Susan, a woman friend of his father Melchior.
Susan said for the past week Melchior had been absent from his home in the hilltop village of San Antonio, Laguna, and staying in the town of Majayjay, Laguna.'Last night', Jason said, 'I can't sleep thinking about my father: what happened there?'
I wondered why Melchior went to Majayjay. 'That's my problem Bern' Jason said: 'why he went... I ask Susan why but she can't answer; that's why I'm thinking and worried.'
Jason had no idea about his father's situation. 'I don't know what he['s] doing there; I ask Susan if my father have work there; say nothing...'
He wanted to accompany Susan to Majayjay this morning. 'She know where he is. That's why I want to go in San Antonio now; to [be] clear about my father['s] situation and why he went there but... '
Jason was worried because he suspected Susan had many friends in the communist New People's Army.
There were many NPA guerrillas around San Antonio, and many Philippine Army troops trying to find them: 'And my father every day is in the mountain' [as part of his charcoal-making and rice growing activities].
I did not see that Jason's father had done anything that should cause him to be afraid of the NPA or the army but Jason repeated: 'I'm very worried Bern; that's why I want to go with Susan in Majayjay now.'
Majayjay was far from San Isidro. Jason had a motorcycle, 'but I don't have money for transportation, or for the gasoline; I need 500 PHP [to go] with Susan; I think it is enough to go there to see my father.'
I was sad about that but my own life had become quite difficult and I lacked the financial resources to help.
'Also: last night Tina wanted money to take two children to the Laguna Provincial Hospital but I couldn't help.
'Michael planned to take Mel to the Philippine General Hospital Out-Patients Department this morning. I fear they'll need money for pathology tests and prescriptions but that's a big problem for me too.'
Jason was downcast and repeatedly apologetic: 'I know your situation Bern... sorry for sharing this to you ... I try what I can do now; I'm sad and worried about my father; I want to see him... don't think about what I'm sharing.'
Jason's hour online was running out. I hoped his father had family cellphone numbers in his possession, and someone kind enough to allow him a text; and that Jason still had some cellphone credit. 'Texts to me via Yahoo are OK', I said. They would be much cheaper than SMS messages to my cellphone.
An hour and 20 minutes later, Jason sent me a text: 'Bern, I'm not yet go to Majayjay, can't borrow money for d transport, or for gasoline. All my [friends and relations] are "don't have." I'm sad.'
I was sorry to hear that. 'I'll think about the problem', I replied, 'but money is a big problem [for me too] now. I suppose Susan is also short of money.'
'I don't know what to do now Bern...' Jason said. I want to see my father but I can't do nothing.'
'Maybe you're worrying too much', I responded. 'There's an old saying, though: "No news is good news." I trust something will turn up.'
He was sad and worried, having received text messages yesterday from Susan, a woman friend of his father Melchior.
Susan said for the past week Melchior had been absent from his home in the hilltop village of San Antonio, Laguna, and staying in the town of Majayjay, Laguna.'Last night', Jason said, 'I can't sleep thinking about my father: what happened there?'
I wondered why Melchior went to Majayjay. 'That's my problem Bern' Jason said: 'why he went... I ask Susan why but she can't answer; that's why I'm thinking and worried.'
Jason had no idea about his father's situation. 'I don't know what he['s] doing there; I ask Susan if my father have work there; say nothing...'
He wanted to accompany Susan to Majayjay this morning. 'She know where he is. That's why I want to go in San Antonio now; to [be] clear about my father['s] situation and why he went there but... '
Jason was worried because he suspected Susan had many friends in the communist New People's Army.
There were many NPA guerrillas around San Antonio, and many Philippine Army troops trying to find them: 'And my father every day is in the mountain' [as part of his charcoal-making and rice growing activities].
I did not see that Jason's father had done anything that should cause him to be afraid of the NPA or the army but Jason repeated: 'I'm very worried Bern; that's why I want to go with Susan in Majayjay now.'
Majayjay was far from San Isidro. Jason had a motorcycle, 'but I don't have money for transportation, or for the gasoline; I need 500 PHP [to go] with Susan; I think it is enough to go there to see my father.'
I was sad about that but my own life had become quite difficult and I lacked the financial resources to help.
'Also: last night Tina wanted money to take two children to the Laguna Provincial Hospital but I couldn't help.
'Michael planned to take Mel to the Philippine General Hospital Out-Patients Department this morning. I fear they'll need money for pathology tests and prescriptions but that's a big problem for me too.'
Jason was downcast and repeatedly apologetic: 'I know your situation Bern... sorry for sharing this to you ... I try what I can do now; I'm sad and worried about my father; I want to see him... don't think about what I'm sharing.'
Jason's hour online was running out. I hoped his father had family cellphone numbers in his possession, and someone kind enough to allow him a text; and that Jason still had some cellphone credit. 'Texts to me via Yahoo are OK', I said. They would be much cheaper than SMS messages to my cellphone.
An hour and 20 minutes later, Jason sent me a text: 'Bern, I'm not yet go to Majayjay, can't borrow money for d transport, or for gasoline. All my [friends and relations] are "don't have." I'm sad.'
I was sorry to hear that. 'I'll think about the problem', I replied, 'but money is a big problem [for me too] now. I suppose Susan is also short of money.'
'I don't know what to do now Bern...' Jason said. I want to see my father but I can't do nothing.'
'Maybe you're worrying too much', I responded. 'There's an old saying, though: "No news is good news." I trust something will turn up.'
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