Family lacks food; jobless father desperate

Today, at 11:10 a.m., Philippine time, Jason, an unemployed father of two daughters, sent me a text message from San Isidro, Laguna, in the South of Luzon Island, saying last night he could not sleep; he had a very painful boil "and there is also no food; I don't know what to do now."

I was very sorry to hear that and really wished I knew what to do.

Evidently the family has been barely surviving for months. Jason had previously confided that over the last half-year he has sometimes gone without eating himself for two or three days.

I had no remedy or comfort to offer. My repeated efforts to help the family have been leading me into financial difficulties.

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Mother takes daughter to hospital; funds unavailable

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Text messages, 10:00 a.m. to 10:13 a.m, GMT + 08

From 10 a.m. onwards, from Kalayaan in the Philippines, Tina sent several text messages requesting help.

She was preparing to go to the Laguna Provincial Hospital in the town of Santa Cruz with her 4-year-old daughter Bernadeth - Joe ("Little Bern") who had a high fever, wounds on the head and face and white fluid exuding from the right ear.

I was really sorry, I replied. "I'm financially and emotionally exhausted."

Tina replied that she understood, but needed to give first aid to Little Bern. Last night the child had hardly slept because of an itch and around 1 a.m. she had become feverish.

The situation was more difficult because Bernadeth's kindergarten had selected her to appear on a float in a parade next Friday celebrating Nutrition Month, together with her cousin Zedric. The float would need to be decorated and the children dressed in traditional Filipino clothes; but money for this was also lacking.

Furthermore, the Philippine Training Authority (TESDA) had requested Tina to have her roadside diner prepared to receive an additional 50 customers for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea today, so at 3 a.m. she had traveled to a market to purchase provisions.

Now she had been notified that the extra trainees would not arrive until tomorrow.

A hospital doctor will almost certainly order pathology tests for Little Bern, for which there is no money available, and if that is achieved he or she will write prescriptions for an antibiotic and other medications, for which, again, money is unavailable.

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Plea for help

At 2:27 this morning, Tina sent me a text from the rural town of Kalayaan in the Philippines.

Tina could not sleep because the extended household in which she lives has many problems.

For the school year about to begin, supplies are needed for 5 children, at a cost 1,000 pesos each, for a total of 5,000 pesos.

A cardiologist has ordered an echocardiographic heart examination for Tina's asthmatic nephew Kian, 18 months old, who has breathing difficulties; but the family has no money to pay the 2,500 peso fee.

Last Tuesday the family removed Kian from the hospital where he had been receiving oxygen treatment. They could no longer afford his upkeep there. Oxygen is unavailable at home.

The roadside diner selling meals which Tina and the family have been striving mightily to maintain needs 2,000 pesos for the immediate purchase of stock to continue.

Tina didn't know what to do and said "Please help."

Tina also enquired how I was and hoped I was OK.

The arriving message roused me from a fitful sleep. It was depressing and I had little chance of sleeping properly afterwards. Not knowing what to do, I took a tablet to help me relax and did nothing.

Finally, at 08:14, Philippine time, I texted Tina: "It was distressing to receive your text in the early hours this morning. I'm in debt. I didn't know about school expenses. I wonder how Kian is now."

There has been no reply.

Family with 7 children indebted, hungry and penniless

Bern (10:37:33 GMT+10): Good morning Tina. Yesterday afternoon Jason texted me, giving thanks for helping Mae-Mae. I'm wondering how you, Kert and all the Kalayaan household are now. [Yahoo Messenger: "Tina will receive your messages on a mobile device."]

Tina (10:46:58): Did you received my text last nite? I did not slept whole nite, coz our food cook all credit, only 100 [pesos] cash, no 1 allow me get stock to cook today. We don't have food today, kids hungry.

Bern (10:48:50): No, I didn't receive it. Most regrettably my phone was inadvertently turned off and it has just arrived now. This is a deep shock to me.

Bern (10:52:22): On closer examination, the text just received was one you sent at 07:32 this morning. I received no other warning about this extreme situation.

Bern (10:55:18): Most regrettably, also, because of a large price increase, my Optus cell phone credit load is already exhausted. To ring you I must use a public call box.

Tina (11:03:43): Dis [is] my last text. I don't [have] money to buy load; just only I cry for d kids [who are] hungry coz I'm so tired since last nite till dis a.m. [I tried] to find some 1 to give capital to cook for today; not lucky.

Angry husband allegedly denies food to children of indigent in-laws

Text received online at 09:32 GMT+10

Tina (09:02:11): Gud evening Bern, you know Bern since Sept. 14 nite I don't have slept coz of our family problem, I cannot give help for d kids in d front of Jovs coz he was angry, I can't give food from d salary of Jovs. He was angry? What I can do, I need to survive my store, think d best things to become successful, to help d kids. I hope you understand what I want to say? I really need to [have] additional capital for rice and other household need, for d sake of my customers and family.

Young man Mel suffers pain, weakness and anxiety

Text received online at 09:32

Mel (03:11:52): Hello Bern, good evening! I don't know if I will go to the specialist - the pain is still [present,] I feel [it] though I continue take the med[ications] and also I feel weak. I'm worried.

Desperate aunt borrows money to pay for newborn screening of nephew

Tina (00:53 GMT+8): Gud a.m. Bern and Alice, we're been in Provincial dis p.m. [to] have a check up on d baby of Liza 1 week after birth, doktora required us to have new born screening, after know d history, to make sure der is no mental disorder, last chance to be done tomorrow, worth 1,500 in private hospital, I don't have money, to tell you d truth it's so hard for me support to mother while in breast feeding always hungry and want to eat, we [have a] lack of food to eat, but [I] feel OK while baby smiling at me. Liza can breast feed Laurice['s] baby when no milk. [Text received online via Yahoo Messenger at 09:18 GMT+10.]

Bern (09:22:41): Hello Mel, please advise me about the Western Union situation. [Yahoo: "Mel & Jester will receive your messages on a mobile device."]

Bern (09:25:37): Hello Tina. Sorry, I don't know what a newborn screening is and I don't know why today is the last chance to have one.

Bern (09:26:43): Yesterday I sent Mel 4,000 but Western Union refused to pay him and said the transaction has been waiting in a "security queue" until this morning.

Tina (09:33:51): Newborn screening was a test for a baby which only done in 1 week old, it will be then only in dat grace period of time, it will know if d baby have mental disorder or have a problem in early age, in dis case it will be cure in right away.

Bern (09:35:22): Thanks for that information. It's still unclear what mental condition the doktora wants to screen for though. Please try to borrow 1,500 from Mel. [Yahoo: "Tina will receive your messages on a mobile device."]

Tina (09:37:09): Der [is] no available newborn screening in Provincial [hospital] only in private in Laguna Doctors hospital.

Bern (09:37:25): Tina, despite repeated enquiries and complaints, Western Union has kept Mel waiting all night for the 4,000. Please contact him and ask his help.

Bern (09:40:35): Tina, if I understand correctly, a Provincial doktora has referred the infant to the private hospital for a screening test. Sorry, I forget the baby's name.

Western Union (09:45:29): Status [of remittance] : Available for pick up by receiver. [Online confirmation.]

Tina (09:50:15): Yes you're right, doktora gave referral, d name of baby was KIAN . . .

Bern (09:51:33): Oh, yes. Mel mentioned that Kian was the name of a singer in a group of four. I forget their name. I've just been looking up genetic screening.

Bern (09:53:29): Mel has not replied to my text this morning. Probably his load is low. Please try to get in touch with him ASAP. His WU transfer is available for pick-up.

Tina (09:58:55): OK I will try to contact him.

Tina (10:28:19): Bern we call Mel, Jovs explain d situation, Mel agree to give 1,500, we just met in Sta. Cruz near in hospital, but he said we need to return it soon.

Bern (10:29:41): Thanks to you and Mel for that. Mel told me he helped Anagel and family because they had measles so he ran out of load. I want him to keep selling loads.

Bern (10:31:45): I sent Mel 4,000 at 4:45 p.m. yesterday but Western Union refused to pay, saying the transaction was in a "security queue." I'll ring and ask the situation.

Bern (10:32:38): Evidently Mel's money is "available for pickup" now but if I had enough money and tried to send you some now, the same delay might happen again.

Tina (10:50:06): Bern maybe today was not de same as WU yesterday, Mel was now going to Sta. Cruz.

Bern (10:51:26): This morning I spent 45 minutes at the WU sending agent's shop waiting for a response from WU. They claim the money is available now.

Mel (10:57:06): Good morning Bern. Tina phone me 8 a.m. dis morning and she forward d text from you to me. I'm going now to Sta. Cruz to try to received the money. Love.

Sick woman worries about how family can survive

Tina (01:14:33): Bern gud evening, sorry if disturb you! It's so hard to have slept, coz of so much worried, I have now new bruises in my forearm and legs, in dis case I'm worried in platelet transfusion in my near operation.

Tina (01:17:48): I'm worried to Liza, she goes to Alabang today, to get d 2 child and bring it here. I'm worried how we can survive, if Liza don't have work and Roderic was sick, its back on my responsibility again.