Pharmaceutical prices high in Philippines

Tina: (09:23:25): Good a.m. Bern and Alice, how are you? I hope you are both OK, and in good health, sorry if I didn't reply yesterday coz I don't have load, sorry to tell you I don't have medicine to take, last 2 days.

Bern (16:09:53): Hi Tina, just now, at Mercury Drug's website, I ordered 1 pack, 100 x 50mg Azathioprine tablets for pick-up at their Pagsanjan Pharmacy, same as before. "Tina will receive your messages on a mobile device."

Bern (16:12:11): I also sent Mercury an urgent e-mail confirming your address and cell number. Nevertheless I expect they will be slow to respond. Admin office closes at 5pm.

Bern (16:20:32): I think you'll have to be lucky to get the Azathioprine (aka Imuran) today. I requested receipt for high priority e-mail (as Mercury does) and am waiting for it.

Bern (16:21:59): Also if necessary I can drive to bank ATM machine to check my Mastercard balance. If it has increased by $120 I'll know Mercury has already charged me.

Tina (16:49:11): Thanks Bern for your concern, I will wait for der call, for confirmation.

Bern (16:49:52): I'm waiting for them to acknowledge receipt of my high priority e-mail.

Dinner by candle light

Mel to Bern: cellphone text message sent on Feb 15 at 21:57, Filipino time: It's hard to move to my house; [I have] no light, also no food, Bern. It's very dark in here. But gladly I have 1 candle and I'm having coffee and bread [for] my dinner. [I] hope you and Alice are OK. [Received on Feb 16 at 13:39:51, Australian Eastern time].

Tina: 16/02/2007 (09:40:26): Bern, good morning, we don't have classes today because [we are] celebrating Chinese New Year until Monday.

Bern to Tina (13:41:51): Hello. Mel says he has no light and no food. PLEASE ask Jovs to TAKE food to Mel immediately then report back to me. If Jovs can't, please do it yourself.

Tina (14:03:00): Good afternoon Bern, I and Jovs and little Bern will go to Magdpio [the village where Mel lives] now to bring food there.

Bern to Tina (14:06:26): Thanks very much for that. Also, [I'm] very interested to know who's living in [the] house [where Mel lives], using elec[tricity], what food they have etc. We have just paid huge OVERDUE rent bill here today.

Tina (19:00:30): Gud p.m. Bern, we [have] just return[ed] from Magdapio, we bring food there just for two of us, don't worry too much about Mel, he has electric power, he [was] just eating lunch when we arrived. [Received at 21:15:01, Australian Eastern time].

Tina (20:42:14): Nanay Josie was there, also the family of Jayson, Ramon [Josie's man friend] was always there in the house. According to Tita Mercy [a neighbour], Nanay Josie [is] washing clothes from their neighbor[s]; [this] serve[s] as their income. Jayson['s] work was getting coconut in the mountain to sale, sometimes [also] fruits.

Bern: Hi Christine, we just arrived home. Thanks very much for visiting Magdapio & getting news for me. I wonder when [Mel's] light was cut & when it was restored.

Sick woman lacking medications sends best wishes

Tina (23:36:58): Gud evening Bern, I'm sorry to hear dat Alice was been heart attack, I pray she will be OK, best wishes for Alice. 16:14:37.

Tina (23:45:49): You know Bern, I don't have medicine take today, dat why I'm not surprise I suffer headache right now and d reaction of my body I suffer before when I don't have medicine. I'm getting weaker.

Tina (23:48:31): I'm so sorry, I know you have your own problem, specially now Alice was sick too. I know you're so tired for what happen. Please take care of your self always. Careful to your BP [blood pressure].

Tina sleepless, lacking money for food, medications and transport

Tina (11:50:00): Gud am Bern & Alice, I cannot slept in d whole nite last nite, thinking when I get my medicine today, coz my last tablet I take last nite.

Tina (11:52:54): Sorry to tell, but I did not go to skol yesterday and today coz I don't have allowance for food and transport.

Young man lacking money, unable to sleep, sends love

Mel (1/02/2007 02:57:00): Gud a.m. Bern! I can't sleep now, it's now 12:30 a.m. here, I know u r asleep. My pigsa [abscess] is OK now but still I'm needing money. I hope u r OK. Regards to Alice. LOVE J0MEL.

639195108186 (1/02/2007 15:24:07): Hello Bern, gud afternoon, I hope you're not skip your lunch. Regards to Alice, I hope she's fine. I love u so much Bern. And u always take care of yourself. I miz u so much Bern.

Health in the Philippines

The Filipino families I know have experienced a variety of illnesses including recurrent pulmonary infections, malnutrition, anemia and vitamin deficiencies. It is no coincidence that these are cited in the Encyclopedia of the Nations' entry, Philippines - Health:

Pulmonary infections (tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchitis) are prevalent. Malnutrition remains a health problem despite government assistance in the form of Nutripaks (consisting of indigenous foods such as mung beans and powdered shrimp) that are made available for infants, children, and pregnant women. In 2000, 32% of children under five years old were considered malnourished. Protein malnutrition, anemia, and vitamin A and iodine deficiencies are commonly found in children. The goiter rate was 6.9 per 100. Heart disease is the third most common cause of death in the Philippines.

Sick children, debts and bankruptcy

Tina (11:59:17): Gud a.m. Bern, I [have] been compromised for Helen tomorrow coz 3,000 I borrow[ed], & till now Reorence don't have take home antibiotic. I don't have any money.

Bern (12:03:21): So sorry to hear [that you don't have money]. But I took care to ask you [the] TOTAL amount needed. I have financial problems too.

Tina (12:03:25): Little Bern also have a fever since yesterday. Good news [about] Ken & Kert - their fever [is] gone.

Bern (12:05:45): Glad to hear Ken & Kert's fever [is] gone at last. WHY are Filipino children so very often having fevers? Malnutrition? Why so much infection?

Bern (12:10:54): I told you years ago, [a] counselor with long experience warned [that in her experience] Australian men who married Filipinas [were] usually left heartbroken & BANKRUPT. It's coming true for me too.

Tina (12:18:33): You know Bern, Helen['s] business was buy[ing and] selling of fruits, she buy[s] fruits like lanzones in Laguna [province] & travel[s] it to Manila, she need[s] her money tomorrow to [be] used as capital.

Tina (12:18:39): Da money she gave me don't have interest, dat [is] why I'm very shy to her.

Bern (12:21:03): This is getting too much for me. I need time to think about [the] situation. Thanks for [the] e-mails just rec'd. Must repay some to bank before I do anything. I have little money.