Contributed by Simon

I got to know Emma* (46) and Migs* (41) when I was doing a survey among the poorest families in our neighborhood. They have two girls (14, 12) and two boys (9, 7). They live in a house with two small rooms and no insulation under the metal roof which makes it very hot during dry season. Migs is a construction worker with a huge scar on his belly from a fight he had when he was young. Emma is a skinny woman. She works as a “labandera”, washing others’ clothes. When I had finished my survey, they asked me for a loan of $20 to replace their empty gas tank. Emma wanted to cook food and sell it as a small source of income. They promised to pay back 2 dollars daily for 12 days (which makes $24). This is called the “5-6-Mumbai” method, the way some Indians in this country are lending money to Filipinos. I told her that I’m not a Mumbai despite my pretty long nose, I’m not interested in earning money. With the new gas, Emma regained hope and means to care for her family. But this was only a short break for her in the long and exhausting struggle of the poor running the crazy Covid marathon.

The Philippines is among the countries with the strictest and longest Covid measures (for example until now, children are not allowed to be outside.) During the first two months until mid-May, the government provided some assistance by distributing food packages. But from mid-May onwards, no more help from the government arrived, even though many workers weren’t yet able to go back to work. People had to survive on their own. In June, Manila reached the lowest level of community quarantine so far, more and more shops and businesses were allowed to re-open. However, many of our neighbors, who had had temporary work before Corona, were struggling to find any work, not to mention a regular income.

In order to better understand the situation of our neighbors, I did a survey among the poorest families in our area last July. Before Corona, Emma was selling food in front of the huge elementary school where she made her living. But public schools were closed for 7 months and re-opened only on October 5. So, all our neighbors who were earning money by selling food or school supplies have no income anymore, because now classes are all online or – for those who can’t afford internet access and smartphones – a kind of modular self-study at home. After only one week it is obvious that the mothers – who usually bear the biggest responsibility for the family’s well-being – will, on top of that, have to assist their kids by doing their learning tasks.

Lockdown with all its restrictions – e.g. kids not allowed outside, limited public transportation, parks closed – is already exhausting for us with no shortage of money. How much more is it draining for all the poor struggling to make daily meals possible? Two days ago, Emma came to our place, desperate, with tears in her eyes. They haven’t paid their rent for 7 months, nor their water and electricity bills. So, the landlord cut off the water and electricity and asked them to leave their house. The neighbors don’t want to sell water to them – maybe because the same landlord has told them to not support them anymore. At least the landlord has written off their debts of around $600. Emma wants to look for a cheaper house but was hesitating as she has no money for the 2-month down payment. I encouraged her to look for a new place. Thanks to the many donations Servants has received to support the poor affected by the Corona virus, we’re able to support Emma and her family by finding a new place to live and new hope.

* names changed

Simon lives with his wife Barbara and their two sons (7 & 5years) in a poor neighborhood in Quezon City, a part of Metro Manila.

Tags: