About our Filipino families - a special message in this time of change
21 March 2020
Dear Friends,
How fast the world changes. I am sure that we are all struggling to cope with the immense events of the last few weeks, and the knowledge that the world is in for a very tough time. I hope that you and your families are safe and well, and that not too many of you have been hit with job insecurity or loss.
If we think we are suffering in the west, the situation for our families in Angeles City is most certainly worse.
It hurts me to appeal to you when many of you will have your own financial difficulties, but our little charity is faced with a combination of awful circumstances. Firstly, the corona virus crisis has had a massive impact on the families we support in the Philippines. Secondly, the drop in the Australian dollar has cut the value of our donations by about a fifth. (Don’t ask me why the Filipino Peso is holding its value – but it is.)
I therefore appeal to you – if you are able to assist us with either a one-off donation or an increase in your regular sponsorship, that would be of enormous help.
Our first priority is to buy food for the families, and we would like to be able to do that pretty much straight away.
The tourism business in the Philippines – including sex tourism – has been closed down. This means that there is virtually no money coming into the community where our children live. The tourism industry is the main source of employment, not only for sex workers but also for hotel staff, waitresses, construction workers – almost everything except the call centres.
The call centres also closed down briefly, but are now open with staff required to camp on the premises, because public transport has been discontinued. However, none of our families work in the call centres, because of lack of English language skills and education. They depend on the tourism industry.
Dave Tacon and I had intended to visit the Philippines again in June, and then send a detailed report to our sponsors, as usual. For obvious reasons that is now very unlikely. We do plan to visit the minute we are able to do so.
Meanwhile, the whole island of Luzon has been placed on community quarantine at least until the 12 April. This is the main island in the Philippines, home to 57 million people or about half the population. It includes the capital, Manila, as well as Angeles City, where our families live. Manila is in a total lockdown.
The Philippines recorded the first death outside China from the virus, on 30 January. This and the next couple of cases were Chinese travellers, but it was clear on 5 March that there was widespread community transmission.
As you might imagine, testing in the Philippines is very limited. However, those with symptoms are, in theory at least, tested, and free treatment is available to anyone diagnosed with coronavirus. However, having seen the hospitals in the Philippines, I can assure you that there are unlikely to be the kind of ICU facilities we would expect in the west.
The official statistic as at 20 March is that there are 217 confirmed cases in the Philippines, with 17 deaths. Taking those statistics at their face value, the death rate is between seven and eight percent - higher than the global average.
The economy has been hard hit, and misinformation is spreading as fast as the virus, mainly through Facebook. For example, there are reports that boiled ginger is a cure, and that avoiding cold food, such as ice cream, helps with the progress of the disease.
Meanwhile in Hadrian’s Extension, the slum in which “our” families live, things are very quiet. People have been instructed to stay inside, other than for trips to collect food and essential supplies. Police patrol and instruct anyone outside without a valid reason to return to their homes.
So far, nobody in this community has been diagnosed with corona virus – but it is inevitable that there will be an outbreak, and hard to believe that it isn't already there - undetected. Most families do not have running water or soap, and handwashing is rare. Most homes are earth floor shanties with up to 12 people in a room.
To add to the difficulties, public transport has been closed down, and even the motorcycle tricycles our families would normally use to go shopping are not allowed to operate. That means people are having to pay a service fee for grocery shopping to others who have some form of transport.
Things are getting desperate.
We would like to be in a position to pay a modest amount to each family we support for their immediate needs through this crisis – as well as maintaining our existing levels of support, despite the decline in the Australian dollar.
We have some reserves that will enable us to make an initial payment, but if we are to help in the months ahead, we need more help from you, our generous sponsors.
Once again, I am sorry to be requesting help when I know many of you might be wondering if you can afford to maintain your existing generous donations.
Nevertheless, help is what I am asking for. Details of how to donate are here.
In the meantime, please stay safe, everyone.
Warm wishes,
Margaret Simons
President Angeles Relief Inc
21 March 2020
Dear Friends,
How fast the world changes. I am sure that we are all struggling to cope with the immense events of the last few weeks, and the knowledge that the world is in for a very tough time. I hope that you and your families are safe and well, and that not too many of you have been hit with job insecurity or loss.
If we think we are suffering in the west, the situation for our families in Angeles City is most certainly worse.
It hurts me to appeal to you when many of you will have your own financial difficulties, but our little charity is faced with a combination of awful circumstances. Firstly, the corona virus crisis has had a massive impact on the families we support in the Philippines. Secondly, the drop in the Australian dollar has cut the value of our donations by about a fifth. (Don’t ask me why the Filipino Peso is holding its value – but it is.)
I therefore appeal to you – if you are able to assist us with either a one-off donation or an increase in your regular sponsorship, that would be of enormous help.
Our first priority is to buy food for the families, and we would like to be able to do that pretty much straight away.
The tourism business in the Philippines – including sex tourism – has been closed down. This means that there is virtually no money coming into the community where our children live. The tourism industry is the main source of employment, not only for sex workers but also for hotel staff, waitresses, construction workers – almost everything except the call centres.
The call centres also closed down briefly, but are now open with staff required to camp on the premises, because public transport has been discontinued. However, none of our families work in the call centres, because of lack of English language skills and education. They depend on the tourism industry.
Dave Tacon and I had intended to visit the Philippines again in June, and then send a detailed report to our sponsors, as usual. For obvious reasons that is now very unlikely. We do plan to visit the minute we are able to do so.
Meanwhile, the whole island of Luzon has been placed on community quarantine at least until the 12 April. This is the main island in the Philippines, home to 57 million people or about half the population. It includes the capital, Manila, as well as Angeles City, where our families live. Manila is in a total lockdown.
The Philippines recorded the first death outside China from the virus, on 30 January. This and the next couple of cases were Chinese travellers, but it was clear on 5 March that there was widespread community transmission.
As you might imagine, testing in the Philippines is very limited. However, those with symptoms are, in theory at least, tested, and free treatment is available to anyone diagnosed with coronavirus. However, having seen the hospitals in the Philippines, I can assure you that there are unlikely to be the kind of ICU facilities we would expect in the west.
The official statistic as at 20 March is that there are 217 confirmed cases in the Philippines, with 17 deaths. Taking those statistics at their face value, the death rate is between seven and eight percent - higher than the global average.
The economy has been hard hit, and misinformation is spreading as fast as the virus, mainly through Facebook. For example, there are reports that boiled ginger is a cure, and that avoiding cold food, such as ice cream, helps with the progress of the disease.
Meanwhile in Hadrian’s Extension, the slum in which “our” families live, things are very quiet. People have been instructed to stay inside, other than for trips to collect food and essential supplies. Police patrol and instruct anyone outside without a valid reason to return to their homes.
So far, nobody in this community has been diagnosed with corona virus – but it is inevitable that there will be an outbreak, and hard to believe that it isn't already there - undetected. Most families do not have running water or soap, and handwashing is rare. Most homes are earth floor shanties with up to 12 people in a room.
To add to the difficulties, public transport has been closed down, and even the motorcycle tricycles our families would normally use to go shopping are not allowed to operate. That means people are having to pay a service fee for grocery shopping to others who have some form of transport.
Things are getting desperate.
We would like to be in a position to pay a modest amount to each family we support for their immediate needs through this crisis – as well as maintaining our existing levels of support, despite the decline in the Australian dollar.
We have some reserves that will enable us to make an initial payment, but if we are to help in the months ahead, we need more help from you, our generous sponsors.
Once again, I am sorry to be requesting help when I know many of you might be wondering if you can afford to maintain your existing generous donations.
Nevertheless, help is what I am asking for. Details of how to donate are here.
In the meantime, please stay safe, everyone.
Warm wishes,
Margaret Simons
President Angeles Relief Inc