2,000 pesos from the barangay

Two weeks ago the barangay we belong to sent the HOA office a notice that every household would be getting 2,000 pesos including 5 kilograms of rice. The majority decision of the board was to pass up on this and instead give the money and the rice to the poor communities.
Today our secretariat received another notice that senior residents would be getting 2,000 pesos plus grocery items. I think this time around the residents would opt to get the dole outs not because they need them but because the money is intended for them. It’s up to the individuals if they want to redirect the funds and grocery items to whoever they want to help.

The barangay also distributed masks to the residents and their respective household employees.

Four days after the announcement of the first quarantine in March, our maids were in panic because their rice was running low according to them. I HEARD Edmund on the phone and he was having difficulty assuring the maids that their supply should last up to May. But they were in panic and were not listening to what Edmund was saying. They just kept on repeating the same sentence “sir, wala na kaming bigas isang linggo na lang”.

Before we left for Manila on February 25, Edmund told me that their rice would last up to the first week of May and that their food allowance was good till end of April. According to the maids, the dogs ran out of dog food so they’ve been feeding them with rice. Oyen was able to find a pet store in Manila who delivers even during quarantine, They delivered the dog food at the village gate only and our maids went there to pick up the bags. My mother in law was able to buy 6 sacks of rice and had them sent to our house. Oyen also sent them canned goods thru a third party. Derrick is back in Manila and he also sent food to our maids.

Yesterday, the HOA secretary delivered food packs to our house.

Residents are under quarantine and there’s only one vendor who also lives in the village that sells fresh meat and vegetables.  Our maids are complaining that the prices are double.  Presyong pang mayaman daw.

Oyen is regularly in touch with our housekeepers.   She gives them 1,000 pesos a month for free load and wifi. They busy themselves making kakanin, pastillas, yema, and playing with our dogs. Since it’s summertime, Edmund and Oyen are giving them permission to swim in our pool. My concern is that not all of them know how to swim.