Funny you should mention dust, Max ...

[The Peepmaster]

Things aren't looking good in Manila either, where they've had a month's worth of rain in just a day.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8276347.stm

[Roger Kettle]

God, that looks awful. It's not long since I posted on here, complaining about our wet Summer---I think this is called perspective.

[The Peepmaster]

It's quite amazing. I have quite a few contacts in the Philippines on my facebook page and there were all kinds of appeals coming out this afternoon - mainly for rubber boats!

We have some clients out there at the moment (in Manila). We've established they're safe in their hotel, and are just hoping they get their flight home tomorrow okay.

[Joan]

It's just been on the news this morning here, Peeps, so it must be bad. Immediately wondered if you had anyone there - glad to hear they're okay.

It was very strange, Tom - HG Wellsian - yesterday's wasn't too bad, and went fairly quickly, leaving a thin layer of dust on everything we'd just cleaned up.  The dust is just an inconvenience (I don't think anyone had serious respiratory problems from it) and very spectacular for the media.  It seems like a lot of fuss for not very much when something like the floods in the Philippines happens.  I hope Kevin is going to help them when he gets back from basking in the glory of actually being included in doing something about the world economy.

[Joan]

I just went outside and it's like the middle of winter in the wind out there.  Lovely out of the wind, but it's still blowing a gale and it's freezing - must be coming off the snow.

I'm off to cook for the fireys.  They won't be burning off - probably training courses.

[The Peepmaster]

I just heard from Lucy, that her sister-in-law, Alona, who works as our representative in Manila, walked/waded/swam over 4 miles, sometimes up to her neck in water, to get to the hotel in Makati, where we had guests staying. (On the way she had to buy dry clothes to replace those that were by now very wet, although she has little money.)

I'm so tempted to award her "Employee of the Month". However, I'm informed she was 5 minutes late arriving at the hotel.

[Diane CBPFC]

Wow, that is some level of dedication to the job!

I know you were also having trouble with your injured mother Peeps, but I worry that this Alona who can wade/swim four miles is fit enought to beat the cr..p out of you. Take care my friend.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

I worry that this Alona who can wade/swim four miles is fit enough to beat the cr..p out of you. Take care my friend.

I'm not sure she'd have to wade too far for some help on that score...

[The Peepmaster]

Of course, I'm actually immensely proud of her. The guests gave her a tip (which is customary), of 300 pesos. (That's just under £4).

[Roger Kettle]

As a matter of interest, Peeps, what's the average wage out there? Is 300 pesos a lot of money?

[The Peepmaster]

I don't really know. I do know that £4 buys you a lot more than it does here in the UK, but there are many people who earn next to nothing, if not nothing at all. There's no social security system.

Just found this via Google:

It depends where you are in the Philippines. As with any country, wages vary widely from place to place. Also it depends if you work. Minimum wage is about 300p ($6) per day. Live-in help will make about 2,500 to 3,000 pesos ($50-60) per month and get free food and lodging and some other expenses. A university professor can make 25,000p ($500) per month. More or less depending upon education and seniority. A taxi drive if he is lucky will clear 500p ($10) a day.

Much of the "wealth" comes from filipinos abroad sending money home to their families. It is a major part of their economy. Tourism is going to play a bigger part of their economy in the future, and rightly so.

[The Peepmaster]

Of course, I'm actually immensely proud of her. The guests gave her a tip (which is customary), of 300 pesos. (That's just under £4).

I just thought... She'll probably have been wearing her new company T-shirt, which might have become stained or damaged. That's likely to mean a £4 deduction from her wages.

[Roger Kettle]

Hard but fair, Nige.

[The Peepmaster]

I've falsely given the impression that I'm a tad callous. I do admire dear Alona's dedication, and will overlook any misdemeanors at this time.

Yesterday was weird. I was getting appeals for help regularly, via facebook and twitter, from contacts in the Philippines, (which I could do little about), but it emphasised the seriousness of the situation, and the fear and hysteria of some affected.

At the same time news reports and various videos were becoming available, some of which I didn't want to watch, as there's no pleasure in witnessing genuine distress.

I was also twittering about the massive Big Man that was over on this island for the weekend. A huge "puppet", that was really quite trivial compared with other things going on. This morning, it took up much of the floor space at the back open part of a ferry car-deck, and mechanically waved to islanders, who in turn waved back.

I'm switching from serious to twee, then back again. It's so surreal, isn't it?

[The Peepmaster]

Incidentally, this is the Big Man Walking together with harbour and ferry staff. (The Big Man is the one at the back.):-




Here he is waving from the ferry:-