A Half Kilo Rice, Please!

                 By Vic Odarve

This Covid 19 pandemic nearly brought all people down to its knees.

In the capital city there lived a man with his wife and a baby boy. The household was living in a rented small room in a tightly packed slum dwellers area. Like most of the neighborhood due to the pandemic, this family was in dire of financial needs. Not far from them was a store selling basic goods. The husband and wife used to sell a kilo or more of a ‘first class rice” to their neighborhood.

Slum dwellers in the city

Early in the morning the husband noticed a small boy came and bought a half-kilo rice. And he did it since the pandemic Covid-19 began. “Am puzzled why this family budgeted only half a kilo rice instead of the usual one kilo,” the husband told himself. When he informed his wife about this boy, she merely laughed at her husband. She reminded him to sell the rice as usual…only a minimum of a kilo and do not entertain below a kilo.

A half- kilo rice, please!

The pandemic nearly brought our slum neighborhood to its knees. The husband could see how the families coupled with no work no pay struggling in pain as companies are closed in operation. Most people are a little bit relieved when the Social Amelioration Program or SAP from the government was given. But still on this large community of slum dwellers whose living depends largely on the economic life of the business of the city, life is difficult. They would suffer all day long until the COVID 19 lockdown is somewhat loosened. 

One day, it was his wife who opened the store early in the morning. A boy came and wanted to buy a half-kilo rice. At that instant she informed the boy that she did not sell a half kilo and instead only a kilo minimum was allowed and entertained. The boy returned home and informed his mother that only one kilo rice is entertained. A moment later, the mother went to the store and asked to buy a half-kilo rice. “Why not buy one kilo rice instead of the half kilo? ‘the wife asked the mother. “This is the only our budget,’ replied the mother.

 

Mayana Village life is away from Covid-19

After a lengthy conversation, it was then learned that they are using “NFA rice” because it was the cheapest rice in town and that the half kilo first class rice they intend to buy will be mixed to make the cooked rice ‘softer and savory.’ If pure NFA rice, the cooked rice was smelly, and they experienced unusual taste. Upon hearing this, the wife looked so concerned and remorseful over the neighbor. A little while the husband arrived. He saw her wife face was a little bit upset and sorrowful. Then she told her husband over the boy who always bought a half-kilo rice. 

To date, majority of the slum dwellers live in a hand to mouth situation. These people are struggling in pain and trying to seek ways just to survive and live. 

A half kilo rice would mean everything to them. It gives them a chance to live another day.