I've now got less than 2 weeks left here. We've finally got our survey properly underway. We went to malabanias squatter community today (least i think that's what its called!) to to the first day of surveying. They all wanted to do it! We were going to do one in five houses but there's no possibility of being that organised. The community is under the big road bridge over the river (i really must get some photos of that area because its both beautiful and horrible at the same time - its a wide area but not much water in it... there's squatter communities all along the banks and then rubbish. There's so much rubbish - that's where they get their livelihoods from - a lot of them collect rubbish and sell it.). There's three 'streets' and somewhere between 50-100 houses in each. We only went to one though as it was hot and tiring and i was getting sunburnt....

One lady took us into her house while she was doing the survey so i got to see how she lived very closely. The room was about 6' by 4' and the bed was just a board with a cloth over it. Their ornaments were a broken guitar and some posters taken from magazines. It still felt really homely and she gave me a bit of cardboard which was her 'deluxe electric fan' she said! hehe.

There were, as always, loads of kids around. Most were pretty filthy and many were obviously ill in some way - one baby had big blue-grey patches on his skin. Another baby was obviously malnourished with the big tummy. There was a little girl picking up straws from the ground and putting them in her mouth, which, considering there are no toilets in squatter communities, is really worrying. That's the way cholera and other horrible diseases spread. But there are maybe 10 kids to a family and three families living in one room so its impossible to watch them all. That's the harsh reality of poverty.

But again, despite their seemingly horrific situation they were friendly and welcoming and full of life. They were very happy to do the survey and because we couldn't remember who we'd given it to they ran round finding them for us. One guy asked us if we wanted drinks and asked us to come back and see them.

We're going to three more communities hopefully. Each time a staff member comes with us because some of the people don't speak english or very little so we'd find it hard to explain to them. Also its a bit safer to be with a filippino.

We have a new girl in the shelter who is lovely. She's had to make a really tough decision because her mum wanted her to stay at the bar she was working in - she was probably supporting the family. I think that's a big reason why the girls are so trapped - because they are the source of income that keeps their brothers and sisters from starving.

We're hoping to go on a day trip on sunday to the beach. Some of the girls have never seen the sea so that should be pretty good. Also apprently the Philippines has beaches that make mediterranean beaches look pathetic! this one won't be one of the best but i'd still like to see it. I also want to try to get to the big volcano near us. There's two - we're bang in between, but the bigger one, Mount Pinatubo, is the one i'd like to go to. But i'm not sure when we'll do that, we shall see.

I'm stopping teaching now i think and judy's going to take over mine because i'm going to do most of the surveying... and she's going to analyse the results (which will take some doing because its all in tagalog!).

Ooh and i had a cup of tea the other day! We went to SM mall to do some photocopying and while we were waiting i had the brainwave of getting a cup of tea. You can get tea here but it was easier in a more westernised place like SM. It was heaven! Its funny in SM because i go around commenting on how expensive the clothes are then realise the expensive shops are cheaper than H&M. 600PHP for a t-shirt sounds a lot to me because i could get one for 50-100php in the market... but then i realise its only £6! Makes me feel unfairly rich.

Anyway thankyou for all the messages you guys have been leaving me - its really nice to get them, very encouraging!

lots of love to you all

xxxxx