usury in isabela

we all know that usury is alive and well and draining the resources of farmers everywhere in the country. this morning, my bayaw vito texted me if i can spare a few thousand pesos to them. they need the money for the expenses for planting. agpa-raep da idiay palattao, naguilian. since i don't have money, i frankly texted back that i will look for ways. he thanked me by saying "masyado kasing mataas ang porsiyento ng mga nagpapautang dito."

curiously i asked how much. he replied: "ang uutangin mong isang libo, ibabalik mo pagkaraan ng 3 buwan na may kasamang isang kaban palay. mga P600 yun sa kasalukuyang presyo ng palay."

aba e 5-6 nga. very usurious. 20% for every month and that's 60% for 3 months.

ironically, it has been reported in the last few weeks that the micro-finance program of government is going well reducing the interest rates of loans in the countryside. well, maybe the government program has not yet reached the people of palattao in naguilian, isabela.

what a name!

for the whole world to know, the name of the baby of xerxes and aimee is... xaires angela diosa...

remembering mang nemy

today is the 1st death anniversary of mang nemy panaligan. his untimely demise in the US last year came as shock to all of us. anyway, i have been searching for a photo of mang nemy but i failed today. so i am posting this photo which i took in december 2003 when manang luvy, manong nemy's loving wife came for a vacation and inay paid a visit at their home in jones.