That's very sad for them Peter. They are such resilient people there in the Philippines though, and do seem ready always to help each other out. Hopefully they'll soon be back on their feet again.

I remember when I lived up on the family farm in the mountains, the male relations building their Copra 'Kilns', fuelled by old coconut shells. That and the rice being a major part of their income.

The farm had 16 hectares of rice paddies, in addition to many fruit and coconut trees, plus a crystal clear mountain river running through it, with a few fishponds alongside. Always something interesting going on.