hello, my name is Ama. This week, my Tita Charlene and cousins Dordor, Shaina, Aprile, Jude, Christian, Christine, and four grandbabies lost their home, belongings, and livelihood in a fire.

This fire took place in the Shanty town where they have lived for the past 25 years in Tondo, an impoverished area in Metro Manila of the Philippines. Shanty towns, or squatter settlements, are improvised housing developments made up of metal, plywood, cardboard boxes and sheets of plastic by the communities who live in them.

Shanty towns are particularly vulnerable to fires both due to the way they are built and due to the war on the poor (a well documented experience for poor people in the Philippines, particularly in the disproportionate targeting of poor people in the War on Drugs).

Any money donated would go to supporting my family's relocation. Our hope is that we can support them in relocating out of Shanty towns in Metro Manila and into a nearby province where they can live with more ease and safety and rebuild their karindarya to cook and sell food.

Please donate what you can and share in your networks. Salamat! Thank you <3