News stories by Tess Bacalla

Give the poor cash and they will spend it on things other than their most basic needs. Or with no thought for their future, let alone their children’s, they just might indulge in wasteful spending. Right?

His bones pushing against his skin, Lean Ray Francisco has been feeding on rice coffee, or coffee made from roasted rice, and rice water - left over from boiling rice - for most of his three years.

The cheers from the final campaign rallies of nine presidential candidates have faded away, and it is just hours before Filipinos go to the polls on Monday. But voters like Roberto Mendoza doubt that the next president can tackle problems like corruption that have long hounded this South-east Asian country.