LMAO @ your definition of middle class
My guy's family scrapes by on a bunch of small businesses and leased farms. A small money lending business, a small school, a small convenience store, a tricycle for hire. They worked their butts off to build it from nothing. They have a roof over their head and enough chickens in the yard. They can always (barely) make their basic necessities. They don't have aircon and often cook over a fire. They take a motorbike once a week to Tagum city for their weekly shopping.
They are AVERAGE. Considered in their village to be average or doing okay because they are haves instead of have-nots. He says they're middle class and I have to be careful not to say they're poor.. no, the guy who sleeps under the coconut tree and does odd jobs for the family in exchange for food and sleeping in the stick house is poor.
Getting kidnapped for ransom is a privilege reserved for wealthy or for white guys stupid enough to venture into Zamboanga
Sorry to make light of it marjd.. it must have been a terrible experience. However there seems to be a special cloud that upper middle class lives on