On June of this year, a month short of my second anniversary with the company, I resigned from my job. The pay was good, the benefits were more than any employee could ask for, and the co-workers were not only friendly but brilliant at what they did. It was the perfect office setup and, in these uncertain times where jobs are scarce, I gave it all up.

On February 16, 2005, four days before then vice president Arroyo’s oath-taking as the new president of the republic, people went in droves to the Edsa Shrine, site of the historic 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.

I have yet to meet a parent who doesn’t have the tiniest bit of the worrywart in him or her. There seems to be this constant vigilance over the welfare of his or her child inherent in the position.

In the Philippines, where the temperature can go as high as 38 degrees Celsius, people have only one goal in the summer months of March to May: cool down. Back in the ‘80s, the lucky ones got to spend a week in what is considered the Summer Capital, Baguio City, or a few days in the 2nd Summer Capital, Tagaytay City. Some went to their respective provinces, which may or may not be much cooler than Manila but at least guaranteed new surroundings to explore and the presence of relatives to entertain bored city folk.

“Once you’ve seen one pagoda, you’ve seen them all,” said one Polish backpacker I met outside the walls of the Forbidden City in Beijing.