We can’t beat the heat, but we can get out of the kitchen.

This summer has not been forgiving. Temperatures of 36-38 degrees Celsius are normal. There are no breezes to speak of, then suddenly a downpour for 20 minutes. Just enough to soak you to the skin and make your flipflops muddy, then the heat comes back worse.

I don’t go to an office everyday so there have been endless workarounds to the heat. I’ve worked in the yard, the garage, the living room, my parent’s room, whichever is the coolest at the time. Multiple baths. Icy drinks. I’ve worked with friends in different locations. I’ve begged the fiance to go out and work at tea and coffee shops that have constant AC and cushy chairs. I am this close to unfolding and using an above ground pool that my work is storing at home and working from the edge of that.

Then something like that rainbow appears. It just shows you that in the middle of the insanity of the heat, there are beautiful things out there. Sunflowers filling the entrance to UP Diliman (catch them this week before they all wilt!), the sky at almost sunset, the glorious purples and reds of a halo halo.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is, maybe we’re all scorching under this scary weather, but there’s still something to be happy about out there. You just have to look up.