Hot or Cold?

Summer, like a regal princess stepping down the stairs to the ballroom floor, made a grand entrance. All of us felt her presence, as we all ooh-ed and aahh-ed. (As in “Ooh, ang init!” “Aahh, basa na ako ng pawis!”)

During these days, there’s no use complaining about the heat—really. It could be worse. How? Well, would you like to swap climates with the US of A? Just the climate. As you imagine Uncle Sam’s territory, subtract the PX goods, Mickey Mouse and his friends, the malls, and all things stateside.

There, when it’s cold, it’s not just put-on-a-jacket-and-you’re-fine cold. It’s “BRR!-I-am-not-an-Eskimo-I-can’t-take-this-anymore” cold. Case in point: I could be wearing 3 sets of clothes on top of the other, a bonnet, scarf, gloves, 2 pairs of socks under my boots and still feel cold when I step outside the heat-insulated house. There’s little you can do when the temperature drops WAY below zero.

Here, when it’s hot, you may simply do any of the following to relieve yourself: (1) Wear less clothing (but you should still be decent, though), (2) Turn the aircon or electric fan full blast, (3) Eat ice cream, halo-halo or saging con-hielo (A waiter two nights ago had to confirm to me, “Banana?” I politely replied yes but wondered what the other translation of saging could be), (4) Take all the baths your water supply affords you until your skin wrinkles like a raisin, and (5) Retreat to the nearest mall.

Hot or Cold? I’ll take hot anytime and everytime. Now, if you’ll excuse me. After I switch off the electric fan, I’ll take one long shower. I’ll wear my sleeveless shirt over my capri pants then head off to the mall, a 10-minute tricycle ride away. What’ll I do there? Among many things, I'll be doing point number 3!

Enjoy the rest of the sweltering days of Summer.