Approaching 30 made me realize how real the “hedonic treadmill” is. At 22, I once thought: “Once I graduate and pass the board exam I’ll be happy.” “Once I get the job, I’ll feel successful.” “Once I save money, I’ll finally relax." Then I achieved those things… and my brain immediately created a new target. The goalpost keeps moving. A degree, license or certification becomes “not enough.” Savings become “still lacking.” Progress becomes invisible because comparison never stops. Especially today, where social media lets you compare yourself to everyone: the millionaire your age, the young professional traveling the world, the politician or businessman who inherited a position or business, the person who seemed to figure life out earlier. As a Filipino nearing 30, there’s also silent pressure: “May bahay ka na?” “Kailan ka mag-aasawa?” “Magkano sweldo mo?” You start measuring your worth through milestones instead of fulfillment. B...
It all started one evening as I was scrolling through Facebook. I saw an ad for a Mt. Pulag climb. At that time, I was still in Mindoro. Mt. Pulag—the highest mountain in Luzon—immediately caught my attention. Among its four trails, the Ambangeg trail is known to be the easiest. The majestic view of the mountain and the famous sea of clouds at its peak sparked my curiosity and made me want to sign up. Honestly, I was just bored. I had been stuck at home for the past two years because of the pandemic. I just wanted to let go and experience something new. Mt. Pulag isn’t just far from Manila—it’s also one of the more expensive mountains to climb. The weather during the hike was freezing. The bottled water I brought from the lodge felt like it had come straight from a cooler. Despite the cold, the hike wasn’t that difficult for me since I was used to walking long distances. Although there was no sea of clouds when I reached the summit, I still felt something profound—I felt alive. I felt ...