The heat is on

According to PAG-ASA, last March 23, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija heat index hit a whopping 44ºC—already in the danger category where heat cramps and heat exhaustion are more likely to occur. In Metro Manila, the heat index is playing in the late 20s to late 30s within the first week of the summer equinox.

It may seem as if it’s hotter than most days in the metropolis, but this is just a case of the urban heat island effect. Population and modification of land surfaces are the common causes of this exponential increase in temperature, so it’s definitely the right time to book an out-of-town trip with family or friends, if only to escape the heat and maybe even daily city reality.

“When you reach a certain age, those dreams of a nomadic life don’t really go away, but then again you have reality at arm’s reach every time you come home,” says singersongwriter Armi Millare who, together with photographer Jake Verzosa, is this month’s cover subject. Verzosa, meanwhile, shares that their busy schedules get in the way of their desire to travel as well. “We both find it hard to go to a place just for the sake of traveling.” Find out how they plan their trips as well as other stories about wandering inside the pages of this month’s issue.