Tripping out this 2026
We have all heard the phrase before. We say it casually, sometimes even jokingly, until it begins to lose its weight.
Life is short.
It was only recently that I truly sat with those words. Not skimmed past them, not nodded in agreement, but actually thought about what they mean. The past few weeks forced me to do exactly that when my classmate from UST, one of my barkada, Jennifer Serdon-Estolas, celebrated her 51st birthday on Dec. 22.
Three days later, on Christmas Day, she passed away due to heart failure. Just the night before, she had shared a photo of herself with her husband and son, wishing everyone peace, hope, and blessings. None of us could have imagined that by the following day, she would be gone.
Her passing left me deeply saddened. There is something especially cruel about grief arriving during a season meant for celebration. It feels unfair for families and friends to carry such heaviness when the world is supposed to be joyful.
We are often told that a woman’s life spans around 80 to 90 years. Against that backdrop, dying at 51 feels shockingly premature. It makes the phrase ‘life is short’ feel heavier and more real. For some, life is simply shorter. For others, heartbreakingly so.
My own mother passed away at 66. That realization led me down an unexpected train of thought. At 53, I am 13 years away from the age she was when she left us. It may sound morbid, but I am not afraid of dying. What unsettles me more is the thought of not fully living the days I am given.
So I asked myself a simple question. If life is short, have I gone to the places I want to see? Have I experienced enough of what the world has to offer?
Before answering that myself, I asked a few friends where they would go if given the chance right now.
“I want to go to Tibet. The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is on top of my list because of its rich culture,” shares celebrity hairstylist Jing Monis.
That struck a chord. I have never been to Tibet either, though the thought of all that hiking gives me pause. Still, it feels like a place worth adding to the list.
“Right now, I want to see the Northern Lights. So if given the free time, Finland would be my next destination,” says shrimp farmer Tina Vergara.
“Right now, I do not mind staying in Manila because it is quiet, there is no traffic, and everyone is in a good mood,” offers Lailani Gotao.
I cannot argue with that. These days, a 15-minute drive to Makati feels almost magical when it usually takes an hour and a half. It also helps that Lailani is a decade younger than I am, and perspectives do change with time.
“That is a very difficult question, but I would say Japan for the amazing cuisine, powder snow for skiing, and the onsen bath experience,” says executive chef Markus Tauwald, adding, “Bali, because I have never been and I always hear great things about it. And Thailand, because I miss the street food.”
Spoken like a true chef. I have been to all three, but since Markus is German, it makes perfect sense that Asia calls to him.
“Hotel Esperit Roca in Girona. Food is my top priority when I travel, and Joan Roca’s new restaurant. He is a very experienced sommelier and there is food pairing that I want to try,” shares Stella Yap, unsurprisingly centering her travels around cuisine.
“I want to go to North Norway and hike or camp for a couple of weeks in Lofoten. It is beautiful, with mountains and ocean in the same scenery. There is a spot called Ryten that feels like God’s country, and walking down to Kvalvika Beach would be the icing on the cake,” says Peter Murray, painting a picture that felt almost cinematic.
“Turkey is my choice. I love its history, the people, and its culture,” shares Bryan Yap, drawn to depth and heritage.
“I want to visit my sister in Irvine, USA. I miss traveling to the US,” says Sonia Go.
That made me smile. Sometimes travel is not about discovering something new, but about returning to the people we miss.
After listening to everyone’s answers, I noticed something else. Most of the places mentioned were far from routine and obligation. They were tied to longing, curiosity, and the desire to feel something meaningful rather than simply ticking destinations off a list.
I find myself leaning the same way. I have decided to take a break from traveling to the United States for now. Airfare has become absurdly expensive, I have been there countless times, and there is simply no strong pull to return at the moment. And while our own country has its share of political chaos, I do not feel the need to add more noise into my life.
So where would I go if I could pack my bags tomorrow?
Croatia.
I hear nothing but beautiful things about it, and since I have never been, it feels right to put it at the top of my list. But more than the destination itself, this reflection reminded me of why we dream, why we plan, and why we keep asking ourselves these questions.
Jennifer’s untimely passing brought everything into sharper focus. It reminded me that birthdays are celebrated, plans are made, and life feels normal until, suddenly, it is not. None of us truly know how much time we are given. Some are granted decades, others far less than they deserve.
Perhaps the real takeaway is not about where we go next, but how we choose to live the days we wake up to. Every morning we open our eyes is already a gift. Every drive through traffic, every shared meal, every laugh, and even the quiet moments we barely notice are blessings in themselves.
Life is short, not just as a phrase we repeat, but as a truth we must honor. And as long as we are here, may we live with intention, love deeply, go when we can, and never forget that each day we are given is already something to be grateful for.
