What does 24 mean?

24 years ago, I came out of my mother's womb.

24 years ago, My parents finally had their second child.

24 years ago, there was a promise of greatness.

But now, what would the 24 bring?

What is the Color of Money?

Last Sunday as we were driving through the provinces of Northern Luzon, I noticed something.

Most of the houses aren't exactly finished.

Showing are their GI roofs and concrete walls. Even the floors of their porches are plain gray concrete.

They looked so sad and poor right beside the rich old intricately detailed 'bahay-na-bato' houses (even if some of them were dilapidated or abandoned.) I thought perhaps it wasn't because of lack of interest in their part. Perhaps it was more of the lack of money. Who wouldn't want their houses bright, beautiful and welcoming? After a hard day toiling the fields, one of the best things that can soothe you is a charming, comfortable home.

Does it mean that life is getting a whole lot harder? That even if the most simple pleasure of decorating your home is such an huge expense?

Life is supposed to be getting better because we are supposed to be evolving. But why is it as though we are digressing instead?