The real life’s luxuries

By Herman M. Lagon

The most expensive thing to wear today is not a Rolex or Hermès scarf—it is a peaceful face. It comes from a full night’s sleep, the warmth of morning sun through soft curtains, and the freedom of not needing to rush. We often think of luxury as something bought, but ask a teacher, a nurse, or even a tired sister online, and they will tell you: the real luxury is waking up with time on your side.

Unbranded and quiet, real luxuries live in the unnoticed. A hot cup of coffee sipped in peace, long walks in tsinelas after work, birdsong before the noise of the city takes over—these are not shared on feeds but deeply felt. In a culture hooked on hustle, slow moments are small acts of courage.

Public school teachers know this by heart. Between modules and endless tasks, a mid-afternoon nap becomes gold. A simple bowl of sinigang with family outshines any five-star buffet. These humble pleasures remind us that our souls have their own timelines—ones not ruled by output.

Even silence has become something you pay for. Journalist Odeza Gayl Urmatam wrote how real quiet has turned into a luxury, especially in crowded, urban neighborhoods (Rappler, 2021). From noise-canceling headphones to weekend escapes, quiet now comes with a price tag. For many, silence only arrives when the city sleeps.

But luxury can also be loud—the laughter shared over merienda, an honest conversation that stretches past midnight, or simply the relief of crying in front of someone who understands. These moments of emotional safety matter more than any status symbol. As Psychologist Barry Schwartz notes, happiness does not come from endless options but from making choices that truly matter (Schwartz, 2004).

To choose how you spend your time is its own form of wealth. In a country where many cannot afford to say no to extra shifts or lost weekends, having the power to rest without guilt is radical. And that, too, is luxury.

Leisure, long misunderstood as laziness, deserves better. Play is not just for kids. Whether it is painting, dancing, or simply letting go, unstructured joy reconnects us to our most human selves. Psychologist Peter Gray reminds us that play is essential to resilience and mental health at any age (Gray, 2013).

Reading a book in silence, amid TikTok sounds and television noise, becomes its own quiet protest. Choosing to focus in a distracted world is a reminder: attention is currency, and we choose where to invest it.

Simple things like sunsets or short naps often hold more peace than luxury vacations. A sunset in Iloilo after the rain, or a breeze during an afternoon nap, can outshine any resort. These moments are small but strong—anchors in our everyday lives.

Being able to express yourself freely—at school, at home, or at work—is also a luxury. Harvard studies show that environments where people feel safe to speak up lead to better well-being and results (Edmondson, 1999). A culture that values honesty and humor is not only healthy; it is rare.

Even design is catching up. Developers like Filigree and Brittany now build homes that breathe—with light, space, and silence. True luxury in architecture is not in excess, but in what it allows: rest, reflection, prayer, and freedom. A home becomes luxurious not when it impresses, but when it holds what you love.

We are often told to chase success, but success is worth defining. For most of us—parents, workers, students—real success is surviving the day with our dignity intact and something warm on our plates. No viral video can top that.

When asked to describe real luxury, we might not point to cars or condos. Instead, we might mention the smell of garlic rice, the sound of rain on a tin roof, or the quiet joy of being seen and understood. These are not lesser luxuries—they are the true riches of living well.

Because the richest moments are rarely bought. They are lived, slowly and fully, in the corners of our ordinary days.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a ”student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.