We complain about the heat in the Philippines. The fan is on. The air conditioner struggles. The afternoon feels heavy.
But this is not the edge of it.
In places like Jacobabad, Pakistan, recent heat waves in the mid-2020s have pushed temperatures to around 52°C (125°F). It does not happen every day, but 45–50°C is a regular part of peak summer. Power outages are common. Not everyone has air conditioning, and low-income communities are hit the hardest. When the grid fails, even electric fans stop.
In Basra, Iraq, summers still climb past 50°C (122°F). This has been consistent in recent years. Electricity cuts happen during the hottest hours. Air conditioners go quiet. Fans go still. Cooling becomes a matter of shade, water, and endurance.
Across parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India, recent heat waves continue to reach 45–49°C (113–120°F). Millions live without reliable cooling. People sleep outside at night to catch moving air. Daytime is about getting through the heat.
In the Sahel region of Africa, the temperatures are not always record-breaking, but the heat is constant. Many communities still have little to no electricity. No fan. No air conditioning. Daily life adjusts to the sun.
Some of these places deal with dry heat, others with high humidity. Both are dangerous in different ways. Humidity makes it harder for the body to cool down. Even lower temperatures can feel overwhelming when the air does not move.
Now compare that to the Philippines.
In Tuguegarao, one of the hottest places in the country, temperatures reach around 38–41°C (100–106°F) during peak days, with records near 42°C (108°F). The heat index can feel even higher. It is intense. But most areas still have access to electricity. Electric fans are common. Air conditioning, while not universal, is present in many homes and public spaces.
Are people in the hottest parts of the Philippines poor? Some are, some are not. Heat does not choose income. But access to cooling often does. Even in lower-income communities, a basic fan is usually within reach. Power interruptions happen, but not at the same scale or duration as in some of the places above.
So yes, the heat here is real.
But there are places where the heat is not just uncomfortable.
It is something people still have to live through, with very little relief.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
