KEEPING UP WITH GEN ZZZZZ

For many Filipinos, a good siesta serves as a coping mechanism that may also enhance productivity at work or at play. And if anyone asks why you're idling in the middle of the day, just tell them: 'I'm working on my dream job'

- RICARDO T. PAMINTUAN

If there's one thing every generation in the Philippines can agree on, it's the power of a good nap. From our grandparents' treasured siesta time to Millennials hustling from one project to the next, and Gen Zs finding themselves stuck between lectures and screen time, napping has become a survival skill in a fast-paced world.

But let's face it: Gen Xers probably deserve a "nap-loma" in this area, having turned the power nap into an art form long before it became trendy. If napping were a sport, Gen X would be Olympic-level. But in today's world, where time is short and productivity hacks abound, this midday habit isn't just for tired titos and titas anymore, but for anyone who needs a fast recharge.

Long before "power naps" became part of modern productivity culture, Filipinos were already enjoying a good siesta. Some say Spain introduced this nap culture and the word that describes it during 300+ years of colonial rule in the Philippines. Others believe our ancestors already knew the art of resting during the hottest part of the day. Our lolos and lolas didn't just nap because it was comfortable—they napped because it's practically a national pastime, a mindset most probably acquired from the Spaniards. After a filling lunch (and maybe a bit too much rice), there's just no better time to sneak in some pampabata sleep.

Whether we learned it from the Spaniards or were simply born with it in our DNA, the midday nap has long been a fixture in Filipino life. And for many Filipinos, a good siesta serves as a coping mechanism that may also enhance productivity at work or at play.

Farmers, for example, take siestas as a natural part of the workday. After tending crops, they would have a meal and a nap (or maybe answer a booty call?) in shaded nipa huts in the middle of the fields before resuming their labor.