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When I was tasked to write about "what's next?", I really had no idea what to write. Suddenly I remembered a story that I heard where a person was asked, "where do you see yourself 10 years from now? The guy simply said, "to see ahead 10 years, you just need to look back 10 years."

To give a brief summary, 10 years ago making long distance phone calls happened only when we talked with our relatives or when Mom and Dad would go to the US (we had an arrangement so that our house would foot the bill). Mail was sent via the post office and written using either Wordstar or MS Word on Windows 3.1, or even (gasp!) by hand. Pictures were taken using film and transportation was done primarily through Dad, Jane and a driver.

Fast forward to 2008, costly long distance phone calls are a thing of the past with the IP phone. Cellular phones are used to locate each other and make last-minute discussions. Email has become a regular communication tool. Pictures are now taken, edited and sent in a matter of minutes, and practically everyone has their own mode of moving around.

Just imagine, in 2018 although it's likely that each of us would have gone his or her own way, getting connected would be as easy as ever. Family members could be scattered all across the globe but handheld all-in-ones (phone, camera, media player, television, printer/scanner/copier, Swiss knife, toothbrush, convertible, sleeping bag, kitchen sink, etc.) could be the latest craze, and would allow everyone to keep in touch in a matter of seconds.

The world is changing pretty quickly and things are moving a lot faster than they used to. Yet despite all the advancement, it's nice to know that no matter how long it takes, there are still going to be some things that will never change.

Ten years ago, Dad had this habit of making chocolate milk (Milo) for all of us every morning (and some of us at night). Although some of us have developed stomachs that can't down all that lactose, it's nice to know that Dad still goes through that effort, and that in another 10 years, our kids will still have the luxury of sipping Dad's concoctions every morning. Ten years ago I had a brand new shirt and for sure I know that 10 years from now, Dad will be sifting through my closet looking for that shirt and saying, "It's still good!"

Ten years ago, Mom made some of the best food my friends and I ever had, and to this day she still does it even at the drop of a hat. People don't come to the house that often anymore, but it�s good to know that when they do, Mom always makes sure they remember the "bahay ni Vernon experience especially now that Mom�s ensenitas have been gathering a nice fan base. In another 10 years, that experience is not likely to change and we�ll always know that there will be good food cooking at home whenever we drop by.

Ten years ago the siblings kept up-to-date with the Disney movies and would regularly quote the "History of the World and "Airplane movies. Ten years from now, it's still likely that we'll still be singing those old songs and saying those wacky lines.

Ten years ago was the seagull incident.

Ten years ago was the screaming ant.

Ten years ago was "this milk is fine!" (the chewy, chunky kind of milk)

Ten years ago was the fiasco at the dining table with the big, ugly, toothy fish.

Ten years ago was "I AM turning left! (while turning right)

Ten years ago was "all my sisters were born guys except me!"

Ten years ago, the family would be able to spend the afternoon just goofing off at home and making fun of each other. I imagine that ten years from now, we'd still be doing the same thing although we may be doing it from our own living rooms around the world via satellite feed. Mom and Dad may be hard of hearing by then, and we'll have to put the sound up real loud, while Dad will be wearing a 30-year-old green T-shirt with patches on the armpits ("it's still good!") staring at the video screens saying, "Hey you guys, you like my red T-shirt?"

Ten years is a far cry from "infinity and beyond", but by then, it would be as it was 10 years ago, when everyone would be available at the touch of a button, and seeing each other in HD would be just as sweet as the real thing.