The idea behind taking home souvenirs is somewhat similar to commemorating a special event. In the case of traveling and exploration, we, as tourists, tend to go about shopping for something that would remind us of our latest adventure. Of course, sometimes, we plan our travels according to a certain purpose. For example, we visit a place because they are famous for something that we are currently interested in. Let’s take a closer look at this topic as we continue with the “U” issue of the A Ba Ka of Philippine Souvenirs series. U for Ukay-Ukay We know it all too well, the joy of finding a treasure at an affordable price. Yes, I am talking about thrift shops. In the Philippines, thrift shops are known to the locals as “Ukay-ukay” or sometimes just “ukay.” It came from the Filipino word “hukay” or “halukay,” which means “to dig,” and is somewhat similar to “to rummage.” Ukay-ukay is also known to the locals as “wag-wag,” which means “to vigorously shake the dust off of an item.” …