Buendia

One of my favorite road signs is the one for private vehicles near Buendia—wag nang gumitgit, makakarating din tayo. Every day on the 12-peso bus ride to work I pass by this reminder. Some days I look out the window at just the right time. Assurance for the commute, assurance for the moment-to-moment living: makakarating din tayo.

Company

Meaning this business. Meaning this organization I chose to be part of, meaning the people. Meaning their presence and my presence, together, meaning this contentment. From the Old French compagnie, meaning “society, friendship, intimacy; body of soldiers.” The tenderness of an offered cake, childhood stories during the van ride back, lunch break considerations. Meaning slight glimpses into each other’s lives: a tendon that never healed right, thoughts on the presidency, Indian dance lessons, cab driver stories, on his epitaph only He was the best dad. Meaning to fight together with a vision for the country, or to fight our own battles for our own reasons but side by side. Possibly incidental interactions to living our own lives. Nevertheless, the beauty of more than one definition. That there is some intersection.