‘No Geographical Limits’

AFTER years of not seeing each other, we finally reunited over a shared love for food, shopping, and family bonding.

Families and friends know no boundaries, be they geographical, social, or humor. With them, you can say what you think and do what you want without fear of being judged or for fear of offending the other. In cases like this, it would be best to take things with a grain of salt.

That’s how it was the past few days. We met with families and friends we hadn’t seen or met for the longest time or in person.

Let’s start with families. All families have their urban tales, including ours. Some shocking, horrifying, but mostly funny. My cousin Peter calls it “no geographical limit,” while his sister, Anne, calls it the Wizards. Peter has another meaning, but it would be best to keep it among us cousins. You might be horrified.

It’s my first time meeting them in person, but thanks to social media, we have been constantly communicating and updating each other. Short but sweet, as they say. It was non-stop laughing. Luckily, Tita Minda, the mother of our celebrity cousin Boom, was there to tie the loose ends on family tree info and, of course, the interesting side stories. Someone listening might think we’re bullies because of the jokes Tita plays on her son, Steve. “Cariño Brutal.”

Same with friends. My brother and I have our respective work friends, one that went beyond the workplace. If we have extended families, we also have extended friends. It’s when friends become friends of your family.

My two constants at work extended beyond the corporate world. We talk to each other daily through the web, but it’s been ages since we’ve been together in one place. Meeting our respective families made it more special. The never-ending Chika extended beyond lunch and proceeded to coffee.

I first met my brother’s friends more than 20 years ago. And the last time we met was more than ten years ago. Both his friends are trailblazers in their respective fields. One is an insider in the political and legislative arena. The other is one whose signature you would want on your business’s legal documents.

Things changed, but the camaraderie will always be there.

I’ve also seen this in my son and his good friend from high school, now based in the big city. He traveled far, and through Grab at that, to spend a few hours. It’s heartwarming to see that kind of friendship, and they even made a video call to their other good friend.

At the end of the trip, I realized this was not just a vacation. It was a journey of rediscovering family ties and friendships over shared food and a love for shopping.

Family bonds and friendship do not recognize geographical limits. We all come from different islands and regions and speak different dialects, but we understand each other like the back of our palms.