journal features

Arnon in Manila

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Manila, 2008.11.05

Today I met my childhood friend in Manila while he was on a business trip. We caught up, chatting in the unlikely setting of a meat (meet?) market in a sprawling outdoor shopping complex. He'd just gotten off of a marathon meeting, and our talk was peppered with the tales of his business success. His company now employs 340 people and is the market leader in his field.

It was the first time in six years that we'd had the chance to meet, and catching up went all night.

rand()m quote

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov