On my way to the jeepney terminal last week, the man walking in front of me abruptly stopped. The reason? He was typing a text message. This few-second incident which almost caused a near collision made me want to write about connection. What was so compelling about the message that he had to stop, considering that he had been texting even before that moment?

In 2018, I had the opportunity to go to Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, France. To complete the visit, I went up the Abbey. It was a heartwarming experience. At one point while I was there, looking at the ceiling, the walls and seeing the crowd, I was overwhelmed with emotions and felt like crying. I felt so sad feeling that all around me were strangers and that there’s no one I could share my experience with. I was able to pull myself together and by the time I was on my way out, I was again in high spirits.

In another instance, sometime during my Paris posting, I had dinner together with the family of a work colleague in the Philippines in one of the restaurants along  Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The place was perfect. We chatted a bit, catching up about this and that. Then by the time we were seated (we occupied a separate table from the other family members) I noticed that most of them were looking at their phones and reacting/smiling on whatever is onscreen instead of talking to one another. How’s that for a family reunion in the City of Lights and Love?

Now, let’s go back to 23 years ago. I rode a bus alone to my hometown. I got a seat beside a sleepy woman and a tall, clean, and physically fit man wearing denim pants and a white shirt. The initial awkwardness led to a conversation, which went on throughout the 12-hour trip. While the woman beside us slept mostly, that man and I exchanged light stories, views on various topics, plans. Call it fate or sorcery, but I missed him the moment he stepped out of the bus. Despite the challenges faced by the pre-smart phones era, we managed to meet several months after in Manila, and he became a significant part of my life.

What determines connection? How do we maintain real connection? That’s not easy to answer. But this one is certain — you’ll feel it when the synapses occur. This too remains vital — in a world where bonds don’t usually last, treasure the moment with your loved ones and bask in it.