A mother’s reflections on dreams, Childhood and connection
Mom, where are you?”
I got a text from my son, Donny, asking where I was. I replied that I was home. Why?
“It’s the launch of Analog,” he said, referring to his newest venture.
There were several nights planned for the grand launch, and I didn’t realize I was invited to the first one. So I asked, “Bihis ba mga tao?”
“Eh di magbihis ka!” he replied. And so I did! I got ready as quickly as I could and headed to One Rockwell, arriving just after the ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened Analog MNL.
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After surrendering my gadgets for safekeeping in a locker, I was welcomed by my son. I gave him a big, tight hug and told him how proud I was to see this dream of his finally come to life.
As Donny’s mom, I have been privileged to be a sounding board for his ideas. These usually come when his creative juices start flowing in the middle of the night, just as I am deep in slumber and he is winding down for bed. Then, suddenly, an idea strikes!
I listen while normally half-asleep and mumble, “Sounds good.”
By the time I nod off again, I have usually forgotten all about it. Life goes on. But not for my son.
Donny is an introvert by nature, slow to warm up and not one to share an idea without first thinking it through. By the time he speaks about something, chances are he has already been processing it for quite some time. What may sound like a sudden “aha!” moment to the rest of us is often the fruit of a long season of thinking, imagining, and quietly working things out.
And that is something I have learned about my children: sometimes, what they share with us is only the beginning of a dream that has been growing in their hearts for a long time.
The heart is the birthplace of words
Scripture reminds us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. I raised my children to be mindful of their words because words have the power to give life to what we believe, dream of, and hope to accomplish.
I admit I have sometimes laughed off their seemingly bizarre or far-fetched ideas. But when I realize that an idea means something to them, I take it seriously.
I get invested in their dreams and aspirations. Sometimes, I play devil’s advocate by throwing every possible scenario at them to test how serious they are. I ask the difficult questions. I challenge their assumptions. I try to convince them why something might not work.
And when they have considered the possibilities and still choose to pursue their dream, I become their prayer warrior, resource finder, and promoter.
My son Donny said he saw something missing in the world today: connection. And so he opened Analog.
Because that is also part of being a mother: learning when to question a dream and when to help make it happen.
And then came Analog MNL
I woke up the morning after the launch in awe of what had unfolded.
This is, after all, the year of analog!
What are the odds that my son would bring to life a place called Analog, inspired in part by the very childhood experiences he once resented?
Donny shared during the launch that, growing up, he was allowed only 30 minutes of media time a day. He spent countless hours being told to play outdoors with friends. As a very shy child, he found it difficult to engage with other people, but we encouraged him to do so anyway.
He had to learn through play, develop skills through games, get dirty, get hurt, and figure things out along the way.
Like many children, he didn’t always appreciate the things his parents withheld or the things we made him do. But looking back, he now recognizes what those experiences gave him.
And that realization became part of the inspiration behind Analog.
He sees something missing in the world today: connection.
We are more connected digitally than ever, yet how often do we find ourselves physically together but mentally somewhere else? We sit at the same table, but our attention is on different screens. We have access to endless information and entertainment, yet sometimes struggle to give one another our undivided attention.
Analog is an invitation to reclaim something we may have slowly lost: the joy of being fully present with another person.
It is a place where we can disconnect from our devices so we can sincerely connect with people. A place where conversations can unfold without constant interruptions from notifications, and where we can enjoy a moment without feeling the need to capture it on our phone cameras. Sometimes, when we stop to take a photo, we lose the essence of the moment. The beauty of simply being together can be lost when we have to pose for the camera. At Analog MNL, we can enjoy one another’s company, be curious, play, and simply be in the moment.
As a mother, I find it particularly meaningful to see how an experience from my son’s childhood has evolved into a vision he now wants to share with others.
It reminds me that we may not always know what our children will do with the seeds we plant in their lives. They may question them, resist them, or understand their value only much later. We can only hope that, in time, they will discover something meaningful in those experiences and find their own way of passing it on.
And perhaps that is what makes watching our children grow so special. The little things we thought were ordinary can become part of something extraordinary in their lives.
So yes, this is also an invitation to visit Analog MNL. Not just to see my son’s newest venture, but to experience the idea behind it.
Come as you are. Bring someone you want to spend time with. Put the distractions aside and share a conversation. Make a memory and enjoy the simple gift of being together.
After all, yesterday is in the past. Tomorrow is yet to be lived. Today is the present and a gift to be cherished.
Disconnect to reconnect. Be present. Live in the moment
And to Donny, congratulations! As your mom, I am proud of you not only for bringing a dream to life, but also for finding a way to turn your own experiences into something meaningful that others can enjoy and learn from.
May Analog become a place where people find their way back to one another, one conversation, one shared experience, and one moment at a time.
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Analog MNL is on the ground floor, One Rockwell East Tower, Rockwell Center, Makati City. Café: Tuesday–Sunday; Storefront: 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; Apartment: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Speakeasy: Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 6 p.m.–1 a.m.; Thursday–Saturday, 6 p.m.–2 a.m.; Walk-ins: Welcome, subject to space.
For reservations, visit analogmnl.com.
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