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ILLUSTRATION BY KIKO BUENAVENTURA
MANILA, Philippines – A few weeks ago, I noticed something while passing by a familiar spot. A milk tea shop that used to be there has closed down. In its place, a new one has opened. Same type of business. Same location. Same kind of customers passing through.
On the surface, it looked like a simple replacement—one business out, another in. But it made me pause a bit. Because this is something you tend to notice when you’ve been around businesses long enough.
A company looks fine from the outside. Sometimes even growing. Sales are coming in. Targets are being met. Reports are acceptable. But inside, something feels slightly off. A bit more pressure. A bit less clarity. A kind of fatigue that is not immediately visible, but slowly accumulates.
