Getting past the guard

In honor of Filipino-American History month, I’m writing one post every day for the month of October. Today is Day 10.

Here’s one of my dad’s favorite stories about traveling to Manila for work, which he did quite often while I was growing up:

If any building in the Philippines has something of value inside it, there’s probably a security guard standing out front of in the lobby.

My dad walked into the same office building every morning for about a week and a half. And every day, he wore a suit to his Important Meetings.

The very first morning, the security guard gave a brief salute, as they often do. “Sir,” he said. And every morning after that, it was the same. Right on cue.

Then one morning, my dad came in to pick up something he had left at the office. He was wearing a barong, and the same security guard was in the lobby. My dad walked straight past him towards the elevator, as he always did.

“Sir.”

My dad kept walking.

“Sir.”

He didn’t even hear him, because he had walked right past him every day for a week and a half.

“Sir!”

The guard grabbed my dad by the shoulder. “Sir, you have to check in.”

My father was gobsmacked. “Really? It’s me! You don’t recognize me? I’ve been here every morning for the last week!”

The guard, expressionless, simply said, “Sir, you need to check in.”