Inspiration

Sentinel BioTech HQ, Manila — Thursday, 6:45 AM

The Manila skyline was still waking up when Matthew Borja settled into his office recliner with a cup of strong black coffee in hand. The early morning quiet was a rare luxury, and today, he intended to enjoy it—if only for a while. On the large OLED screen mounted to the far wall, a YouTube video played at 1.25x speed.

It was a documentary about Japan's railway system. Beautiful aerial shots showed sleek bullet trains slicing across the countryside, weaving through tunnels, over bridges, into the heart of densely populated cities and tranquil towns alike. Animated diagrams explained how stations were integrated with residential areas, retail hubs, and business centers—forming the backbone of Japan's national mobility.

Matthew leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on the screen.