Move 37

Recently, there's been a viral question on social media: what were you like in the '90s?

Bandung, spring–summer 1998. Our television, the main window to the world at home, was filled with news of unrest. In a compact rented house, my sister (Belda Novis) and I spent our days playing with whatever we had. A PlayStation was something we heard about, not something we owned.

Last week, in a very different setting, surrounded by friends and quiet birthday conversations, I found myself thinking about that time. Life has moved in ways that are easy to miss day-to-day. If I trace it back, it begins with the faith my parents held, especially in the importance of education, even when circumstances were uncertain.

Along the way, many people shaped my sense of what could be. Kind teachers who guided me, including those in the computing lab at school. Fellow competitive programmers who raised the bar of what I thought I could do. Diverse peers I met during my time in Singapore, who broadened how I see the world. Early investors, partners, and teammates who chose to build SIRCLO together when things were still fragile. None of these moments stood out loudly on their own, but together they formed a steady sense of hope.

Things have not been easy lately, and may remain chaotic for some time. Still, I'm reminded that what sustains us is not certainty, but love, given and received in everyday ways. To my wife, my family, my team, and to you who happen to be reading this, thank you. I hope you feel as supported as I have been in your own journey. And for those who are in a difficult season, you are in my prayers.

Bandung, summer–fall 1998. By chance, a used computer arrived from Bogor at my mother's request, passed down by my aunt, the only one in my parents' generation who went to college. A Pentium 100 with Windows 95. It was unusual for kids our age at the time to have access to something like that. The machine aged, but we kept using it until 2005, learning to work within constraints and be creative. Looking back, it felt like a quiet Move 37.

— Tangerang, Silent Saturday 2026