Ode to 2005

What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Put life before money; put others before me during Christmas; traveled to Belgium, China, Tacloban, Cebu, Bohol; tried to find a job in Manila; trusted way too many strangers with my life this year (HeHe!); discovered wi-fi; waited for someone at NAIA; watched UAAP games...hmm, basta a lot of firsts this year. =)

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make new years' resolutions.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

Did anyone close to you die?
No.

What countries did you visit?
Belgium, China, Philippines

What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A fulfilling job. Sige na nga, lovelife na rin. HaHa!

What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 27 was when I arrived in Manila.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Pursuing what I've always wanted to do.

What was your biggest failure?
If I answer lovelife, it will be like what I said last year. Sawing-sawi na masyado! LoL. I guess my biggest failure would be not being a better daughter to my parents.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.

What was the best thing you bought?
Papa the Powerbook, my digital camera, my plane ticket to Manila.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ninang for not kicking me out of the house in San Mateo. LoL.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
That evil landlady and those in Manila who told me "Please expect the job offer by next week."

Where did most of your money go?
Plane tickets, Starbucks, and Smart prepaid cards.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Time with friends and cousins.

What song(s) will always remind you of 2005?
"I Believe" ni Jimmy Bondoc? HaHa! Thank Tet for sending me the MP3. LoL.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? -- Absolutely happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? -- Thinner sabi nila.
iii. richer or poorer? -- Richer. Unemployed, but richer. =)

What do you wish you'd done more?
Talked to my Seattle family more.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Harbor bitterness.

How many one-night stands?
Two...ang night stands sa room dito. ;P Corny ba? LoL.

What was your favorite TV program?
VH1 shows and Eat Bulaga (when I still had a TV in the bedroom)

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.

What was the best book you read?
By the River Piedra, I Sat Down and Wept by Paolo Coelho

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nina Live! CD

What did you want and get?
Happiness. =D

What was your favorite film of this year?
"...ing"

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent lunchtime with Twin Mayie and dinner with the titos and titas. Mid-twenties.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A job would've been nice.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Flipflops! I wish I could wear them all year-round in Seattle!

What kept you sane?
Tambayan sessions and text messages!

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kim Rae Won (swooooooon!)

What political issue stirred you the most?
George W. Bush's existence

Who did you miss?
My Seattle family especially Ganda Girl (I do wonder if she still remembers her magandang ninang!)

Who was the best new person you met?
Naks! I love you all! Yihee! HaHa!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005
Live life.

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself
"You're a gem waiting to be found." Huwag kayong makilig; bading ang nagsabi niyan sa akin. LoL.

The most touching experience you've had this year?
Tess thanking me for her Christmas gift; people telling me that they value my friendship; getting a surprise birthday cake on my birthday.

What did you like most about yourself this year?
Numero unong kaladkarin ng bayan this year. HeHe.

What did you hate most about yourself this year?
Hmm...my feeling helpless when frustration sets in.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
And they’re bound to guide my way
When they’re shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won’t let the darkness in
What a journey it has been

-- Lea Salonga's "The Journey"

- - - -

This past year was a good one. I didn't think it would be judging from the start of this year, but it turned out to be a good one afterall.

At the start of the year, I woke up every morning dreading to go to work. Lifeless would be the most accurate term to use to describe me at that time. Yikes.

When I finally got out and found a job that I thought would give me the world (literally), I lost it in a blink of an eye. I would've accepted the defeat if they had given me a solid reason, but they didn't. It was a humbling experience to say the least.

On top of that, I lost $500 trying to prove how grown up I was. In the process, I realized how sheltered I was, how I haven't met enough horrible people in this world to realize that there are many lurking around. I took it hard. Really hard.

By June, I was sure that 2005 was the worst year ever of my life. Up to now, I can't even look at my archives from January to June because I know those ill feelings will come rushing back again.

But everything truly happens for a reason. God ALWAYS gives me what I want and by July, He did. I found myself doing what I have always wanted to do: go back to the Philippines.

I found reasons to smile again. I found happiness. I found a goal worth pursuing (that would be a job and not a lovelife, people! HaHa!). I found my self-esteem back to near normal levels. I found newfound friends worth keeping. I found life. Naks!

Thank you to my website visitors who "kept me company" throughout this past year, Raissa (and family for treating me well in Tacloban), Tita Rosalyn, Zara (and family), Tet, Lisa, Supervisors Pinky-Sherry-Kathleen, Kuya Heinz (and brother, este, Ate Ambie, HaHa!), Belle, Alessa, Homer, Pen, and my cousins. My 2005 wouldn't have been the same without all of you.

The new year will start with a huge question for me and I don't know how to answer it. But whatever happens, I know that there is a reason for it. I just need to keep remembering that.

I wish you all the best that life has to offer and a chance to enjoy them all! Belle probably said it best when she texted me, "Wish you all the best and the boys in 2006." Amen. ;P

Jologs

At the ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m. today via text:
"Min, punta ka ba ng Galle today? Nuod tayo ng Enteng Kabisote ng 12:30!"

My semi-coherent thought: Oh my God, my cousin is so jologs!

My reply:
"I can't go. Hindi aalis si Ninang. Nuod na lang tayo ng movie nila Piolo and Judy Ann on January 8!"

My coherent thought: Oh...my...God, I'm more jologs than my cousin!

In 2002, for one of our "dates", he and I watched Jologs (the movie) at Robinson's Ermita (for the record, it was his idea to watch the movie). I ended up sitting next to a girl who was eating a hamburger with banana ketchup that I could vividly smell. That experience will forever be ingrained in the deep trenches of my memory for the simple reason that the jologs level was too high to forget. On Monday, I thought a trip to Enchanted Kingdom would topple the jologs record, but it still stands since EK didn't push through. We will just have to wait what happens on January 8th. HeHe!

Friendliest Ship

Note to self: Let's try to be girly in another way. When someone asked you to pick a Christmas gift and you picked that bling-bling Bayo top, you should've gone the casual route instead...or at least, something that was less high-maintenance. It only lasted one wear on you! Grr!

I've always told Tet that she could teach boys a thing or two about being a good boyfriend eventhough she's a girl woman. Need evidence?

• She knows how to make "paalam" to my relatives (She's the first person ever to talk to Ninang about spending time with me)


• She's never afraid to say "I miss you" and "I'm excited to see you" via text


• She uses her Free Time on me


• She calls randomly (That's why I always answer the phone with "Bakit ka tumawag?!" HaHa!)


• She knows how to buy gifts [For Christmas, she gave me (and Kulay) a Christian boylet! Just what I wanted! HaHa!]


• She can make me tear up (in a good way!): "You have no idea how blessed I am to have you as a friend. Thank you for your friendship."

Sis, I always compliment Jason for being a good boyfriend to you, but I hope you know that whenever I say that, I'm complimenting you as well. You always tell me that women should never settle for anyone less than they deserve. You deserve Jason because you're both equally good people. Naks! If U.S. is an option in a few years, think about Seattle, please. =)

Joy To The World

Yesterday morning...
Me: Tess, nalabahan na ba yung puting kamiseta ko?
Tess: Oo. Hindi ko lang alam kung nasaan.
Me: Nung Monday ko sinuot yun.
Tess: Tingin ka lang dito. Um, Ate, pamasko ko?
Me: Meron, meron. Bibigay ko sa iyo mamaya. Hanapin mo muna kamiseta ko.
Tess: (Laughs)

Before I left the house that morning...
Me: Tess, o. Merry Christmas. (hands over an envelope)
Tess: Thank you, Ate.
Me: Ano ka ba, Globe or Smart?
Tess: Smart.
Me: O, eto pa. (hands over prepaid card)
Tess: Ate! Thank you! Ang bait mo talaga! (hugs)

Priceless, simply priceless. I've never seen that reaction from anyone after giving a gift and it truly made my holiday season.

Okay, okay, my first pair of Havaianas from Ninang made my holiday season...and the bling-bling Bayo shirt...and the "R" pin Ate Ricci gave me...and the P50 I got for scoring 90 on my first videoke performance (singing "Before I Let You Go" by Freestyle no less!)...but non-materialistically-speaking, Tess' reaction was the best "gift" I received this year. =)

Christmas 2005

I'm taking a short break from my whirlwind holiday season to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May your day be filled with blessings, laughter, happiness, and love.

A quick rundown of the last few days:

Dec. 21 - Ayala Museum, Greenbelt, and Glorietta
(I saw Norman Black...and got my pic taken with him!)

Dec. 22/23 - Tagaytay
(I saw Erwin Tulfo!)

Dec. 24 - Lunch in Eastwood, midnight mass, Noche Buena in Antipolo
(I saw Agot Isidro and husband!)

Dec. 25 - Lunch in Antipolo, Dinner in San Mateo
(My cousins are all stars in their own right. HeHe!)

Thank you to the Manahans, Garcias, Buloses, Riveras, and Ramoses who invited me to spend Christmas with them. I'm sorry, but there's only one me to spread around. HeHe!