Year-End Survey

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
A lot! First real job sa HP! First real paycheck! First time to ride an airplane and travel overseas. First time to attend UP FAIR (loser ko ;)), which goes with my first henna tattoo (araw)... A lot a lot pa

 

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Sabi ko dati stronger faith. I guess I achieved a faith that's a little bit stronger than last year's. For next year? More exercise, magpapayat. Heehee.. And work more on my faith and my relationships with other people...

 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.

 

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope, thankfully

 

5. What countries did you visit?  
USA, Australia, Singapore. Yey!

 

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?

Again, more self control. Less outbursts and moodswings. More tactful statements, less tactless ones.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
23 April 2005         College of Engineering Recognition Rites

24 April 2005         University of the Philippines Graduation

08 May 2005         my sister and I left for the States

01 July 2005          first day @ HP

08 October 2005    I left for Australia with teammates

27 November 2005 I left for Singapore with teammates

 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating from UP!!! You wouldn't believe what I went through. This is indeed a great and valued achievement to me.

 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Ano pa ba? INC sa thesis!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No naman. I'm relatively healthy this year. Except when I went to the US and was sick on my second and third days. What a bummer.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Heehee, I just bought a phone. So there.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
friendskami! Super understanding at tinulungan talaga ako! Super love ko kayo, peeps

 

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Surprisingly, marami... Isang powerful na nang-aaway, Isang nakakapagpagulo ng utak ko, isang nang-aaway dahil sa maliliit na bagay...

14. Where did most of your money go?

Food, of course! And where else? Shopping! Lalo na sa mga overseas trips. And also Christmas presents. I still can't get over how much I spent on presents this Christmas.

 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I really got excited about our US vacation! And then when I got there, I really got excited about coming home. At siyempre, Eng'g Week!!! Awitan Broadway, most especially.

 

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?

The Day you Said Good Night, Graduation, We've Only Just Begun

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? about the same, I think. happy  contented.
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter!!! oh no!!!

iii. richer or poorer? richer

 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

I wish I'd jogged more, went to the gym more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

I wish I'd done less of worrying. Less sumpong din, as usual.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? 
I spent it with my family. Opening gifts and shrieking at my wow-he/she-gave-me-this gifts. Heehee

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?

Nope. Haha! First time! Pero honestly, there are people you'll always love and wouldn't have to fall for...

23. How many one-night stands? 
Zero

 

24. What was your favourite TV program?

Desperate Housewives

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word... Hrm... Nope!

 

26. What was the best book you read?

Best book for me is the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. Ang girly eh.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Hale  Astig ang galeng! Tsaka Giniling Festival! Siling Giniling.. Siling Giniling...

28. What did you want and get?

I really really wanted to graduate on time. God gave that to me. Afterwards, I really really really really wanted to get in HP. God gave that to me as well. I'm so blessed. Now, I have to work on them and not waste these blessings.

29. What did you want and not get?

 Hahahahaha! Lovelife! Tatawa nalang ako... Hahahahaha!

 

30. favorite film of this year?

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

 

31. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 21 this year. Half day leave ako. First half of the day I finished testing for a project at work. Sobrang kakaharrass! Second half of the day uwi at nagshopping with Mama for the Australia trip. I also went to mass and then celebrated my evening with my family. Simple pero masaya.

 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Personally, wala naman. Super dami kong blessings this year. For CURSOR though? EWOC siyempre.

 

33. how would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?

First half: Super casual/pang-UP/harrassed attire. Second half: Nagpipilit magpaka-grown up office attire.

 

34. What kept you sane?

my faith, my family, my friends

 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Hahahaha!!! Sino pa ba?!? Abbybaby!!!

 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Political issue? Hrm... Oh my God, I'm so in the dark with politics.

 

37. Who did you miss?

Marami.  My family and friends during the times I was away. Mga friends na hindi ko na nakikita ngayong grad na ko na sobrang miss ko na...

 

38. Who was the best new person you met?

I dunno.. Meron nung sa school, pero a lot sa work. Siguro si Maricar  Minsan pag magkwentuhan kami nito, napapatagal eh. Heehee.. Sayang bayad ng P&G. Hehehe

 

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

My life is not perfect, but people around me make it better. I realized who my real friends are and how much my family loves me. God doesn't send you painful experiences, but challenges that make you stronger.

 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
You are my light
You're the lamb upon my feet
All the time my Lord
I need You there
You are my light I cannot live alone
Let me stay by Your guiding love

All through my life

Lead me Lord

(I remember singing this song and crying unexpectedly... )

CURSOR SEXY!!!

I remember painting the CURSOR logo. The very first time as applicants making a batch project (green background) and again as members, preparing for Eng'g Week 2004 (white background). What this logo represents is CURSOR -- my org and a part of myself.

I'm very proud to say that I joined an organization that is just like a family. Yes, there are bits and bytes, which are equivalent to parents and children (though sometimes they go off dating each other *heehee Sars, care to explain?*). There are also lots of siblings of different shapes and sizes. They have different quirks and personalities that make you realize how talented, passionate, and diverse people can be.

I am very proud to be a part of this family and I am more than glad to have known such wonderful people. And I am equally proud of what our family has accomplished.

CONGRATS CURSOR!!!
3RD PLACE OVERALL
ENGINEERING WEEK 2005

To the members, I know you gave your all this year and wouldn't settle for anything less. The alumni are very proud of the spirit and the heart that you have shown. We know how close it was for us. Even if they say it doesn't matter, we know it does.

Congrats again and

CURSOR SEXY!!!

Awitan Aftermath

When you hear this song repeating in your head from sleeping til waking hours, it only means that...

CURSOR placed 1st overall in Awitan 2005!!!!!

Congrats guys!!! You really truly deserve it!!! Sabi ni Rain, inggit daw ako... Super happy ako! Org ko to eh! Pero slightly inggit nga! Teehee! I'm already looking forward to the night events..

GO CURSOR!!! CURSOR SEXY!!!!!

Do you Hear the People Sing?
from Les Miserables

ENJOLRAS
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

COMBEFERRE
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Courfeyrac:
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

FEUILLY
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!

ALL
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

 

And the next day, when you're in the office and you play this lone song over and over again in your playlist, it only means that something means more than the victory. And you'd love to be depressed the whole day...

In A Rush
Blackstreet

It came over me in a rush
When I realized that I love you so much
That sometimes I cry, but I cant tell you why
why I feel what I feel inside

How I try to express what's been jugglin' my mind
But still can't find the words
But I know that something's got a hold of me

Baby, some day I'll find a way to say
just what you mean to me
But if that day never comes along
and you don't hear this song
I guess you'll never know that...

And when I say inside, I mean deep
You fill my soul with something I cannot explain
What's over me

My Christmas Wish List

Today marks my 8th day in Singapore. And my pictures suck. I've photographed more Christmas trees than the city or myself. Singapore is now alive with the Christmas spirit. I'm thinking if I'm at home seeing the same decorations as I see here, I'd be brimming with Christmas cheer. But it isn't the same. Sadly, my Christmas spirit was left at home.

Since Christmas is nearing, I thought of having my Christmas wish list. Maybe this will be useful to the people who love me (*hint hint*).  If not, at least I enjoyed listing the things I'd like to have.

1. Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood, Ann Brashares - I love the way the past two novels were so girly. The author also did a great job in defining the characters. Of course I'd love to have the third installment.

2. The Sandman, Neil Gaiman - Any of the novels except for Preludes and Nocturnes, Brief Lives, and Fables and Reflections. I love The Sandman, but it's too expensive for me! So I'm counting on kind-hearted people in order to own these graphic novels. I'd love to have The Wake, the last one in the series.

3. Nicholas Sparks books - Any book by my favorite author.  Except Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Rescue, A Bend in the Road, and Nights in Rodanthe. If you find The Notebook with the original (not the movie) cover, please please please buy it for me.

4. Memoirs of a Geisha - I'm interested in reading this, especially now that the movie's coming out soon.

5. American Gods, Neil Gaiman - I'd also like to read this novel by Gaiman. They say it's similar to the Sandman Collection.

6. A Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Melisa Bank - I wanted to buy this book a long time ago. But I eventually forgot about it. Good thing I ran into one of her latter books at Borders, and remembered.

7. silver stud earrings - I lost mine a few months back. I'd love to have simple studs again.

8. Daily Gospel - I've been wanting a simple totable daily gospel since last year. I'd love to have one.

9. a simple black bag - A bag for the office. My bag's old already.

10. shoes and sundresses! - Please make me tag along if you plan to give me these.

11. foot spa - My feet badly need a foot spa! From UP sidewalks to Makati walkways, they're screaming for some TLC.

12. CDs, Hale, Spongecola, Mandy Moore - I think Mandy Moore came up with a 'Best of' album. And I love these local bands. If not, a CD full of MP3s will do.

Hehe, now you know what to give me! Now you also know how jolog I am! Hahaha!

Anyway, Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!  Now, let me start with my shopping... Heehee...

The Sisterhood

My one and only sister for 13 years celebrated her 18th birthday last week. Ma. Kristina
was born on November 14, 1987, and since then my life was never the
same. I became the 'ate' of a kid I've mistaken to be a boy. Hehe. 
Looking back at our childhood, I could remember many many highlights.
Playing jackstones as a family, driving home from our Lolo's place
every evening, sitting in our bus and fighting over the airconditioning... I
remember when she ripped a tiny bit off a page of my new Sweet Valley
book and I was mad as hell... I remember fighting over everything and
pulling her hair with so much irritation... I remember the way she
cried when we realized she left her ID at home, her quirks as a kid,
her messy messy hair... I remember seeing her laughable image when we
fetched her after her 2nd grade fieldtrip -- her uniform in disarray,
her hair in tangles, and her bright smile seemingly lighting up
everything. She's the girl I grew up with -- from Barbies to Princess
Sarah and Ang TV to Lion King and Pocahontas, we got hooked on
everything together. We studied at the same school, we lived in the same house, we sometimes got along, and we definitely
fought a lot. We were constant companions. We were and always will be
sisters.



Looking back, I don't think I deserved the title 'ate' during those
times. I was a kid and I didn't take my responsibilities seriously. I
grew up and became an adolescent, and I pushed her farther away. I
chose to be with my friends and thought being with my family was so
un-cool. Good thing I got my act together, aided with the birth of my
youngest sister, Paula Andrea.
Now, I feel the weight of my role. I love my sisters to bits. They are
treasures that could never never be replaced by anybody. I know that
even with time and distance, our love will always prevail. I would
never trade my sisters and their love for ANYTHING. (Not even a date with Abby )



Maybe when I'm old I'd reminisce these times and think of my sisters.
Maybe I'd give them a call, maybe a long-distance call, and talk of the
old times. Maybe we'd talk about how Kris and I picked on Paula, and of
how we all spoiled her. Maybe we'd talk of the good times, the laughter
and the fun spent at home. Maybe we'd talk about Kris's still-messy
hair, my mood swings, and Paula's loud voice in the mornings. Maybe
we'd talk about how we'd fight over the phone, the TV, and the radio.
Maybe we'd talk about cramming on Sunday nights while listening to
Magic's Sunday Slowdown. Maybe we'd talk about how we'd sing to
Spongecola, Rivermaya, Hale, and how we'd crushed on Christian Bautisa
when he still had long hair. Maybe we'd talk about the bad times too.
We'd talk about how each other matured and overcame her challenges, how
our family worked together through the rough times. Maybe we'd laugh
and be overwhelmed with nostalgia, wishing we were young again. But I'm
pretty sure we'd really not wish for anything else. Because our bond will always be
there. We will always be sisters, we will always be the bestest of best
friends.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Without her, I don't make sense...." - In her Shoes

"O bakit ba pag wala ka na, ako'y kulang?" - Bakit, Mayonnaise



~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Analyzing Courtship and Friendship

Let me start off by sharing my new favorite song (Naks, I have a new favorite song every month, ha.)

Gitara
- Parokya ni Edgar

Bakit pa kailangan magbihis
Sayang din naman ang porma
Lagi na namang may sisingit
Sa twing' tayo'y magkasama
Bakit pa kailangan ng rosas
Kung marami namang
Mag-aalay sa'yo
Pupuno na lang ng paawit
Maghihintay ng pagkakataon

Hahayaan na lang silang
Magkandarapa na manligaw sa'yo
Idadaan na lang kita
Sa awitin kong ito
Sabay ang tugtog ng gitara
Idadaan na lang sa gitara

Mapapagod lang sa kakatingin
Kung marami namang nakaharang
Aawit na lang at magpaparinig
Ang lahat ng aking nadarama

Kakainlove yung song, as in. Guys who play the guitar are always a plus plus plus plus for me. I've never seen courting in this perspective before. The song shows the listeners how pining for a girl who also happens to be everyone's dreamgirl can be so frustrating.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~

The depression at the start of the week gave way to realizations that I should have learned years before. It also led to a drive to really, truly move on. I can feel people are already shaking their heads with this one. But I hope I can prove you wrong.

Everything in the middle of the week was just a blur of busy work, a lot of things to do and a lot of new things to learn. I love learning. Sometimes, I even love being busy. Well, it's better than nothing.

At the end of this week, I'm just plain happy. It's because last night, RG and I finally pushed through with our "libre mo ko sa first paycheck" plan. I've been working for four months, imagine that. As I said, RG's a busy man.

Anyway, I met his new girl last night. Her name's Rachel. I can say that she's really pretty and new. As I was sitting in RG's new silver Vios on the way to Eastwood, I asked her if she consented to be called Rachel. There was no reply, just the silent hum of her engine, and the music playing in the background.

On the way to Eastwood in his spanking new car (still can't get over it), RG and I talked a lot. At one point I even admitted that I was too talkative. But we haven't seen each other in a while and we had a lot of catching up to do. It's funny how our friendship is. As I said, he's never seen me on a normal day. It's always on a day when we decide to go out for merienda or lunch or dinner. We're not constant companions, but we're friends who see each other once in a while and try to cram every little update of our lives into that meeting. And we always end up having fun. Except when he's a brat and I'm a moody snob.

I miss having one of my best friends around. But I know that having him constantly by my side would totally change our friendship. So I choose to miss him instead.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~