Year-End Survey 2007

First off, Happy Rizal Day! (I don't know where that came from)
 
To put a spin to this year-end tradition, I dug up my archives and will be including a few entries from the past years. Time really does go by quickly. Just a few years ago, I was small enough to fit in a car with 25 other people, now I fit in an FX with 10 other people.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
In 2007, it was my first time to experience snow in Cincinnati and I loved it! Also my first time to experience perfection in Boracay, to see the sheer beauty of the Sydney Opera House and the Blue Mountains. I underwent surgery and had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted (My right cheek is still swelling!). I visited Ate Mai at her Cleveland home, drove in another country, went on a summer family holiday to Zambales, saw the sights in Pittsburgh, had a great time in Caliraya, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with my parents, and lots more!
2003: yupyup, dami talaga from engg week... pumasok sa kotse kasama ang 25 other people ("i love you ol"), tumungtong sa mattress wih 32 other people (go cursor!), maglaro ng giant pick-up sticks (hehehe!). marami ring firsts this year: first time magdala ng kotse, first heartbreak, at marami pang iba!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Oh well, I seem to be growing fatter every year. But only because of the holidays! Haha. I think I only make that resolution because of the holidays. Now, since it's still the holidays, I resolve to lose some weight next year, only because I want to live a healthier life. And again, stronger faith.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A ton of friends and officemates gave birth this year. Jean, a gradeschool friend, gave birth to my first goddaughter, Iya. Around September-October this year, officemates started giving birth. Jusel to Moriah, Sheryl to Jakob Zion, Les to Andrei, and Lou to CURSOR baby Qwerty.
 
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no one. :)
 
5. What countries did you visit? 
USA, Singapore, Australia.
2003: wala :(
 
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Right now, I really couldn't ask for more. I'm okay with everything, but there's always room for improvement. I guess I want a stronger driving force, more things to look forward to, better personal relationships, and more quiet times with God.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 21, 2007        First time I saw real snow!
February 25, 2007       Kuya Paul and Ate Mai's wedding
October 4, 2007          A truly dysfunctional birthday
2004:
Mar 8  2004. Lahat ng kabitteran sa mundo. Huhuhu... Kakaiyak to. :,(
Apr 13 2004. First day ko sa SMART.
May 28 2004. Last day ko sa SMART.
Oct 21 2004. Masaya. :)
Dec 14 2004. Awitan night. Natalo kami pero memorable to.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Work: A promotion! And really understanding what it means to do something for the organization. Naks.
2003: matanggap sa cursor!
2004: Nakasama ako sa ACM-ICPC. And we finished 15th out of 80 teams. Not bad, eh? GO TEAM KWEK-KWEK!!! :)
2005: Graduating from UP!!! You wouldn't believe what I went through. This is indeed a great and valued achievement to me.
2006: Two Cutovers!  I'm so glad we all pulled it through. Especially for ANZ, after all the pagod, puyat, pawis, and hirap, akalain mong naka-Cutover kami?!?

9. What was your biggest failure?
I guess this year, as with many other years, I really failed in the friends department.
2004: Sa studies, SocSci2. Sa orglife, na-probi ako. Sa love life, failure pa rin talaga.
 
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm generally healthy this year. I was just down for a few weekends to recover from a slight fever or from impacted tooth surgery.
2004: Naaalala ko nagkasakit ako nung summer tapos na-stuck ako sa MRT ng isang oras. Kaiyak. :(













11. What was the best thing you bought?
For myself, food and books. Lots of yummy food tripping this year, and lots of weekends just reading or re-reading my books. For my parents, our 25th wedding anniversary gift to them - a mosaic of their wedding picture. Again for myself, that Boracay ticket! Ya-hooo! Ya-hooo! Ya-hooo!  :)
2004: The best thing I bought for myself.. When I got my paycheck, I bought pseudo-diamond earrings. I like them a lot. For my sisters, food! :) hahaha...
 
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My family. To my sisters, cousins and Sean the godson, who make me laugh and smile, and to my parents who've always supported me and given me strength.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Let's not name names.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food, books, pasalubongs, the Boracay trip, Christmas gifts!
2004: Hay, sa pagkain. Sa xerox. Sa lab fee [haynaku Leng]. Sa Internet Card. Sa Yellow Cab. Sa Gloria's. Sa Sbarro. Sa libro. Sa room for Awitan practices. Sa costumes namin [naku, pera ko].
 
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ate Mai and Kuya Paul's Wedding! Our Boracay trip! UAAP Season 70! Our Sydney trip!
 
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Makulay ang Buhay sa Sinabawang Gulay, hahahaha! Puff the Magic Dragon! And our ultimate GV song: The Flame.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter
iii. richer or poorer? richer
 
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I'd spent more time with my family on the weekends instead of just sleeping through them.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I've done less of worrying. Worrying for the project, worrying on the plane, worrying what to do... I really wish I've done less of that.
2003: being talkative. lahat na siguro nakwentuhan ko.
 
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my family. We went to mass, ate our Noche Buena, played a little charades (with Mama's rendition of the Little Mermaid), and opened our presents.













22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope!
2003: =) i think so
2004: Naku kung pwede lang magfall ng maraming beses ng paulit-ulit sa iisang tao, yun na ang nangyari sa kin. Haha...

23. How many one-night stands?
Zero
2003: ngek, e di wala!

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Holy Week this year we watched nonstop House MD. And of course, who can forget PBB? I remember texting to Krizel and Audrey with rage during eviction nights.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word. Nope!
 
26. What was the best book you read?
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
2003: this year i haven't been reading much. hp5 lang, and that wasn't exactly great. pwede bang introduction to algorithms? the best yun! ahahaha...

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Remember after the fire, after all the rain, I will be THE FLAME. GV talaga, promise.

28. What did you want and get?
To stay at home for a while - I didn't leave the Philippines for 8 straight months.
2003: mataas na grades pa rin last sem

29. What did you want and not get?
Si The One. Ayown!

30. favorite film of this year?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (courtesy of HP), 300 (Awwooo! Awwooo! Awwooo!)













31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Again, my 23rd birthday was a truly dysfunctional one. I went to mass, went to the hospital with my sister, cried, and ate Mango Bravo and Yellow Cab pizza. Afterwards, I got to celebrate my birthday by spending quality time with my closest office friends.
2004: This year, I turned 20. Birthday ko, may 131 exam kami! Pero ok lang, favorite subject ko yun. Hehe... I attended mass nung gabi, sobrang na-overwhelm ako sa blessings. Isa sa mga pinakamasayang bdays ko. :)
 
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Again, what more can I ask for? I got the greatest vacation, a good job, and the best family.
2003: haaay, kung nakapanood ako ng concert ni mandy moore
 
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I noticed that I had less jeans that fit well and I have more formal attire for the office. So there, more formal. And as for shoes with heels, I got a lot of those this year.
2004: Pa-cute. :) Hehehe... I loved dressing up this year. Pag hindi, I love my white tees.
 
34. What kept you sane?
My faith and my family.
 
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The Miami Ink Boys: Chris Garver, Ami James, Chris Nunez.
 
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Senatorial elections this year and all the issues surrounding them.
 
37. Who did you miss?
My family when I was in the US for 3 weeks, and there were times that I did miss a particular someone.
 
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Auds F! I miss riding, or trying to ride, the MRT with you, Auds! Mwah!
 
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Life is better when you set the goal of touching more and more lives. It's sincerely showing other people that you care and returning the kindness that was shown to you.
 
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Purpose
It's that little flame
That lights a fire under  your ass
Purpose
It keeps you going strong
Like a car
With a full tank of gas
Everyone else has a purpose
So what's mine?

I don't know how I know,
But I'm gonna find my purpose
I don't know where I'm gonna look,
But I'm gonna find my purpose
Gotta find out,
Don't wanna wait!
Got to make sure that my life will be great!
Gotta find my purpose
Before it's too late

-- Purpose, Avenue Q

Happy 2008, everyone!

Maligayang Maligayang Pasko! :)

Earlier today I was thinking of a meaningful Christmas greeting to send to my friends. I seem to have run out of Christmas carols to quote and when I started creating one of my own it turned out to be melodramatic. I ended up just sending a simple message.

During our Christmas Eve mass, our parish priest  was telling us about how simple the first-ever Christmas was. What was simple turned out to be the most special event of the year, because God was there. God makes simple things special. That's why a simple birth in Bethlehem turned out to be special. Why the ordinary bread and wine during mass is special. Why you and me are special.

So, simple as it is...

Maligayang Maligayang Pasko sa iyo at sa mga mahal mo sa buhay!

Red Cups are Here! - 2007 Edition

I started documenting my best scrapbook entries last year. This year, there are no more icicle stickers from Starbucks. Instead, they've been replaced with little red cup stickers. And I'm proud to say I've completed the set for this year. What happened to last year's planner, you say? Let's see...


Well, I turned 23, and that's always a milestone. My birthday this year has a really funny entry:

My day... A year's worth of blessings...
Blessings indeed!
- in the form of friends who sent a ton of text messages and emails
- and of family -- of my truly dysfunctional family!
    - Kris' fever and rash brought us to the hospital
    - Mama & Papa fighting
    - Yellow cab and Mango Bravo Part II
    - worry worry worry worry about dengue
    - cry cry cry -> whatta disaster!
Birthdays are always good :)


A big guy also celebrated his birthday last October. Happy 1st to my nephew and godson, Sean Matthew! There were ribbons in his party and they have somehow made their way to my planner.

Jesus' birthday was celebrated by TOM at Kim Siong in Silang, Cavite. It was a fun fun fun Christmas offsite for us. We cheered our voices hoarse, arranged ourselves for a team picture in 15 minutes to take shots within 5 minutes, and proved who actually listened back in gradeschool. OM, being the yellow team, had gold complimentary ribbons from Majel. And again, the ribbons have found their way to my planner.

Number one travel entry of this year goes to Sydney. I really love this city. The pictures are great -- I know it'll help me remember our The Ranch dinners, Rolan and Krizel's engagement, Oh my Greek God!!!, the sights in Bondi Beach and Blue Mountains, the stunning beauty of the Sydney Opera House, and most importantly, the happiness of coming back home to lovely Manila. I really hope I can come back with my family sometime.




Early this year, I also fell in love with Cincinnati big time.

It's nice to be back with hugs hugs hugs from everyone. :) Pero I feel a bit empty. I miss Cincy. :( Hay. I thought the people here at home can fill in the emptiness, pero hindi eh. :( Cincy is Cincy. The space in my heart is for Cincy. Huhu. :( I Miss Cincy.

The long flight also gave me a chance to update my journal in an in-between, as Delirium termed it. The entries were cool, I was making them on a flight, but not anywhere in particular.



Of course the Boracay trip was my best beach trip this year. Super enjoy with a lot of really funny stories, songs, and who can forget? Puff the magic dragon! Bora gang, where to next?

When Ate Mai was here this year, we were supposed to go to another beach, but we ended up touring different malls and bumming around. It was okay though, because Ate Mai and Kuya Paul were here for a very important occasion -- their wedding. It was such a beautiful celebration with the family. Again, I really am amazed by you both.





Lastly, I found this, which I think is very funny, but I guess you'll find it very cheesy.

I know I've written this so many times before and consequently thought I was overly-mushy. But forgive me future self, I just have to let this out...

People ask me: Why him? To me the answer is more like second nature. Well -- because it's HIM. :)


So, having mentioned that I'm a very cheesy girl, care to hear the whole story over a cup of Starbucks coffee?

Old Skool Pics

Of Fairy Tales and Happy Endings

When I catch myself off guard, I believe they come true.

Well, yes, they do come true. A price charming, a knight in shining armor, someone who'll sweep me off my feet, catch me when I fall... My heart screams that he is real. And I guess he is.

Sept-Oct 07 Phone Pics

Singapore trip - Sydney trip - Sean! - my Birthday - Uncle Mon's visit - new haircut - Kristen's trip to Manila - Shakedown stressss - my new addiction :)

Bookworm

I'm now in Facebook where I installed an application called Books iRead. In the application you can tag all the books that you've read, the ones that you want to read, and your favorites.

Guess what came out as my favorites...

1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
I saw the movie first and felt as if I was Jo March. She's a woman, a writer and a romantic. I woke on the morning of my 13th birthday to find out that Uncle Ben bought me a copy of my first ever novel.



2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - JK Rowling
My favorite Harry Potter book. I like how all the pieces were put into place at the end of the story. I love well-crafted stories.


3. A Midsummer Night's Dream - William Shakespeare
This comedy is close to my heart because Elex 01 performed it on our last year in Pisay. And I daresay that we gave a spanking good performance. Three different stories and groups of people were woven expertly into an entertaining play. For that and for numerous other things, Shakespeare will never be forgotten.


4. The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
A light read. Mitch Albom is very imaginative and daring on crossing the unknown. I loved his version of heaven where life and death is all about touching other people's lives.



5. Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
A book about death, which taught me more about life. Very inspiring.



6. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
This was given to me by Pats on my 18th birthday. Coelho always writes very inspiring novels. And at that point of my life, this booked helped me realize all the possibilities that were open to me. Reach for your biggest dreams and never give up!


7. The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
Second year high school, Dexter told me to read this book with a worn cover. Little did I know that I was being introduced to one of my favorite novelists -- Nicholas Sparks. I love the book and the movie. And I wish there really are Noahs, Garretts, and Landons out there.


8. Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks
I remember one morning I was reading this book and I was crying so hard my sister was laughing at me. A heart-wrenching novel about destiny and love. Sparks says readers never forgave him for killing Garrett at the end of the novel. Well, I didn't as well.


9. A Walk to Remember - Nicholas Sparks
Mandy Moore starred in the film. I think that was when I started to like her acting and singing. I have a hardbound copy -- a Christmas gift from my sister. What I didn't like about the movie is why it didn't explain the title "A Walk to Remember." Read the book to find out.

10. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
A family story with courtroom drama. I like the concept of the story and how it was told --  interspacing between past and present. What I didn't like was how it ended. It was a big dramatic ending that I felt was there to salvage the story -- but there really wasn't anything to save. Net, I really liked the book, but I'd like it more if it had a "normal" ending.

11. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Books 1-3 - Ann Brashares
Super girly books. Reminds me of me and my girl friends. I like how the author gave life and personality to each of the girls and of course, the pants. Til now I still believe that magical things happen when the girls wear the pants.


12. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
A coming of age tale. This is not an ordinary story, but overall, it was such a refreshing read. I'd gladly read it again and buy the author's other titles.



13. The Iliad - Homer
Thank you to Ma'am Oble for teaching us to read the classics. I love mythology -- the gods, Hektor (I love!) and Andromakhe, Akhilleus, and the Muon play that was very enjoyable.



14. The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
The secret to success, positive thinking and a great life! Now I'm convinced that I'm leading and will continue to lead the best life there is.


15. Stardust - Neil Gaiman
As a said before, I love well-crafted stories. I don't notice subtle hints in books, stories or movies (like Hanna does), so I become pleasantly surprised at a good ending. Very very well-crafted and written. Neil Gaiman is indeed one of my favorite writers -- from Sandman to Neverwhere to M is for Magic. He has the best imagination there is.

16. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
Another classic. Back in high school, we loved Marius and Eponine, and thought Cossette's character was too shallow. I loved how this was written. I even wrote my favorite parts of the book in my diary. I loved the songs in the play too. Cursor: Do you hear the people sing?



17. Sophie's World - Jostein Gaarder
Uncle Ben made me read this book. It was textbook-ish. But I never ran out of oohs and aahs with the great philosophical minds. It was a great way of learning.


18. The da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
A very popular book. It was a race around with Europe brimming with art and untold secrets. I remember reading this during Christmas break of my last college year. It turned out that I didn't get any work done because I just wanted to finish the book.



19. Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Rich with history and art, I like Dan Brown's way of writing. He intertwines real life with fiction. This is one of his novels that I couldn't put down when I started reading it.


I could never imagine my life without books. I know I still have a lot to read. Just browsing through a book store brings such satisfaction to me. I want to be able to buy all the books that I want and read all of them. I love good books and being in different worlds. And I'm so glad I picked up this hobby.

Writers have touched my life in so many ways and their books have kept me company on rainy days. I just wish that someday, I could touch more and more lives through writing. Again, I am reminded that the reader and the writer in me will always be alive.


*All images from http://www.facebook.com