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!
