25 for the 25th

18 September 2009

Everyone is having a big fuss this year because it's the quarter of the century, the silver year, and even the start of the quarter life crisis. However we try to be creative in defining it, it's still a milestone. 25. :)

When I was young, I thought 25 was the ideal year. I'll be independent, I'll have a great career, great friends, great love life. I get to buy anything I want. I'll have everything within my reach.

Now it's just 16 days away and my life is far from perfect, far from ideal. I still have a lot to achieve, a lot to do! I still want a lot of things, but a lot of simple things, really. So for my 25th year on earth, I have a list, like so many of us born this year. But you'll find this very different from the others.

I'll tick this off one by one starting October 4, 2009. The deadline is set the following year, October 4, 2010, because I've always believed in celebrating birthdays in years. I'll update this blog from time to time to post pictures and update the list. These are very simple joys in my life. A lot I can get for myself, but some I expect others to give. A handful cannot be given by anyone else but God.

So let's go through the list, shall we?

4 October 2010
16/25 - Not bad!



1. A surprise =)

1 October 2010 - Best surprise ever! At first I really thought that Flo, Nhiza and I were really going off for Friday night dinner. But no! Everyone was hiding with a cake in Manila room! :) The boys sang a boyband song that I really appreciated :) And my card was so full of greetings <3 <3 <3 And I love the book! Thank you, thank you guys! I love you because 1. You knew I half expected the surprise and 2. You didn't spoil it for me anyway. :) I love you! :D

2. Sunrise at the beach
21 May 2010 - A lot of sunsets by the beach, but not one sunrise. :S
4 October 2010 - No beach sunrises for this year, because I traveled to beaches facing the West. Nevertheless, I wouldn't change my vacations :)

3. An impromptu trip to Tagaytay
This is one of them 'romantic' wishes

4. A movie date at the old Eastwood cinemas
Another romantic wish! Come to think of it, I haven't been on a movie date this year. Well aside from that almost-thing (bordering on nothing) Haha!

5. Run for me and the causes I support: the fight against cancer, Gawad Kalinga, World Vision, World Food Programme, Kythe, Haribon, One Plus One. Or you can also help them by donating. :)
Awww! But it's okay! A lot of people helped other people even without running :)

6. A really good joke that'll make me laugh =)
Heard this from my groupmate, Eunice. So funny with good execution ;p
Knock, knock..
Who's there?
Nararamdaman
Nararamdaman who?
Na-raram-daman, na-raram-daman (Lady Gaga's bad romance)

7. Isang daang kotseng kuba
Hit 100 on January 2, 2010! My eyes are trained to look for Volkswagen Beetles now. And I never fail to get surprised or happy whenever I see one -- even one I've seen before. I'm not going to stop counting, though. Let's see how many a year's worth of counting will bring.

So far I've seen a multitude of Beetles -- in different colors (purple, blue, red and black, silver, yellow, fuschia, light pink, white, brown, maroon, electric blue, white and red, sky blue, baby blue, sprite bottle green, lime green, orange) and places. A lot on the road, some in pictures, and small model... Hey, who said I have to limit counting to real ones? :))

Here's a document of my most unexpected finds. :)

13 October 2009 - I was having a particularly bad day. Too many changes all at once. When I went out to do some errands during lunch, I was happy enough to see a Volkswagen Beetle. And then more and more when I traversed the roads. I ended up counting 5 just in one day. Just a small thing that made me smile. :)
19 September 2009 - I brought Han home to Makati. I saw one on the rearview mirror while backing up in their road. :)
15 November 2009 - 10 in one go! Wow! Cocheng kuba factory FTW!
17 November 2009 - Reading Postsecret. One of the secrets had a poster of The Beatles' album cover in Abbey Road. Guess what car was in the background? A Volkswagen Beetle!
25 November 2009 - Going home from our block Christmas party in Markinina at 3AM. I found a yellow one.
1 January 2010 - 99 on the first day of the year!
13 February 2010 - Worried about Allen. Nahappy ako sa parade of cocheng kuba sa Big Night. God looks out for us. :)
22 February 2010 - Decided to watch Valentine's Day by myself. And Ms. ex-Nancy Drew is driving a cute white one.
20 March 2010 - Trust your intuition. Take a different route and see three. God looks out for you.
26 March 2010 - From the 14F, blue cocheng kuba parking at Mega after a bad morning. God looks out for us.
24 April 2010 - First day of our North Luzon roadtrip. Saw one instantly at Vigan
14 May 2010 - Limang cocheng kuba sa finale ng Here Comes the Bride. Happy happy!
13 June 2010 - An old green one while getting lost in Recto


A total of 327 by October 4. I parked right next to this one on my birthday. These cocheng kubas have a different meaning to me now :) Every time I see one, I always think that it's God's way of saying that He looks out for me. A bit weird? I know. But I've seen these guys on the most unexpected of times. :)

So, God looks out for us :)

8. A baby sunflower







18 October 2009
I love love love my baby sunflower from Tagaytay. In gradeschool I learned about Ikebana. I don't know if this directly translates to the earth, man, and the heavens. But I guess this is my version of it.

Thank you, S, because I'm happy happy happy. <3









9. Someone who'll just patiently accompany me study :)

5 November 2009 - I got four! Gabs, Mab, Dotty, JB, and I spent a few solid hours studying/working at Figaro Technohub.

Dotty worked with her laptop.
Mab brought this little book for the doctors, hehe!
Gabs tinkered on his 3D stuff for work and even helped me with my Accounting homework.
JB tried to study with his matching book stand and smoked, like, thrice that night.
And I got to work on our Flow Management Report for school, yey!

Oh, such nerds!


10. Happy Christmas holidays!
This year was the busiest stretch of Christmas holidays yet! I met up and celebrated Christmas with almost 10 different groups. And of course my relatives came home and we spent a lot of time catching up and having fun.

The pictures say it all! I really had a happy, happy Christmas 2009. :)



























































11. Rain on my birthday
4 October 2009
It rained quietly when I was about to go to church, as if God was saying, "Here you go, Chubbs. Happy Birthday." <3

12. Alone time well spent
26 November 2009 - It's Lola Paz's birthday and I miss her dearly. I arrived at UP too late for my first class so I decided to skip it. I spent time at the Parish of Holy Sacrifice instead. Indeed, alone time well-spent. A confession, a fervent prayer, the rosary, and a choir singing Christmas songs completed my night. Again, alone time well spent. :)


13. Birthday frupcakes!
But I still want frupcakes!

14. To watch a live UAAP UP game
Still supported UP this year though! Just didn't find common time with Mab to watch a game :S UP FIGHT!

15. Pesto pasta at 10 different restaurants (10/10)
15 October 2009 - Pesto Pasta at Cafe Xocolat with MBA groupmates =)
30 October 2009 - Friday comfort food Pesto at World Chicken
13 November 2009 - Pesto from sosy Cibo! Good vibes!
28 November 2009 - Dinner of custom made pesto pasta at Dos Palmas, Palawan
15 January 2010 - Friday night loser pesto spaghetti at Conti's. My comfort food made me feel better even if I was spending Friday night alone.
25 January 2010 - Carlos Pizza pesto cream with RG :)
26 March 2010 - Pasta verde at the new Banapple with groupmates.
26 May 2010 - Tuna pesto at TOSH with Mab, Dotty, and JB :)
11 June 2010 - Pesto lasagna at the house of Lasagna with the HOHOL gang!
3 October 2010 - Pesto at Amici with my family! :)

16. A kiss and hug from baby Sean







4 October 2009
A hug, a kiss, and a 'Happy Birthday ' song! Yey! :) More than I asked for. :)













17. A kiss and hug from baby Shay




21 May 2010
When I first met my niece Shay in person last month, she wasn't the most friendly of kids (like we didn't share any blood together). However, she warmed up in 3 weeks (3 weeks!). I got a simple kiss and a weak hug, not necessarily at the same time, but it's still good enough for me. I love Shay-shay :) Miss you baby :)




18. A poem read out loud ala Il Postino
Another one of those romantic wishes. WISH! :))

19. To watch a great play!
15 August 2010 - Watched Cats with Pisay girls. Although there were some parts when I almost fell asleep, Lea was just super great. I was blown away -- so sulit!

20. Reese's peanut butter cups
18 April 2010 - I bought some in Subic, but that doesn't count. :S
2 October 2010 - I saw Reese's peanut butter cups in the ref at home and owned it :)) (Turned out to be my sister's!)

21. A family out of town trip
The ultimate family out of town trip on April 24-19, 2010. We all went up North to experience our roots. Traveling in a coaster with a lot of stuff and a lot of family is an experience worth remembering. :) Again, the pictures (and we do have a lot) tell the whole story, but more than all these places, my family was definitely the most important part of the trip. <3






























































22. Gimik with just my 2 sisters
19 June 2010 - Date with my sisters at Red Kimono Technohub. Lots of sushi, teriyaki, and tempura with my loves on a relaxed Saturday afternoon. Sarap!!!







23. A beautiful hard bound book







4 October 2009
Women are Crazy, Men are Stupid by Howard J. Morris & Jenny Lee. From a very stupid boy. ;p













24. A handmade bookmark
Last time I got something like this was during CURSOR Missions Week :)

25. Someone I don't know who'll be moved by my writing and will let me know
This will continue to be my wish for the next year.


I don't expect to get everything. :) But it'll be a bonus if I do.

So let's fill this post up together with the things and nicknacks of the thing called life. Specifically my 25th year of it. :)


4 October 2010
These were indeed very simple wishes. I continue to have simple yet meaningful ones in the next year. THANK YOU to everyone who made this possible. And in the next year, like my first wish above -- Surprise me :)