How was 2008 for you?

For me, it was a mixture of great heights and great depths. Definitely a lot of blind leaps of faith in many different things! This year was an exercise in going for the adventure and a test of courage I think.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Go on an international trip and pay for it with my own money! The Vietnam-Cambodia trip was kind of a leap of faith. Faith in myself that is. For the longest time, I've been wanting to go out of the country but I was always coming up with excuses on why I wouldn't be able to afford it. This year, I purchased a ticket via the Piso fare and willed myself to come up with the pocket money for the trip come the flight date. It was humbling and exhilarating at the same time, knowing that I had set a goal and that I had met it.

Passing Civil Procedure under Professor Avena. Leap of faith din ito. I was all set to drop this subject a second time when the Jun Lozada rallies broke out. With no other option but to just face the music, I stayed on and passed it! So far, it has been one of my most difficult law school hurdles. Now, Nego naman! In the words of Izzy..."Gosh..."

Sing solo in front of law school people nung Idolaw. Hahaha. It was...interesting. We won second place!

I went to Boracay! Finally! It was one of the most fun trips ever. The mix of both the environment and the people made for such a memorable trip.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I'll have to check the blog a year back for resolutions, but I think I managed to meet some very big ones, in particular, a lot of travel for me! I feel so blessed because of that.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! My friend Eya did. I'm so happy for her.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully no, but a lot of people close to me had a friend or a family member pass away. It was a bit unsettling to always have to go to the funeral parlor this year. Aren's mom, Izzy's grandmother, Sir Avecilla's mother, my ninong Jimmy's father, Zang's mom, among those that I remember.

5. What countries did you visit?

Oh so many! I loved that about this year.

Australia
Singapore
Vietnam
Cambodia

I also loved my local trips!

Bacolod
Boracay
Baguio

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

More discipline
More courage
More faith in myself
More desire to be better

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Not dates, but memories. I am like an Elephant when it comes to remembering memories. They all had their highs and lows. This year was also an exercise in knowing who your true friends are. And I was just so giddy at discovering that I had a great deal of true friends still.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

My trips! I always had close to no money, but I discovered that deciding I would go (for my own sanity's sake) was great motivation. It was very exciting finding ways and means to finance my trips, and even more exciting to actually go on them! Tama pala yung sinabi nila na "Pag gusto mo, gagawa ka ng paraan, kung ayaw mo, gagawa ka ng dahilan." Pwede na rin ang "Just do it." ng Nike. Now, to apply to law school goals HAHAHAHAHA.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Getting on top of my law school issues.

Correcting bad habits.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing death defying like that year I had dengue on Christmas day. But I got my share of the flu this year! Took about 3 exams while I had the flu. Luckily, I passed my subjects, though some by the skin of my teeth (whatever that means). Injury...injured heart??? Mwahahaha baduy.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Plane tickets! Hehehe. Obvious bang ito talaga ang pinaka-delightful thing na nangyari sa akin? I hope I can travel as much this coming year. Apart from that, all the meals and local trips I paid for that I spent in the company of my good friends.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Everyone who tries to better their behavior (even if they fell off the wagon sometimes) deserves celebrating! It's a struggle to even try, I know.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

No one in particular, but self-centered people make me depressed. That, and people who cannot distinguish what is right from what is wrong.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Travel and food adventures and gas.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Ay paulit-ulit. My trips! Also I got so excited for Christmas this year. As in June pa lang I was making Christmas music albums already!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Hmm. Can't say. Different songs remind me of so many things.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier, I was less angry this year, and also a bit more comfortable with myself.

ii. thinner or fatter? Eep. The same? I think the same since I fit into the same clothes.

iii. richer or poorer? Poorer! But richer in terms of expanding my travel horizons.

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

Meeting new people. Reading more non-law books. Putting myself out there. Feeling pretty and dressing up.

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

Complaining, procrastinating, losing sleep over someone I really shouldn't have considered.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Spent it with my family + cousins and their families from the maternal side. It was so pleasant! We ended up having a karaoke OPM fest. I loved all the Rey Valera and Sharon songs! The food was great too!: We had roast chicken stuffed with chestnuts, prunes, apples and bread, great nilaga, Ham, Chicharon Camiling, and other stuff I don't remember because I was busy paying attention to the fatty foods.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?

In like, but not in love. Thankfully!

23. How many one-night stands?

None! Good girl eh!

24. What was your favorite TV program?

This year? How I Met Your Mother and Golden Girls! Chuck too. These shows saved me from all the nights I couldn't sleep. I also loved the CSI shows, yeah even NY hahaha. Miami minsan. I loved the dark murder mysteries. I also really enjoyed Numb3rs!

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

Hmm. I'm not one that hates a whole lot often. But there are some people that I like a lot less now. Though there is always time to change and rediscover new attributes!

26. What was the best book you read?

This year? Definitely Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It made me more comfortable inside my own life, and kind of gave me inspiration for what I was supposed to hope for in my life. Thanks Anna!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Sharon Cuneta songs on the magic mic hahaha. Too late, too late! I also liked the groups we featured in Abbondanza. My current love is Baihana! Catch them at Mag:Net Katipunan!

28. What did you want and got?

Travel! More meetups with friends! A sense of comfort in aloneness, sort of.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

So many! The Dark Knight, Iron Man, all the mababaw films I saw.

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

I had a super fun party at home with my family and friends! I was 26. I loved that party! My friends contributed by being their normal crazy selves.

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

Hmm...Romantic love maybe? I mean, I don't need it but who doesn't want that? I'm not sure I've ever been really in love, so it would be nice to know how that feels.

Total and complete confidence in myself and in my abilities.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

More quirky! I love it. Dressing up is so much fun now. Because I had so little money for everything else, I discovered the value of shopping inside your closet. Pairing new things made dressing up more exciting. Also, being (more) accepting of my body now made it more bearable to dress up.

34. What kept you sane?

My friends! My favorite books, and TV shows. They calmed me down.

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

-Not big on celebrity/public figures.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

This is something I need to work on! I need to form an informed opinion on political issues, or any other issue for that matter.

37. Who did you miss?

Everyone whom I didn't see as often as I wanted because of school!

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Not new people, but a new name and a funner way to spend time together. The superslackers! Panalo.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:

Sometimes, you really need to just do it to get through an obstable.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:


The rest is still unwritten!