Remembering 2009

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’ve never done before?

Won in an election where I ran against three other candidates (sobrang nerve-wracking hehe). Was the president of an organization. Ate kimchi. Had my hair cut really short. Be a model, chos (for grad pics lang kasi haha). Applied for a scholarship abroad. Went on a college fieldtrip. Skinned a cat. Went to Ocean Park. Lost someone dear to me. Got seriously angry and hurt. Went to EK with friends (and not for a school fieldtrip or family outing). Got stranded because of Ondoy. Helped out in relief operations. Bought a human brain. Took the NMAT. Joined an international poster competition. Watched the UP Fair. Registered to vote for the 2010 elections. Snorkeled.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Uh, some. A small portion, I think. Hahaha. But I will still make resolutions. Probably next week :p

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Some acquaintances and cousins, but as in close close, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Lei :( We miss you, Lei.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. Dapat HK pero NSO ruined everything :(

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More money! I really want to save up for my future. And more learnings. There'll be a lot of that, I know. Med ba naman. Info overload na ito. Exciting! Haha. More time to do stuff I love to do, as well. I wish I could paint and draw and doodle and design more.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 27. The last time I saw Kat before she fled to Korea as an exchange student. Can't wait to see her again next week!

February 13-14. UP Fair. Went with Kenneth and my brother. That night, the Jumping Jologs (JJs) went wild because the fair was full of people already and they couldn't go in despite having tickets. They brought the concert walls down by high-kicking and body-slamming it. From the inside, it was really scary. The artists who were playing (Bamboo, Tuesday Vargas, etc) and the University Student Council were already pleading the JJs to stop and just listen to the concert from the outside. Nevertheless, it was a memorable night. Love. Fireworks. Music. Food.

March 7. Eraserheads: The Final Set. The most bestest concert I've been to, hands down.

March 15. MS 102 Fieldtrip in Alaminos, Pangasinan! We snorkeled and saw lots of corals and fishes. The open waters frightened me, though. We had to swim from the dock in the middle of sea to the coral reefs area and back, eh ang layo 'nun. Napagod ako ng bongga. Akala ko hindi na ko makakabalik at makakagat na ko ng Jelly Fish. Hahaha.

March 19. I won as Mandala 2010's yearbook EIC and batch president. Also, Lei passed away :(

June 12-13. Batch 5 reunion in Binangonan. Old friends, forever friends. Iba talaga ang high school ♥

July 3. Mandala X Acquaintance Party. Had so much fun! Ang sabaw at competitive ng mga tao sa games. Hahaha.

August 1. RIP Cory Aquino. The whole country mourned but was nonetheless inspired by her loss. Also, I gave up. I went to Marie Digby's concert with Kuya Andre, too. I was able to meet her in person and had a photo taken with her! Sobrang fan moment lang. Hihi.

September 15. I hit the big 2-0. Goodbye younger years!

September 26. Ondoy hit Metro Manila and its neighboring areas. I was stranded for six hours with my mom and our driver. But that was nothing to what the others experienced. Heart-breaking. But at least we all learned from Ondoy.

November 14. Katy Perry Live in Manila! Katy was sooo great! I love her personality and style. She was so game, she actually kissed a girl (from the crowd) and she liked it! Haha.

November 20. It struck me. I really want to be a (artsy) doctor, hee.

December 22. EK with the EB plus Kriss and Ilao. Bought overpriced shorts and slippers because we got drenched at the Rio Grande Rapids and Log Jam. Lesson learned: bring extra clothes. Haha. Fun fun fun!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Winning and doing my job as Mandala EIC ♥

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to save my GWA.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious. The usual flu or fatigue every now and then.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My HP Mini, Chloe!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My close friends who stuck with me through thick and thin. Kat, Joyce, Mica, Jem, Christian, Zoe, and Reg. And of course, my beloved Mandala Ed Board.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Someone's, but I wasn't really appalled or depressed. I was angry, but now, I think disappointed probably is the apter word. But I'm over it already.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Clothes. Org stuff. Clothes. School supplies. Clothes.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Concerts (Eraserheads: The Final Set and Katy Perry Live in Manila) and get-togethers (HS batch, HS barkada, Mandala)!

16. What song/s will always remind you of 2009?
Nobody by the Wonder Girls, FTW. Or the one that goes "mga tambay lang kami, sawa sa babae." Hate it so much. Haha.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? – Sadder, but in only one aspect. At nababawasan na din naman 'yung sadness. Hihi.
Richer or poorer? – Poorer! Ubos ang savings ko. Dati yata marami-rami akong napamaskuhan. Haha.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
SLEPT. Worked out. Blogged. Took pictures. Studied. Haha.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being confused. Cramming. Procrastinating. Wanting so many things that I can live without.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent it with my family. The usual Porciuncula and Alfonso reunions, pero hindi kami nakaabot sa latter :( Had isaw with my mom and my brothers at around 6PM, and also spent some time with the Amonoy's and Arcilla's after dinner.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Hmm, no. Continued to be in love, yes. But then.. 'Yun na. Hehe.

22. How many one-night stands?
None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
It all started with The Big Bang, hey! And of couse How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, and Glee.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hahaha. Hindi naman hate. Pero yeah, bad vibes siguro.

25. What was the best book you read?
Psychology of Learning by Ormrod. Hahaha.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Death Cab for Cutie and She & Him. Pati si Taylor Swift? Hahaha.

27. What did you want and got?
New phones (nasira 'yung una huhu), a laptop, clothes, art stuff.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Definitely Avatar! (500) Days of Summer comes next, but its because I love Summer!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 20. Hmm, didn't do anything special. Just ate with some friends. Celebrated with my family.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting a 99+ score in the NMAT. Asa naman ako. Haha.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Layers. Colorful. Comfy. Cardigans. Minsan vintage-y. Anything goes, actually. Depends on my mood.

32. What kept you sane?
Inspiring fashion and art blogs. Food. Friends. My dreams. My mom :)

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The Olsens. Rachel Bilson. Kate Beckinsale. Anne Curtis.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Maguindanao Massacre. Insanely immoral. Ang sarap painumin ng phenol 'yung mga Amputuans.

35. Who did you miss?
Kenneth and Kat.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Chris, a Starbucks barista. Haha.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
That we all have different wants and needs in life, at nagbabago 'yun through time. Pwedeng pareho tayo ng gusto noon, pero ngayon hindi na. At walang masama 'dun. Nothing is constant. We have to live with change :)

Also, that everything does happen for a reason. Gasgas na gasgas na, pero it's true. When things don't go the way you want them to, sulk a little, then move on. There's so so so much more to enjoy and be happy about. Tomorrow is always a new day to learn and change and grow. Easier said than done, I know, but I realized that it's all in the disposition, really. Kaya think about your dreams everyday. Always have something to look forward to. Spend time with people you love. Do stuff that makes you smile. These can balance or overwrite all the other things that gets us down. Para masaya ang world :)

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

It's something unpredictable but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life :)