Rewind 2010

As I type this, it'll be 2011 in 48 minutes. There are booms and blags and pops and ratatatatats everywhere, and although I'm nursing a headache, I'm smiling amidst the noise, smoke, and chaos outside. Last year, I answered a year ender survey. As another year comes to an end, here I am answering the same survey again. Let's see what 2010 brought into my life.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’ve never done before?

Wore a bikini top (haha). Been extremely afraid and anxious. Cried in front of a professor. Entered med school. Moved on and let go. Went to the beach with friends/orgmates. Became an Atenean. Attended the Ateneo Bonfire. Physically examined a real patient. Watched my fave local band play live. Fell asleep in a coffee shop. Spent hours and hours in Dunkin Donuts El Pueblo. Went to Banchetto. Marshal-ed in a fun run. Rode a zipline. Was given a surprise birthday party. Graduated from UP. Went to a cadaver exhibit. Made a video for my dad on Father's day. Voted in the National Elections.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I wasn't able to make any. Hahaha.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my cousins. Hello cute babies!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. Boo.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Again, more money! Haha. Hmm, proper med school study habits and exercise regimen, I guess? And more self confidence, self discipline and self efficacy please!

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Oh shocks, dates. I can't even remember the date of my college graduation! Hahaha. So let me list some events/experiences that I will always remember:

• Weeks of waiting for my Chem 31 grade. It was the most difficult phase of my life because so much were at stake: graduating on time, graduating with my batchmates, getting into med school, the hefty med school reservation fee, my ego, my parents' expectations, etc). But thankfully, everything went fine. Thank you so much, Lord :') Life-changing, really.
• Crying in front of Doc Q. Epic. Haha.
• First ever Up Dharma Down gig!
• Graduating from UP. Oyeah, I'm a UP grad! The lovely sunflowers pa! ♥
• That day when I became free :)
• ASMPH Batch 2015's first get-together at NYPD.
• Hello, med school!
• That night at Dunkin Donuts El Pueblo when Armi Millare went in and I was stunned to death. Borbs got me her autograph :">
• Beer and chips night!
• Bonding with my Tgang loves! Quiapo tarot-reading, Ukay shopping, conversations and drama over coffee, Rosario, and so much more!
• My 21st birthday!
• My surprise birthday party! Thank you super, Borbs :)
• Releasing our college yearbook right before XXX (October 10, 2010), as promised. My job as EIC is finally done :)
• ASMPH Semender Party at Bonifacio High Street (and the early morning after that :p)
• Getting my Cardiopulmo module grade
• December 24 :p
• Noche Buena ♥

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting into med school and being happy about it :) And releasing our college yearbook on time, wuptedoo!

9. What was your biggest failure?
My biggest failure would probably be not getting into PGH, but I've accepted it wholeheartedly. I actually don't think it's a failure anymore. Getting in would have been so great, but as long as I'll be a doctor someday, then I'm A-okay :)

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

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmm, my med books? Haha. And Schneider highlighters!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
A lot! My family, my forever girlfriends, my college loves, my med school pals, and of course, Borbs :)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

None :)

14. Where did most of your money go?
Transes, highlighters, photocopies, med school reviewers and books, Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Semestral break and Christmas break! Hahaha.

16. What song/s will always remind you of 2010?
Teenage Dream, Dynamite, and Just The Way You Are!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? – Happier, definitely.
Richer or poorer? – I guess richer, because I saved more money. But then I use it for my med school needs, so that's poorer me as well. Haha.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
REAL studying.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cramming and procrastinating.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Spent it with my family. This year's noche buena was the best ever. Fun fun times :) Then we went to the Porciunculas and the Alfonsos, then spent some time with Kat after.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?

Hmm :)

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. -- I wasn't able to really follow a series or a show this year, but I got to watch some episodes of the same programs.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
None :)

25. What was the best book you read?

Clinically-oriented Anatomy by Moore. Haha.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
No new discoveries, I guess. I just loved Up Dharma Down, Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift more. Teehee.

27. What did you want and got?
Cardigans. A Littmann steth. A Domokun bag. Boat shoes. Pretty notebooks.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Despicable Me!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 21 on my last birthday. I spent it at school (hello, cadaver dissection) and at Dunkin Donuts (cram reviewing, boo). We had a killer exam the following day, so no big celebrations for me. But thanks to Borbs and Kat, aside from all the people who greeted me, my birthday was simple yet happy. And a week after, Borbs held a surprise birthday party for me in UP, which was super duper sweet of him. My high school, college and med school friends were there. SOBRANG SAYA ♥

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the P700 M lotto pot. Hahaha!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

Loud colors. Tucked-in tops. Shorts. Polos. Florals. Stripes. Casual vintage, basically.

32. What kept you sane?
My friends. My mom. Food. Sleep. My dreams.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The Olsens. Rachel Bilson. Kate Beckinsale. Anne Curtis. -- Still them, plus Rachel Adams, Taylor Swift, Jessica Alba, Scarlet Johansson, Kate Bosworth, and Anne Hathaway.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The 2010 elections? Gaaah, I was (and still am) embarrassingly disconnected with the world because I don't get to watch TV or read the newspaper anymore. I learn about current events from Yahoo! Insider and from usap-usapans :|

35. Who did you miss?
My college and Psych Soc friends. My dad, too, because I didn't get to see him much this year.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Borbs and the rest of my med school pals :)

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Studying is far different from learning.

Be patient for things will get better.

Prayers do move mountains.

The One above will never let us down. We just need to have faith.

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

You'll get by with a smile :)

2 Cs

Consistency and clarity.

Because it's Christmas

Today, I'm happy.

I'm happy not just because I got tons of new clothes and bags from my mom and Kuya Andre, a pair of my dream boat shoes from Kuya Adrian, a light-weight and durable book stand from my Kris Kringle daddy Vince, a super cute Domokun bag and new pretty notebook from Borbs, and the other lovely and valuable presents that I received from my loved ones.

I'm happy not just because of all the scrumptious, mouth-watering food that I've eaten and will be eating: Christmas ham, oatmeal cookies, cakes, revel bars, fruit salad, paella, pasta, Lola's superb caldereta, etcetera etcetera.

What I'm most especially happy about is at this time of the year, specifically during Noche Buena, our family is complete, as in complete complete.

Our family is far from perfect; honestly, I can say that we're not a nice or good or okay family, even. We're actually pretty detached from each other, except for me, I guess, because I'm pesky and clingy to my both my parents and to my three brothers. But every Christmas eve, we get to be this one whole family. No pressures. No issues. No conflicts. Just pure, happy and genuine family together time. Noche Buena is always simple here in our home, but it's also always fun and happy.

How we gossiped about this person 0r that family as if we were chatty, juvenile teeny boppers;

How we remembered one of our past drivers who ate all the lobster tails we ordered years back in Baguio and required at least a Jollibee or Mcdo meal (no carinderia meals for him :|);

How Dad was so proud and happy when I gave him an Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health sticker for his car;

How we laughed so hard while opening Dad's gifts to each of us (we all received a USB-powered pen light from him, and he even gave himself one, too, gift wrapped and with a card hahaha);

How we disliked the red wine we received from a contractor but loved the 7-11-bought Tanduay Ice (tastes like Sprite);

How we remembered Ma's and our past househelpers' funny mishaps and lines;

How our youngest brother loved all the gifts that he received;

How we just ate so much, cried our hearts out laughing, and enjoyed each other's company.

These types of things happening are what I love the most about Christmas. They're priceless, and I would never ever replace them with anything in the world. I'm more than thankful that we have this one great family experience even if it's just once every year, and I thank the Lord for making it happen. It is in celebrating as a complete family that we celebrate His birth.

Happy, happy birthday, Jesus! Thank you so much for all the love and for blessing me with my loved ones :)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! :)

Quickie

Sheltered

Shot in Quiapo

• So this is how being espresso-powered feels like. Add Kesha's Tick Tock (and some dancing and head-bobbing) and I think I can last until 5AM like this. I will make this Scope pubmat pretty!
• Hay.
• Last two exams, two management papers, and one management report to go! Fight, Bea!
• I'm seriously loving the Gastro-intestinal-Nutrition module :) Well, except the Biochem part.
• Learning how to actually count calories from food and knowing the exact amounts of food groups needed by the body made me more food-conscious. I love thinking about health. Haha.
• Winter Wonderland by Jason Mraz ♥
• Christmas shopping in a few!
• CHRISTMAAAS ♥

TODAY WILL BE PRODUCTIVE.

TODAY WILL BE PRODUCTIVE.

TODAY WILL BE PRODUCTIVE.

Being Super

Today, our prof brought her 6-year old son with her to class. While she was lecturing on how lipids are metabolized by the body, his son--bored and restless--took his pants down in the middle of the room and exposed his butt to everyone. Another time, he made peace signs on the projected slides. He counted the number of ATP produced in the metabolic reaction with us. He also adorably hugged his mom's hips while she was discussing.

We were undoubtedly distracted by him, but it was kind of a good distraction for me. I was inspired by the distraction, actually. That's two of my biggest dreams, right then and there. To be a good doctor and to be a good mother at the same time. It can be done, it can be done. Yay happy vibes :)

Acetyl CoA

Hello to a nerdy Biochem-filled weekend!

One step back.