Year of the Tiger

Year of the Tiger ako pinanganak.

July 08, 1986.

Year of the Tiger din ang malapit na matapos na taong 2010.

Sinwerte ba ko sa taong ito o hindi?

Naging masaya ba ako o hindi?

Marami ba akong na-achieve ngayong taong ito?

Let's see.

Listed below are the highlights and sidelights of my 2010.

* The birth of "Tip of the Tongue".

* This my first time to attend in our annual High School Alumni Homecoming. Masaya kasi I got the chance to meet my high school classmates and friends after a couple of years.

* Nabuo ang Saturday Group. Composed of Jes, Diane, Miel, Ella and myself. Actually, we all belong to our group named "Kulto Inc.". It just happened na when we decided to meet up, kaming lima lang yung available and medyo madaling hagilapin kapag may mga get togethers. The group was formed during our first ever dinner at Sweet Solutions Cafe then head on to Starbucks Tagaytay. Biglaan lang ang pagpunta sa Tagaytay dahil sa Sweet Solutions Cafe lang ang original plan. Second gig ng group ay the Alice in Wonderland movie. Unfortunately, hindi ako nakasama. Zip line mode naman ang third gig in Tagaytay. Unfortuantely ulit, hindi na naman ako nakasama. Fourth one was during Diane's birthday. After having our dinner on her house, we went to Island Songs to sing. Why Saturday Group? Because we usually conduct our get together every Saturday.

* Speaking of Kulto Inc., after so many years, we had our dinner in Yellowcab in Imus. Present sila Jes, Ella, Diane, Tintin, Ritchelle, Jerick, Roron, RJ and myself. Nasundan ito ng kantahan sa bahay nila Ella with Jes, Diane and myself. Na-experience din namin for the first time ang food sa Cafe Marcelo with Jes, Roron, Jean, Diane, Ella and me. We even celebrated the wedding of Richard and his fiance. Sayang kasi hindi ako nakasama. At the last quarter of the month, we had our dinner at Frio Mixx then coffee at Sweet Solutions Cafe. Kasama sila Diane, Miel, Mariekris, Richard, Tintin, Roron, Jerick, Ella, Jes and me, Dito napag-planuhan ang first ever Christmas party ng group. Just this month, we held our Christmas party at Shakey's and Island Songs with RJ, Jes, Ella, Miel, Diane, Jerick, Mariekris and me. Until next gig guys.

* Because of Facebook, I also got the chance to meet again some of my elementary classmates and friends. We're only six pero masaya pa rin. Kudos to Lei, Jane, Sherwin, Rona and Lian.

* Hindi naman papatalo ang college friends ko. I organized our reunion after three years. Dinner and coffee naman sa Tagaytay. Present sa event sila Jerome (with his wife Cherry and daughter), Lilia (with her boyfriend Ariel), Mina, Cherrie (with her boyfriend Kish), Lorna, Roylan and me. After the reunion, our batch went to Pangasinan for our first ever out of town summer getaway. Lorna, Ghie, Chelsea, Ryan, Jhec, Kish, Cherrie, Lilia, Ariel, Cherry, Jerome and Me enjoyed the Hundred Islands. Maraming hassles pero good thing is, successful naman. Until next year psychos.

* We hitted our assigned target this year. Ayun, increase ang kapalit. :)

* Our whole family went to Kingbee for a late dinner / early midnight snack to spend my Mother's birthday.

* My birthday. I brought menudo and pichipichi for my colleagues. Then I invited my childhood friends to drop by in our house to eat some pancit malabon and sopas.

* I just got my new phone. Actually, hindi sya new kasi dati na syang ginagamit ng brother-in-law ko. Nokia 6760 Slide ang tawag sa kanya. Orginal price is 11K pero nabili ko ng 2K. Laban!

* Marami akong na-deploy na applicants bound to Australia. Tradition na yata sa office namin na kapag may aalis na applicant, required syang magpakain. Ayun, everytime na may aalis na applicant, lagi kaming busog.

* Ms. Jhen treated us to Music 21. Videoke house sa may Malate. Because of that, kapag nagkakayagan na magkantahan, sa Music 21 lagi ang target ng tropa.

* Every All Saints' Day, me and my childhood friends make sure that we visit our dead loved ones. But this year, we failed. Lakas kasi ng ulan.

* Family dinner for Tatay's birthday held at Gerry's Grill. Sarap ng sisig.

* Christmas party at the office. Riot sa dami ng foods and goodies. Riot rin dahil sa kabaliwan ng mga colleagues. Pero honestly, this was the happiest office Christmas party I attended since I started working.

* Bowling session with my childhood friends at Paeng's Bowling Center. Tapsilog after. Then, konting inuman.

* Noche Buena

* Media Noche

Ikaw?

How's your 2010?

***

Short and Sad

December 19, 2010
Sunday
Around 8:30 in the evening

Me, my Nanay and Ate were discussing everything about Leila's (my niece) 7th birthday.

Nanay said, "Wag na lang maghanda ng enggrande dahil sa hirap ng buhay ngayon."

Obviously, she's being practical.

At the middle of conversation, Nanay just said to my Ate:

"Sa debut nya na lang mo sya ipaghanda... Kung aabutin pa namin yun."

Short statement.

Sad truth.

***

Limitations

Sad to say, negative topic ang first entry ko sa pinakamasayang buwan ng taon.

Wala lang.

Nagka-badtripan lang sa office dahil sa SISIG.

You read it right.

Dahil lang sa SISIG.

Mababaw.

Maski ako, nabababawan eh.

Pero dahil sa kababawan na'to, i just realized na may limitations din pala ang lahat ng bagay.

At alam mo dapat sa sarili mo kung hanggang saan ka lang.

Alam mo kung hanggang kailan ka magpa-pasensya.

Alam mo kung hanggang kailan ka hihingi ng pasensya.

Alam mo kung gaano karami ang kakainin mo sa hapunan.

Alam mo kung gaano mo katagal ibabad ang sarili mo sa bath tub.

At marami pang iba.

Ikaw at hindi ang ibang tao ang dapat na magse-set ng limitation na yon.

Lessons learned:

"Kailangang hugasan ang baso kapag kabibigay pa lang. Baka kasi amoy ipis."

"Kahit gahaman ka at paborito mo ang pagkain na nakahain, mamigay ka."

***