Because I'm Too Bummed Out to Write a Real Blog Post

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?

Travel alone! I was able to tour around Davao for a day... alone.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I did not make a list last year. I probably won't make a list for this year too. But... this really sounds like a good idea:

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! My cousin-in-law and a friend from grad school.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. :(

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

Free time.

7. What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Not really an exact date but I will always remember March 2015 because I had two heartbreaks that month.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Moving on from 1 of those two heartbreaks. Haha!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not overcoming procrastination.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing serious. I had a small wound in my left foot when we tried cliff-diving in Guimaras. But it was worth it!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My sister and I bought a TV and my downloaded 1080p movies were finally put into good use.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

All those people who did nice things to other people even if no one's around.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

All those people who did bad things to other people especially if no one's around.

14. Where did most of your money go?

FOOD! Food. And have I already mentioned food?

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

Paychecks! Huhuhu, #alipinngsalapi #sorrynotsorry

16. What song will always remind you of 2015?

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

i. happier or sadder? happier

ii. thinner or fatter? thinner (yes maniwala ka, mas payat pa ako sa lagay na ito haha)

iii. richer or poorer? richer

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

Learning new skills and exercising! :P

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

Social media and overthinking.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

21. How will you be spending New Year’s?

Pretty much the same way we spent Christmas Eve. But with fireworks, ofcourse! Haha.

22. Did you fall in love in 2015?

I lost my faith in love (not really love, but relationships) in 2015.

23. How many one-night stands?

None.

24. What was your favorite TV program(s)?

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

Yes. Not because he's changed, but because he wasn't in my life yet this time last year. Also, I shouldn't really be hating him.

26. What was the best book you read?

I was surprised when I realized that I haven't finished any book this year. I started reading The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, The Girl on the Train, and Dark Places but I wasn't able to finish all of them.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Justin Bieber's Purpose album. The Biebs may be one of the biggest a**holes to ever exist, but his song are actually great. 

28. What did you want and get?

I wanted to finish my pre-print paper to be able to finally get my Master's degree. I did- with the help of a lot of people, particularly my adviser and my boss that time.

Also, I've always dreamed of a fast internet connection. We currently enjoy a decent internet connection.

29. What did you want and not get?

On the first half of the year, I badly wanted to get back together with someone. That someone doesn't love me anymore and didn't want the same... so I remembered wanting to have another relationship immediately. I didn't get that either.  

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

31. What did you do on your birthday?

I took a leave from work. Then I spent the day... working.

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

Kinder people.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?

First half of 2015: Jeans and shirts. 

Second half of 2015: Slacks and three-quarter sleeve polo.

So I guess... none, really.

34. What kept you sane?

Webcomics and Tumblr posts. Weird...

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

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Traffic. Akjdsnsjadfjhasbnfdkjasndfkjansdkfkndnfjdf!!!

37. Who did you miss?

Friends from QC. :)

38. Who was the best new person you met?

I never met many people this 2015. :(

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:

A quote I read somewhere, "Follow your heart but bring your brain with you."

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

Kwentong Bakasyon

***

Hello boarding house!
Hello instant noodles!
Hello fastfood chains!
Hello IKOT/TOKI!
Hello Mercury (PHILCOA branch)!
Hello junk foods! Haha!
Hello Diliman campus!
Hello Acads!
Hello readings!
Hello classmates!
Hello INTERNET!
Hello puyatan!
Hello maagang gisingan!
Hello pila sa pagligo!
Hello SC!
Hello BNO!
Hello night life! (haha, JK!)

IN SHORT: CHRISTMAS VACATION IS OFFICIALLY OVER!!! SIMULA NA ULIT NG KLASE!!!

***
"What's The Real Essence of Christmas?"
'Yan ang title ng composition na required isulat ng kapatid ko para sa English III niya.

Naalala ko lang, parang taon-taon, tuwing January, pagbalik ng klase pagkatapos ng Christmas vacation, palagi rin akong pinapasulat ng mga teacher ko noong gradeschool ng ganitong composition. At pati na rin ng ilang mga teacher ko noong high school. Pare-pareho ng theme. CHRISTMAS. At pakiramdam ko, nang mga panahong 'yun, parang pare-pareho din lang ang mga isinusulat ko.

Pero siguro nga, kung ngayon ako pasusulatin ng ganitong composition, mas mag-iiba na. Hindi na tipong kung paano lang ang clique na celebration ng mga Pilipino ng Pasko, hindi lang kung ano ang role ng bawat miyembro ng pamilya sa pagdedecorate ng bahay, hindi lang tungkol sa bibingka at puto bungbong, at sa regalo ng ninong at ninang. Mas malalim na siguro ang laman. At 'yung mula na talaga sa puso. Dahil naniniwala na ako na bawat tao na naniniwala sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko ay may kanya-kanyang kuwento tungkol dito. Charz.

***

Dahil nasa bahay si Tatay, sa kwarto namin natutulog ang kapatid ko. Kapag kasi wala ang Tatay namin, tumatabi siya sa Nanay namin sa kabilang kwarto. So 'ayun, buong bakasyon, halos magkasawaan talaga kami ng mukha ng kapatid ko. Hahaha! Madami-dami din kaming napanood na pelikula. Salamat sa mga pirated DVDs. Natapos din namin ang mga Asianovela na Full House at Hana Kimi. Malawak-lawak din ang naging sakop ng mga napagkuwentuhan namin. Nakalimutan ko na 'yung iba sa sobrang dami. Haha.

Dahil isang malaking duwag ang kapatid ko, hindi puwedeng ako ang maunang matulog sakanya. (At dapat buhay ang ilaw sa likod ng kwarto!) Kaya sabi ko, umisip siya ng gagawin namin para hindi muna ako antukin. Ang mga ginawa namin? Eh 'di naglaro!

1. Pinoy Henyo. Na lagi akong natatalo dahil ang chever ng mga words na iniisip niya.
2. Family Feud.
3. ABKD. Haha, 'yung tipong U-Na-I-Ba-E-Ra-Sa-I-Da-A-Da. Tapos dapat alam mo 'yung word na mabubuo. Pramis, nakakalito kaya!
4. Hindi ko alam kung anong tawag sa laro na 'to. At kung laro ba talaga 'to. Pero iisip ka ng tanong. Tapos iisip ang kalaro mo ng sagot. Halimbawa, BAKIT?. Iisip ka ng tanong na nagsisimula sa BAKIT at iisip naman ang kalaro mo ng puwedeng isagot sa BAKIT. At dahil nga hindi naman talaga magiging related ang sagot niyo, tatawa lang kayo kapag nasabi niyo na ang iniisip ng isa't isa. At naiinis lang ako kapag ang sagot na sinasabi ng kapatid ko kapag BAKIT eh "dahil gusto ni GOD".
5. Card Games! Tong-its. Na sabi niya feeling niya ang galing-galing niya. Bluff. Na kalahati lang ng deck gamit namin dahil dalawa nga lang kami. Dugsungan. Na ginagamitan pala ng strategy.

One time, bored na kami pareho, at gustung-gusto na naming umisip ng bagong laro. Tapos may naalala siya na noon ko lang talaga ulit naalala. Nung gradeschool kasi, kapag walang teacher, madami ding gingawang laro kaming magkaklase. Isa na dito ang laro na nilaro din pala ng mga kaklase ng kapatid ko.

Kukuha ng isang libro. Tapos pipili ka ng gusto mo, right-side ba o left-side. Then every turn ng page, bibilangin niyo kung ilang tao ang naka-drawing. Tapos 'yun 'yung dami ng pitik na ipipitik mo sa kalaban. Hahaha! Ayos ba?!

***

Siguro ngayon, mag-a-agree ako sa reason ng professor ko dati sa Socio 101 kung bakit wala kaming film showing sa klase. Ayon sakanya, hindi daw kasi pare-pareho ang focus ng mga tao sa panonood ng isang pelikula. Kumbaga, iba-iba ang pinapansin natin sa daloy ng pelikula o ang ating mga hindi napapansin dito.

Dahil nga medyo nasulit ko ang bakasyon, minsan nauulit-ulit ko rin ang mga movies na napanood ko na dati. Hindi lang talaga siguro ako likas na mapansinin, pero everytime na mapapanood ko ang isang pelikulang napanood ko na dati, ewan ko ba, may bago at bago pa rin akong mapapansin dito. Minsan 'yung suot ng mga bida. O kaya isang line na binitiwan niya. Basta!

***

Kung totoo man ang sinasabi nila na related ang mga nangyari/ginawa mo/suot mo sa unang araw ng bagong taon (January 1) sa mga natitira pang araw sa taon na 'yun, malamang buong 2009:

1. wala akong load. So paano ba 'yan textmates? Sa 2010 nalang?
2. wala akong pera.
3. mapupuyat ako! (hayyy.)
4. mabaho ako. Dahil hindi ako naligo nung January 1! Ha! (yuck.)
5. makakapagbasa ako ng maraming libro
6. dadalaw-dalawin ng mga pesteng virus ang computer at USB ko.
7. mamalasin ako dahil hindi ko sinuot ang lucky color ko. Whatever.

***

Salamat sa pagbasa. :)