2012 Revisited

Time passes so quickly! It's almost the end of February, so I figured it was the best time to take some time, and look back on the highlights of the past year. Admittedly, this is very much delayed, but here goes. :)

To be honest, 2012 flew by so fast I could barely keep up, probably one of the most highlight-filled years of my life, and probably because I celebrated an important milestone last year, I turned 30!

I started the year on a pretty low note, with a bad viral infection that had me taking antibiotics going into the new year, missing a family reunion and being downright miserable. But it picked up...some highlights:

• Mamma Mia @ the CCP, although I honestly think this could have been staged by Filipinos, it was still a fun musical to watch.


• PBA All Stars Game (DLSU vs ADMU), which La Salle won, btw. :) It was really great seeing the old 4-peat players play against their rivals, especially since those players were the ones I followed while I was still in La Salle.


• Anawim Outreach with the ASAP team, always a good, uplifting experience.


• La Luz sith the ASAP team


• Getting paid for a blog post, hahaha, hopefully won't be the last time.


• Bellarocca with Jeng! Santorini-inspired, and totally relaxing vacation.


• Getting my Asus Transformer!


• Ria and Fen's wedding.


• Forbidden Broadway @ RCBC, very, very funny!


• Rock of Ages @ RCBC, with Mig Ayesa. Total rock-fest, will definitely catch this again in 2013.


• Going back to DLSU to do interviews...first time back after 9 years, and there was a certain sense of accomplishment being there and interviewing soon to be graduates for prospective jobs.


• Diablo 3!


• Watching The Fray in Manila


• Boracay with the Family

and last but definitely not the least, my biggest trip to date, to celebrate my 3 decades of existence, the Rome-UK trip. Thanks to our gracious hosts in Rome, tita Mildred and tito Enrico, and tito Sol, tita Elise and our Manchester hosts, tita Este and tito Tim. Also discovered one of the best tour providers, Expat Explore for our UK excursion. Definitely a separate post needed for this trip, but I still need to find the time to do it.

It wasn't all highs though... one of my cousins, Cathy, succumbed to a rare illness after over a month in the ICU. Rest in peace ate Kels, we'll miss you.

Now, 2 months into 2013, we're faced with new challenges, new highlights.. it's going to be a hell of a ride I'm sure, and I just can't wait to see what 2013 has to offer.

Happy New Year!!!

This year I'm late with my end of year post... but it wasn't intentional. I actually woke up this morning with chills and a 39 degree fever and spent most of the day curled up in bed nursing headaches and body pains. I'm still sick, but feeling much better compared to earlier in the day.

So, what was special about 2011? Again, travel takes the top spot. :) This year, I was able to conquer Caramoan, travel to Singapore (twice), and go to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. I wonder where 2012 will take me in terms of travel?

Work-wise, it's been such a roller coaster ride, with changing roles and responsibilities every few months. It's hard to keep up with all the things I need to learn, but what's good about it is that you learn something new everyday, and I'm really quite enjoying the stress. But this year, I promised myself I won't stress myself out too much. It's taking a toll on me, and I don't want to resent the company or the work I'm doing now, just because I can't manage my time well.

I also got an iPhone in 2011. :) I know, it seems trivial, but it's truly an amazing phone, and it lets me check my work e-mails without having to open up my laptop! For me, that's a pretty big deal, so getting an iPhone is a highlight for 2011. For 2012, I'm planning on getting a tablet... I really have my sights set on the Asus Transformer Prime. So, have to save up for that.

And then there's the last Harry Potter film, and the launching of Pottermore - which I had early access to. I'll also include the 'discovery' of Starkid and a Very Potter Musical and a Very Potter Sequel on this thread, because it was a totally awesome discovery. :)

I guess that's pretty much it - 2011 was a fun ride, and with the new challenges and experiences waiting in 2012, I can't help but feel really excited about it.

Jeepney

I rode a jeepney today.

To be honest, I don't usually take the jeep anymore, when I do, it's normally just because I'm lazy to walk, but to actually ride a jeep to get to a destination, I think it's been years.

But anyway, today I made the conscious choice to ride a jeepney to get to the mall so I could meet my best friend. I could have taken a cab, but for some reason, I decided to take the jeepney instead.

Ahh...the warm wind in your hair, the smell of exhaust in the air, being forced to squish into a confined space like sardines, being jerked around by the constant stops and starts as people get on and off the jeep, the sudden burst of speeds that make you feel like you're in a high speed chase, and finally, finally reaching your destination looking like a frazzled mess (or maybe that's just me).

Takes me back to my good old school days. :)

Honestly, riding the jeepney is not so bad, and even though I haven't really taken the jeep for such a long time, there's a sense of familiarity about it that I miss. It's good to know that there are some things you don't forget, in my caseits how to survive riding a jeep in Manila.

Harry Potter Love

In less than a month, the final Harry Potter movie will be released in cinemas...I am literally counting the days until I can score 1st day, 1st showing tickets from Sureseats. In the meantime, I have this awesome, awesome trailer to tide me over.



I was first introduced to Harry by my British cousin, John. He was about 10 I think some 12 years ago, and they were visiting my grandparents here in Manila. He was reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (later changed to Sorcerer's stone in the US edition), and he was very excited about it, told me it was a good book.

One afternoon, with nothing better to do, I read it. It was a kid's book, so it took me just an hour to read it, but for some reason, I got hooked. My cousin was returning to the UK so I had to buy my own copy of the 1st book (so I can reread it), and bought Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban - I was still studying so I had to borrow money from my parents for the book. :P I eagerly read the second and third books (on the same day mind you). And I swear, I thought Prisoner of Azkaban was the best book ever! I was so in love with Remus Lupin's character that I liked him even more than Harry.

And the rest, as they say, is history. It didn't take long for Goblet of Fire to come out, but then the wait for the 5th, 6th and 7th books was torture. Granted, I could always re-read the earlier books, I even had audiobooks and e-books of the entire series, and even backup paperback copies. I mean, backup paperback copies? Who does that? My top 3 books are definitely Deathly Hallows, Half-Blood Prince and Prisoner of Azkaban.

Anyway, going back to the movies...well, there are some criticisms to note, and I don't always agree with the way they edit them, but I am still eternally grateful to WB for producing them. They still brought Harry Potter to life, in a way even my imagination would not have been able to. And I have to say, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Jason Isaacs, Ralph Fiennes - basically the entire HP cast are just all amazing. And that British accent is just always so nice to hear.

I will definitely cry when I finally get to watch this movie. I can't wait to watch it, but at the same time I just don't want it to end... it's like the Deathly Hallows release all over again. All I know is, Harry Potter will always have a special place in my life - and the magic will live on, no matter what.