and it’s that time of the year again. isa na namang year-end survey! yey! hehehe..
so far, it’s been a good year. nagiging mas maayos na kami sa bahay compared dun sa mga nakaraang taon na kakawala lang ni tatay. si nanay eh moving on steady, her work helps a lot (and the “going out a lot” helps too). si kapatid na bunso eh finally getting out of his funk at buti naman eh naisipang gawing productive ang buhay n’ya at nagsimula ng magtrabaho (he’s currently a barista jan sa starbucks sa U.P. TechnoHub). si isa pang kapatid na lang ang inaatay ko na talagang maging productive na mamamayang pilipino (pero feeling ko eh mas gusto nitong maging house-husband), pero sabi naman daw n’ya eh aasikasuhin na n’ya ang pamilya n’ya. ako, steady lang. hindi na ako masyadong naapektuhan nung pagkawala ni tatay. tanggap ko na ako na ang bagong “tatay” sa bahay at kailangan kong tulungan si nanay sa pagtataguyud ng pamilya. naks!
sa trabaho eh okay naman ako. finally eh nalipat na ako sa mga projects na gusto kong gawin talaga. fine, i get it na mas less ang chance na maipadala ako sa ibang bansa dahil wala na ako dun sa dati kong project, pero atleast i am doing what i really want to do, and getting a lot better at doing it. mas marami akong natutunan ngayon at excited ako na magamit ang mga yun sa mga darating ko pang mga projects.
sa buhay pag-ibig, so far so good. steady lang. it’s hardwork (and in my case, i need to work overtime), pero ganun talaga. i knew what i was getting into ng makipagbalikan ako kay girlfriend, so tanggap ko yun. i love you beh! we’ll get there.
itong darating na 2009, marami akong nilu-look forward. may mga bagay na sinetup ko ng 2008 at gusto ko na masakatuparan nitong 2009. tignan na lang natin.
at ito na po ang survey:
Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
i guess i did. hindi na ako palaging late pumasok sa opisina (shh…), minsan na lang. hehe. yung iba nagawa ko naman and yes, i’ll make more for next year. isa na jan eh titigilan ko ng tawaging “boss” yung project manager ko. hehe. ayaw daw n’ya na tinatawag ko s’yang “boss”.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
nope. wala ngayon taon. pero early next year meron kaming ina-anticipate ng barkada. paunang congrats, mareng arvie! 
Did anyone close to you die?
fortunately, not this year. sana wala muna anytime soon..
What countries did you visit?
hay.. no other countries to visit this year. 
What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
a steady and strong relationship with the girlfriend. a new place to put the computer cafe business. and a chance to go abroad again (although this one is really shooting for the moon this time).
What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 11, 2008 - i finally signed up for the new project i was doing for 2008 and got out of the former project i was in.
September 2008 - the girlfriend and i started talking again and eventually decided to try things out one more time.
October 9 - 13, 2008 - the ilocos tour me, the girlfriend and a couple of friends have
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
work related, that would be taking lead on the projects i handled for the year. it was a great learning experience for me and i take pride in the fact that my project manager thinks that i did a good job at her absence and that she believes that i am an asset to the company. naks! now, all i have to do is be better.
home related, that would be trying to step up in my role in the family. if i’ll be at least half the man my father was, that would be a better achievement for me.
and yeah, getting back together with the girlfriend.
What was your biggest failure?
hmm.. honestly, i can’t remember any big failure this year. interesting.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
nothing serious.. just the normal colds during the rainy season.
What was the best thing you bought?
a Sony Bravia HDTV and a Sony DAV HDX275 Home Theater System. watching movies at home is now a different experience. hahaha!
Whose behavior merited celebration?
my youngest brother, for finally making himself kapaki-pakinabang. hehehe.
my niece, gwen, for already starting school and being good at it (i love it that she’s so smart, namoro nga talaga).
and florence (hayskul classmate and bestfriend since my UP days) for being so tough despite of all the things that is happening to her lately.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
hmm..
Where did most of your money go?
bills, DVDs, graphic novels, gadgets, out of town trips, bills..
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
hmm.. the new projects i was handling, the new people i was going to work with, the new things i was going to learn. also, getting the rayama group back together and doing our thing again. im really looking forward to the other things that are planned for this year for that group. and yeah, getting back together with the girlfriend.
What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
“Reason Why” by Rachael Yamagata, “Dice” by Finley Quayle, “Shapeshifter” by Taken By Cars
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? — happier!
ii. thinner or fatter? – fatter!
iii. richer or poorer? — richer! hehehe..
What do you wish you’d done more?
hmm.. knowing that i have the tendency to procrastinate, i wish i have given more effort to my work. i knew deep inside i could have given more.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
less being an asshole.. less going to work late..
How many one-night stands?
zero.
What was your favorite TV program?
Chuck is TOTALLY my favorite tv show of the year. and House MD too..
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
not really..
What was the best book you read?
“The Portable Atheist” by Christopher Hitchens, “Mouse Guard” by David Petersen
What was this year’s greatest musical discovery?
Taken By Cars!
What did you want and get?
a new project! a new bed! a new ipod! a new TV! 
What was your favorite film of this year?
In Search of a Midnight Kiss, Definitely Maybe, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, WALL-E, Tropic Thunder, Hellboy: The Golden Army, Burn After Reading, Cloverfield
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
for my birthday celebration, me, the girlfriend and a couple of college friends went to Vigan, Laoag & Pagudpud. and yeah, i turned 27. fuck it, i’m finally getting old.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
getting that other project/training to Spain. i was already on the list to be sent there, but as my big boss said, “we have other plans for you”. back then i thought they have big plans for me, but as it turned out, they just couldn’t let me go out of the current project i am in coz there is no else capable of supporting it. oh well, better luck next time.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
the corporate look.. coz that’s what i need to wear every-fucking-day at the office.
What kept you sane?
a lot of really good music and movies and a lot of quality time at home with the family and the girlfriend.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
ellen page, FTW!
What political issue stirred you the most?
i guess the U.S. presidential elections.
Who did you miss?
my dad. as always.
Who was the best new person you met?
rachel tan, janine tantan, ellen mangandi, siegfred correa (peeps from my QS1 training)
rhea, kyle & efren (my former teammates)
and of course, my project manager/mentor: boss debby!
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
tough times never last, but tough people do!
What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself:
the mid-year evaluation my project manager gave me. and whenever the girlfriend compliments me for some of the things i do.
the most touching experience you’ve had this year?
hmmm.. those talks i’ve had with florence, she’s having a very difficult time this year and is dealing with a very big problem.
What did you like most about yourself this year?
proving to myself (and to others) that i can do a lot of good at work if given the RIGHT kind of projects to handle.
What did you hate most about yourself this year?
procrastinating.
Was 2008 a good year for you?
hell yeah!
What was your favorite moment of the year?
the Ilocos Tour me, the girlfriend and a couple of friends did during the first week of october.
What was your least favorite moment of the year?
hmmm… when i didn’t get the spain gig nung august. i guess u can’t have them all..
Where were you when 2008 began?
at home.. eating.
Who were you with?
family and some friends.
Where will you be when 2008 ends?
probably just here at home.. eating.
Who will you be with when 2008 ends?
family. some neighbours, probably.
Do you have a new years resolution for 2009?
yeah, i have some.
What was your favorite month of 2008?
october!
Did you lose anybody close to you in 2008?
nope. fortunately!
Did you miss anybody in the past year?
mostly my dad..
What was your favorite record from 2008?
Endings of A New Kind - Taken By Cars
Bipolar - Up Dharma Down
Paramita - Paramita
Elephants - Rachael Yamagata
How many concerts did you see in 2008?
aside from the yearly UP Fair concerts?
Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
nope.. i really am not drinking alcohol anymore.
do a lot of drugs in 2008?
no drugs for me, thank you.
you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
yeah, i do..
How much money did you spend in 2008?
A LOT!
What was your proudest moment of 2008?
hmm.. one would be after getting my mid-year evaluations. another would be when we finished the phase 1 of the project we had.
What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008?
hah! good thing i can’t remember any of those.. hehe..
What are your plans for 2009?
dream. believe. surpass!
How are you different now that the year has ended?
i am now more confident on how i do my work. i feel i am finally getting comfortable to my role at home.. and i am not single!
What are your wishes for the new year?
more projects, new things to learn, good health and luck for the family, and a strong relationship with the girlfriend.
