Looking Back on 2012
2012 was a big year! I said it was going to be my year and it was! Anyway, I really don't know what to do with Livejournal. It's pretty much a tumbleweed party around here, but this is a yearly blog tradition I can't just forgo. So yeah, here we go. Happy New Year! 2013, you are going to rock!!!
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Hmmm this year went by so fast it was a blur. Well I went to Anawangin Cove in Zambales, Laiya in Batangas, and Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar in Bataan for the first time. I built an entire team - manpower, processes, and work flow - from scratch for the first time. I saw my 90s music heroes - The Cranberries and The Smashing Pumpkins - for the first time! I went to a pop diva concert - Lady Gaga - for the first time! I got to meet an online friend from another country - Brittany - for the first time! I got engaged for the first (and last) time!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did not, as usual. Well I did keep some. I went back to the gym but I was too busy to work out and be healthy. I did take my vitamins though. I didn't travel much. I did save more though, since I really learned how to be frugal this year - all for the wedding! Plus I resolved to be more positive about everything in general last year, and I did it.
This year, I resolve to be less lazy - with cleaning the apartment, with writing in my journal, with working out at the gym, with blogging, with all my other obsessions. When I get busy I just tend to lounge around on my free time, thus never being able to get anything non-work-related done. That will change.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Hilda did! Hello, baby Cedric!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully nobody close to me did. However, our cake supplier, Batch Uson passed away after Christmas, and he's a family friend so it's still pretty sad.
5. What countries did you visit?
Didn't travel this year because we're saving for the wedding and there's this superstition here to stay put when you're getting married.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Time! I'm so busy with work now I feel like I don't have time to live life anymore.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
That would be April 22, 2012 - the day he asked and I said yes. <3
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It's work. I got promoted to Editorial Director. My department expanded from 4 people to 22 and counting! I accomplished a lot this year. My career just skyrocketed. All those years of patiently working and waiting finally paid off. One of my big bosses put it best - "Your time has come."
9. What was your biggest failure?
I failed at eating right and working out! Haha. That's about it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got sick a few times. My allergic rhinitis is still active. Ugh. I also found myself in the emergency room twice! One was for a nosebleed that wouldn't stop (at least I think that was this past year), and the other was when I accidentally swallowed a marble potato and my esophagus swelled up and I spent that entire day in hospitals and got scary tests like the endoscopy and the Barrium Swallow! I know, I know. These things can only happen to me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Uh hmmm. I didn't really shop a lot this year because, you know, wedding. I just shopped for little things, so I guess it would be my Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings Lego sets, all my new books, Chanel lipstick and other awesome makeup, my orange Cole Vintage satchel, my Adidas yoga mat, and the Silverworks Scholastican bracelet, which has become one of my favorite things ever.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My team's. We had to go on overtime on weekdays plus no holidays and Saturdays for 20 days and they handled it awesomely and with flying colors too. I'm so proud of them.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nega people, but I don't really dwell on those things anymore.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The wedding fund!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My engagement to Aleq, of course!
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
The Smashing Pumpkins' Pinwheels. Seeing them live was the most surreal experience ever. I was in 90s heaven.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Way happier!!! Thinner or fatter? Fatter! I was too stressed to work out, and I had to eat or else I would pass out from exhaustion. Richer or poorer? Richer, yay! Lol. I got a raise when I got promoted and we got so much overtime pay plus a project bonus.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I cleaned the Yellow Pad more, I wish I wrote in my journal more, I wish I uploaded and documented days more.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working, hah. This was a record year for time spent in the office. I was thinking I lived there at one point.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my family and Aleq and his family.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
I spent it with my cousin Lek, my dad, and Aleq.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Always in love with Aleq.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zilch, nada, never again.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Made in Chelsea haha. I dunno, I'm obsessed. Plus I got way addicted to YouTube vlogs this year.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
There are some really bad people out there but I don't particularly hate anyone at the moment.
26. What was the best book you read?
Uh... I read so many books this year - like always. The Perks of Being a wallflower is a given. It has been on my reading list for years but I only got around to it when the movie came around and I needed to read the book before watching the film. I don't know why I waited so long - it was exquisite. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler because it was such an succinctly introspective, beautiful book. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien because I tried reading it in high school but gave up on it. I surprisingly enjoyed it so much this time around! The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series by Stieg Larsson was gut-wrenching and was an absolute page-turner. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but for sure those were my favorites this year.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I dunno. Probably Foster the People and Gotye. Mainstream, but I really liked their music.
28. What did you want and got?
A surprise proposal from Aleq and my engagement ring. <3
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hobbit and Rurouni Kenshin!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31. I met up with a few friends, went to Tagaytay with my family, and had a lovely lunch with Aleq's family.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less work stress I suppose?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Aleq and I are preparing for our wedding so we didn't pay attention to fashion so much this year. It's the first time I skipped the Mango, Topshop, Zara, Forever 21, and Cotton On sales! My style isn't updated at all.
34. What kept you sane?
Aleq. Always.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fredrik Ferrier from Made in Chelsea! He's hot and rugged and a model. Haha.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Obama winning I guess. I was happy about that.
37. Who did you miss?
My mother. Forever.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My team. I love them.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
You gotta choose to be happy.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"I'm always on your side, forever near your light. However you must fight, within your darkest night, I'm always on your side." - The Smashing Pumpkins, One Diamond One Heart.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Hmmm this year went by so fast it was a blur. Well I went to Anawangin Cove in Zambales, Laiya in Batangas, and Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar in Bataan for the first time. I built an entire team - manpower, processes, and work flow - from scratch for the first time. I saw my 90s music heroes - The Cranberries and The Smashing Pumpkins - for the first time! I went to a pop diva concert - Lady Gaga - for the first time! I got to meet an online friend from another country - Brittany - for the first time! I got engaged for the first (and last) time!
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did not, as usual. Well I did keep some. I went back to the gym but I was too busy to work out and be healthy. I did take my vitamins though. I didn't travel much. I did save more though, since I really learned how to be frugal this year - all for the wedding! Plus I resolved to be more positive about everything in general last year, and I did it.
This year, I resolve to be less lazy - with cleaning the apartment, with writing in my journal, with working out at the gym, with blogging, with all my other obsessions. When I get busy I just tend to lounge around on my free time, thus never being able to get anything non-work-related done. That will change.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Hilda did! Hello, baby Cedric!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully nobody close to me did. However, our cake supplier, Batch Uson passed away after Christmas, and he's a family friend so it's still pretty sad.
5. What countries did you visit?
Didn't travel this year because we're saving for the wedding and there's this superstition here to stay put when you're getting married.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Time! I'm so busy with work now I feel like I don't have time to live life anymore.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
That would be April 22, 2012 - the day he asked and I said yes. <3
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It's work. I got promoted to Editorial Director. My department expanded from 4 people to 22 and counting! I accomplished a lot this year. My career just skyrocketed. All those years of patiently working and waiting finally paid off. One of my big bosses put it best - "Your time has come."
9. What was your biggest failure?
I failed at eating right and working out! Haha. That's about it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got sick a few times. My allergic rhinitis is still active. Ugh. I also found myself in the emergency room twice! One was for a nosebleed that wouldn't stop (at least I think that was this past year), and the other was when I accidentally swallowed a marble potato and my esophagus swelled up and I spent that entire day in hospitals and got scary tests like the endoscopy and the Barrium Swallow! I know, I know. These things can only happen to me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Uh hmmm. I didn't really shop a lot this year because, you know, wedding. I just shopped for little things, so I guess it would be my Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings Lego sets, all my new books, Chanel lipstick and other awesome makeup, my orange Cole Vintage satchel, my Adidas yoga mat, and the Silverworks Scholastican bracelet, which has become one of my favorite things ever.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My team's. We had to go on overtime on weekdays plus no holidays and Saturdays for 20 days and they handled it awesomely and with flying colors too. I'm so proud of them.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nega people, but I don't really dwell on those things anymore.
14. Where did most of your money go?
The wedding fund!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My engagement to Aleq, of course!
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
The Smashing Pumpkins' Pinwheels. Seeing them live was the most surreal experience ever. I was in 90s heaven.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Way happier!!! Thinner or fatter? Fatter! I was too stressed to work out, and I had to eat or else I would pass out from exhaustion. Richer or poorer? Richer, yay! Lol. I got a raise when I got promoted and we got so much overtime pay plus a project bonus.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I cleaned the Yellow Pad more, I wish I wrote in my journal more, I wish I uploaded and documented days more.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working, hah. This was a record year for time spent in the office. I was thinking I lived there at one point.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my family and Aleq and his family.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
I spent it with my cousin Lek, my dad, and Aleq.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Always in love with Aleq.
23. How many one-night stands?
Zilch, nada, never again.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Made in Chelsea haha. I dunno, I'm obsessed. Plus I got way addicted to YouTube vlogs this year.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
There are some really bad people out there but I don't particularly hate anyone at the moment.
26. What was the best book you read?
Uh... I read so many books this year - like always. The Perks of Being a wallflower is a given. It has been on my reading list for years but I only got around to it when the movie came around and I needed to read the book before watching the film. I don't know why I waited so long - it was exquisite. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler because it was such an succinctly introspective, beautiful book. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien because I tried reading it in high school but gave up on it. I surprisingly enjoyed it so much this time around! The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series by Stieg Larsson was gut-wrenching and was an absolute page-turner. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but for sure those were my favorites this year.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I dunno. Probably Foster the People and Gotye. Mainstream, but I really liked their music.
28. What did you want and got?
A surprise proposal from Aleq and my engagement ring. <3
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hobbit and Rurouni Kenshin!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31. I met up with a few friends, went to Tagaytay with my family, and had a lovely lunch with Aleq's family.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less work stress I suppose?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Aleq and I are preparing for our wedding so we didn't pay attention to fashion so much this year. It's the first time I skipped the Mango, Topshop, Zara, Forever 21, and Cotton On sales! My style isn't updated at all.
34. What kept you sane?
Aleq. Always.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fredrik Ferrier from Made in Chelsea! He's hot and rugged and a model. Haha.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Obama winning I guess. I was happy about that.
37. Who did you miss?
My mother. Forever.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My team. I love them.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
You gotta choose to be happy.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"I'm always on your side, forever near your light. However you must fight, within your darkest night, I'm always on your side." - The Smashing Pumpkins, One Diamond One Heart.