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I love how warmly public market vendors respond to my persistent use of reusable shopping bags and Lock n Lock. Was surprised with their reaction and enthusiasm. It's so nice to hear their intent on cutting down on plastic and their expenses on these.

Their smiles and our shared conversations definitely made my day. :)

I loved my 2009 because of these trips. Made my year a lot more interesting. :)

CAUTION: This post is a bit sizable. Various Ipo tree planting visits not included, madami na masyado. Tama na!!

Crystal Beach, San Narcisco, Zambales  (January 10-11)



Antipolo dinner (January 14)



Pico de Loro, Ternate, Cavite (February 21-22)




Real, Quezon (March 8)

 


Ipo Trail Mapping, Norzagaray, Bulacan (March 21)


 
Majayjay, Laguna-Lucban, Quezon (April 4-5)

 

Field Work--Aritao, Bambang, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya (April 24-May 10)

 

Pahiyas--Lucban, Quezon (May 14-15)



Hortica and Wawa Dam, Montalban (May 23)



Tagaytay lunch (May 24)



Anawangin Cove, Zambales (June 13-14)

     

Outdoor Skills Training--Bitbit Bridge, Norzagaray, Bulacan (June 20-21)



Jara Resort, Pundaquit, Zambales (July 18-19)



Mt. Balagbag, Bulacan (July 25-26)

 

Mt. Daguldol and Alta Mira, Barrio Biga, San Juan, Batangas (August 15-16)

 

Envi Activity A--Ipo Dam and Bitbit Bridge, Norzagaray, Bulacan (August 29-30)



Envi Activity B--Ipo Dam and Bitbit Bridge, Norzagaray, Bulacan (September 5-6)



Baguio City, Baguio (October 31-November 2)

                       

White Beach, Puerto Galera (December 12-13)
 


Nagsasa Cove, Zambales (December 27-28)

 

Baguio City (December 29-30)

   

1. Learn to swim.
2. Bike...
3. Buy a bike.
4. Row/Join UPM Dragon Boat Team
5. Travel :) visit new places.
6. Climb!
7. Save money, but spend on important things and traveling.
8. Become more organized. yerighht
9. Write religiously on my planner.
10. Buy a planner.
11. Finish thesis, incomplete subject and college. :S
12. Get an external hard disk drive. PC wont stop complaining.
13. Become less moody and masungit, it will eventually drive people away.
14. Smile more :D
15. Become more approachable.
16. Draw.
17. Run at least once or twice a week.
18. Finish things I've started.
...

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Snorkel! Learned to bike! Got a paper published. :) Rode top-load sa tricycle. Rode a kuliglig. Attended Pahiyas. Marami pa! And I'm very glad :)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've grown tired of making resolutions. I always fail to keep them. Though I do have one for next year--but I'll call it a GOAL.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes :)


4. Did anyone close to you die?
Sadly, he was very dear to us.

5. What countries did you visit?
WALA!! I did get to visit plenty of places in the Philippines :)

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Discipline sana. And the capacity to hold my liquor. hehe


7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No particular date. Maraming nangyari ng 2009, and I'm glad the good times stood out.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Led a number of tree planting activities and reforestation lectures as EnCom Head. Was one of the organizers of the successful GIG Run (and raised plenty of funds...and awareness.) Got a paper published in the Linguistics Journal of the Philippines. Helped out with relief efforts during the Bagyong Ondoy tragedy. And I had fun despite all the adversities.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Still not being able to finish all my requirements. And being away from my family for the majority of the year, not spending time with them.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fell ill a couple (or more) times this year--but faked some of them. hehe

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My TNF jacket and Deuter pack

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Friends I personally applaud. Madami sila, and I'm proud of all of them :)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mahirap na humusga, kaya ako na lang.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mountaineering gear, traveling, splurges and cravings.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Traveling and new getting new things. And being with people I love most.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
You Make My Dreams Come True -Hall & Oates  (Kahit 1980s pa 'to, it reminds me of 2009.)
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At ang classic, and now very annoying: The Show by Lenka hahaha

17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, or at least less stressed
ii. thinner or fatter? I'm really not sure. Fitter, I guess (and hope)
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely POORER!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Completing my requirements (which are catching up to me now)

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination! Wish I was less masungit and less selosa. I'm too darn sensitive!

20. How will you be spending New Years?
As tradition follows, with my family


21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2009?
Kalimutan na natin yun!

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes :)

23. How many one-night stands?
None that I can or will recall

24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Big Bang Theory! :D


25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Never hate, it was more of little irks with some people. Never hate.

26. What was the best book you read? (Graphic Novel)
The Sandman Series...na hindi ko pa rin tapos. Two down, eight more to go. (Di ko na maalala mga iba ko pang binasa, hehe)
 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rediscoveries: The Smiths, Hellogoodbye, Moony. At si Lady Gaga, hahaha

28. What did you want and get?
So much. :) And I am very very grateful.

29. What did you want and not get?
Madami din. But I still have next year to try and get them :)


30. What was your favorite film of this year?
It's a tie between Up and (500) Days of Summer. Pahabol: AVATAR!!! 



31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Twenty-one and I had fun!

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

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Like this...

...NOT! Very casual this year, bordering on lazy-dresser/SSDD.

34. What kept you sane?
Ironically, this...


35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still Shia Labeouf (forever and ever!), and Zachary Levi. And I particularly loved Zooey Deschanel's personal style.



36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Maguindanao Massacre that took the lives of 57 innocent people. (November 23, 2009)


37. Who did you miss?
My dad, still and always.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
It's not the fall that kills you, it's the long wait. hehe

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences.

Here's to marking 365 days.
It's been a long.
It's been a fun!


Thank you for making it so. :)

It bothers me that it still bothers me.
____________________________

I used to love December, now I dread the coming of it.
Wishful thinking.
Wishful thinking.
Let everything be alright.

Lolo and Lola use Facebook.



It's so nice to grow old with someone. :)

After 3 years of being eligible to register my voting rights, I finally went to Quezon City Hall earlier to get registered.


A really bad call on my part, coming in late (late in the morning, and so close to the deadline.) Lines were incredibly long and were hardly moving. Lines in one district reached outside the city hall and on to Kalayaan Avenue--and the other side was just as long. People were also getting anxious. And the sun and the heat didn't provide much help either.

There was even one girl who collapsed because of the heat.



I was lucky though, after lining up for an hour and a half I decided to call my mom to ask if there was another way to register. She had connections and these allowed me to finish my registration lightning fast--no more lines nor waiting. I practically finished by the time the people I was previously lined-up with reached the Verification window (Step 1).

Felt guilty though, using my mom's connections to get past the forsaken lines. I was treated surprisingly like a VIP (seating and air-conditioned offices, documents quickly approved and processed, overtaking lines, accommodating staff). As in sinundo pa ako mula sa pila nung isang staff. Nakakahiya. Di ko naman kinailangan ganun kabilis, I was willing to fall in line naman. I just wanted a more systematic process, gulo-gulo na kasi yung sa labas.

Just goes to show where officials' priorities are. Hindi totoo ang "Walang kaibigan, kamag-anak."

And I'm now a registered voter because of this. Nakaka-guilty!!!

(Bawi na lang ako sa botohan.)

I'm paranoid and I don't have the balls to do anything about it.

Crap.

I like the smell of new shoes.

I've thought about it. But NO. I like being happy and I'm happy with us.

And frankly, I don't see any problem in that.


I love the smell of new shoes. And mine has the distinct smell of long cozy weekends, new travels and walking side by side.

I just love Chowder. :)

I hid under your porch...


It was inviting, a bit dark and lonely, but inviting.

That first night, I went to your house. I was supposed to borrow something from you. It was your father's birthday then. You graciously invited me to your room and offered me ice cream. We were both sitting comfortably on your bed--well, at least you were. I was wearing a mini skirt and had trouble finding the right position. We talked, small talk. The night drew on and you fell asleep, leaving me with the television on. And I stayed there for the night.

I fell asleep, in your arms. 

I listened to you. Every story, every problem, every secret you allowed me, I listened. And I ate your words without judgment. I was only so privileged for you to have taken me into your confidences. And you into mine.

We hung out, often. You took me to different places, beautiful places. And I delighted in all of them. We did simple things together. Maybe not as exciting as the other things you and your other friends do--but I cherished the simplicity of it all.  I slowly entered your life, and you indulged me with it. And I felt your warmth in every touch. I was happy.

I still am. 



I hid under your porch, because I knew one day you'd notice me. Maybe while fixing the pipes, or checking for leaks, or mice, or monsters. I hid under your porch, because I wanted you to take me by the hand, pull me out and ask me if I'm okay. You will then hold my hand and squeeze it tight, and tell me that everything will be alright.

I hid under your porch, because I love you. :) -Dug

I have got to stop expecting too much from people.
Expecting anything really.

It only brings disappointment and bad digestion.

Sa aking pamiya,




Sa mga matagal nang kaibigan,






Sa mga bagong kaibigan,











At sa mga kaibigang muling nakilala,




Nagpapasalamat ako sa inyo.
Kayo ang nagpapakita sa akin ng saya ng buhay, ang nagpapadama ng lambing ng pagmamahal.

Ako'y mapalad na kayo'y aking nakilala--higit pa na kayo'y aking kapiling.

Aylabyu all! :)