Monday, December 31, 2012

Of ending 2012 with a bang!

2012 was the Year of the Dragon indeed, as all the luck has been with me this year. And for everything, I am thankful. I keep thinking that this cloud-9 feeling makes me want to stay here forever, but we all have to move on, and keep on dreaming for the future. And with that, thank you 2012. You have been very good, too good, for me. Cheers to the next year ahead, and the next, and the next :)

JANUARY: Birthday celebration with family and friends. Thank you for the surprises! :)

FEBRUARY: A time to connect and bond with old and new friends. Thank you guys for the wonderful times!


MARCH/APRIL: Being in 4 US states in three weeks! Thank you to my family and newly found friends, and to Cocoy :*

MARCH/APRIL: Being in 4 US states in three weeks! Plus, a chance to scratch off from my list one of the most beautiful places in the world. Thank you to my family and newly found friends, and to Cocoy :*


APRIL: Graduation, with lots of twists. Thank you to my classmates, professors and all my mentors who inspired me all the way to the end.

MAY: Start of review for the board exams. Thank you, God, for the energy and determination, and to my reviewmates as well for all the encouragement to continue studying :)

JUNE: The NKOTBSB concert. Though this time, I was far, it was still the most enjoyable night for me! Cannot wait for BSB's new album next year :)

JULY: Our little girl's 18th birthday! Thanks for the great party and the chance to unwind a little bit from review, Nics!
AUGUST: PASSING THE BOARD EXAMS! Need I say more? I'LL BE FOREVER THANKFUL :)
AUGUST: First getaway to Butuan and Cantilan, Surigao del Sur with the college friends. Thank you for the good times! :)

SEPTEMBER: Oathtaking and passing the TOEFL exam. Another big thing to be thankful for :)

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER: Cagayan de Oro/Bukidnon/Camiguin trip with the family. Thank you for the chance to bond with each other! :)

DECEMBER: Get together with the best friends in the world! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, guys! Thanks for the enduring friendship throughout the years! :)

Happy New Year everyone! I pray for more blessings to be showered upon you and your family for 2013. God bless you all! :)

-E

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Of being in the season to be (insert adjective here)...

Well hello! Disclaimer: this post may be too self-centered aaaaand uninteresting, thank you very much.

Lots of things uncalled for (in a good way) has happened in the past two months that I have been on hiatus on this blog, but may I just say that I am quite satisfied (except for the fact that I'm totally bankrupt now) with everything. As days during December passed by and since it's only three days before Christmas, I've come to realize that I've already reached a point in my life where I would be obligated to do certain things that are related to this important month of the year. With that, let me just share with you a list that I have produced in my mind these past few days:

Eryka's signs that it is, indeed, Christmas (adult/newly baptized working girl version):

1. Christmas lights and sounds in and around malls
2. People not interested in malls and instead just go to bazaars (which have different names and dates but sell the same stuff anyway)
3. Marks & Spencer paper bags (if you know what I mean)
4. The fact that you are expected to give gifts to EVERYONE because you are 'earning' now
5. Everyday Christmas parties (party with the company, department, high school friends, college friends, other friends, family, other relatives - it just goes on!)
6. Gangnam Style (just because I've been hearing the same song for the past hour from the neighbor's party)
7. Traffic... EVERYWHERE AND ANY TIME OF THE DAY (wastes my gas, money, and time)
8. Bankruptcy

The last two things I wrote, I believe, has what made people not feel the Christmas spirit this year. I've been hearing from my co-workers, family members, and friends, that this is the year that they don't feel the season at all. It is true, anyway, as I even don't feel it that much anymore - in a physical way, that is. I don't think we've been experiencing the December breeze and the heat is just overwhelming! I know that it just irritates all of us that the heat has been combined with traffic, that we don't want to go out of the house anymore. I also believe that the people were more focused on this 'end of the world' phenomenon as it happens before Christmas, and that they were too caught up on what to do or where to go on that day. Plus, there are the national issues such as the RH Bill, Sin Tax Bill, and the Typhoon Pablo. I believe there's been so much negativity around lately...

...except for me!

Despite being too busy balancing life and work (naks!), this is actually the first year that I'm not worried about how I'm not going to be able to give gifts to my loved ones, about how I can't afford to go to parties all the time, and about how I could just go on staring at stuff that I can't buy. Too materialistic? Yeah, I know. But that is the reality of life, and I know I'm not the only one experiencing that. However, this year is a totally different thing. I was happy buying and wrapping gifts to my loved ones and took pride in giving those to them. I just can't explain the joy I'll feel when my mom says "wow" when she sees my gift, because it just ain't any other gift. It's THE GIFT.

Ahh, now I can't wait! Yes, I am excited. And yes, I am positive and happy! 2012 has been a great year for me (but I'll save this one for my end-of-the-year post), and I am optimistic about the coming year! A merry, merry, merry Christmas to all of you!