my 2012 yearender personal review

Count your blessings, the cliche goes.

The year 2012 has been a helluva roller coaster ride. To say that I've seen better years would be an understatement.

We opened the year at an unlikely place: a small rectangular white-walled room that fits a bed, a small sofa, a few square-feet of free space and a wall-mounted tv. Contrary to what we have been accustomed to, we quietly celebrated New Year's eve in the hospital. No fancy food. No picture taking.

Itay was admitted at PMSH a few days after Christmas, and was discharged 5 days after New Year. It was the start of his final bout with PD apparently, as he was never able to at least walk on his own again after that.

It was quite hard to go on with life as normal with a lot of what-ifs going on inside your mind. Our family had to adjust. Schedules, expenses. Each time my phone rings with somebody back home calling/texting, my heart would skip a beat.

That dreaded phone call came from my brother at around 6am of August 22, almost 9 months after the quiet New Year celebration. The day before that, I bade Itay goodbye as I needed to go back to work the next day. I could not forget the teardrop that fell from his eye, when all the while we thought he was asleep. It must have been his way of telling me he is about to go and I should stay a few hours more.

2012 marked his first birthday and our first Christmas holidays without him.

Last December 7, Inay also left the country for a much needed respite. She has gone through a lot and she deserves the break. I hope she is enjoying the change of environment, that comes with a change in wardrobe. Aba, eh lagi na lang naka-coat at boots ang mudra! :)

Career-wise, 2012 has not been kind enough as well. Despite the struggles of getting the photo-finish 6-Sigma GB certification from Motorola, it did not result to any promotion as I expected. The "mukhang-pera" side of me is saying, "ok lang yan. may PFS ka naman."

During the year, I would say that my team took the strongest blows. In the eyes of some people, we were always at fault. Just when we are about to hold on to the bar, it just kept on raising.

The year also saw a number of goodbyes from the team. Some have found other opportunities outside the royal blue and tangerine orange world, and preferred red, or blue and yellow, if you know what I mean. A handful decided to pursue other positions in other units. It was difficult letting go, but it is a phase that we have to undergo.

One good thing that came out from all of this is that it taught us to rely on each other and face the problem with united strength. With the help and guidance of Mina, my superior, we came up with work-smart ideas that are now part of our day-to-day tasks. Now we are gearing up yet again for the upscaled challenge in 2013.

Looking back, my achievements last year are mostly on the lighter side.

1. It has been my goal to visit a place where I've never been; at least one place in a year. This year, I had my first trip to HK, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore. I think I overdid it to compensate for the disappointments.

2. I finally earned the Marathoner title after finishing the 42.125km race of the SG leg of Standard Chartered Marathon. I was also able to run in Cebu and kept up with my at-least-once-a-month fun run goal. Yay!

3. It is always nice to reconnect with your closest friends. Last September, I revisited Legazpi and Naga with my BFFs, and enjoyed wakeboarding at CWC. Ok fine, it seems it was just me who enjoyed wakeboarding.

4. I gained new friends via the PEx Running Club. Here's to more kitakits in 2013, running and otherwise.

5. What better way to cap a stressful workday than drinking coffee or tea, matched with acoustic singing or just plain talk with DFs at a place otherwise known to us as Imbi Starbs. (Hint: our version of "plain" talk could be dangerous. Haha.)

6. Or enjoying a LFS at Mega or Galle with SFs? Any movie will do, especially if it's free. :D

7. The TMR Book 2 has been released and surprisingly, I still have an entry included. I seldom send entries na kase. Special thanks to Chico for including it.

I have yet a lot of things to be thankful for, but there won't be enough space for it. If I'd be asked what word would remind me of 2012, it would be RESILIENCY. I guess that amidst all the hardships, what is more important is the getting up and fighting back. It has been a rough, tough and bumpy ride, but hey, I'm still here and raring to see what's in store for 2013.

2013, be good to me, pretty please.

And by the way, as you are reading this, aren't you thankful the world didn't end last December 21? :)

start the new year with a BANG!

~on the bus last night~

Sarili1: pucha pare, nakita mo ba yun?

Sarili2: ang alin, tol?

Sarili1: yung billboard ni butch francisco sa edsa qc, pare!

Sarili2: yung lakas-loob, buwis-buhay endorsement nya sa flawless?

Sarili1: yun nga, pare! kita mo yung bukas-polo, labas-cleavage na pose nya?

Sarili2: oo, tol! naduwal nga ako e! tapos ang tagline nya pa, "start the new year with a bang!" naka-drugs ba sya?

Sarili1: ah, BANG ba 'kamo? e kung pasabugin na lang kaya natin, pare? mas bagay yun dun!

Sarili2: sige, pasabugin na yan!

Sarili1: bwahahahahahaha!

Sarili2: bwahahahahahaha!

Ako: *nagising sa usapan ng dalawang sarili* sssshhhhhh! start the new year with a kind heart. *after imagining the billboard* ugh! ang hirap naman, paksyet! sige, pasabugin na yan!