Looking back at 2005

Here's a sorta quick (ok, it's not quick ... it's sort of ... very detailed) overview of my 2005.
** there are links to pictures for certain events

JANUARY 2005

• Celebrated New Year's eve at Abao with our paputok. After eating at home, we went to Ate Kaye's place to also celebrate the eve with them. (pics)
• The reunion was at Abao. A lot of our relatives went there and of course, we had our traditional get-together-inuman.
• Went to Tagaytay with family.
• Venue hunting with Penny and Mang Jack for the ASD Management Training.
• Saw eTel friends coz of a birthday celebration. I drove to Commonwealth (with Tin, Mike, & Neil) to go to Nin's house to celebrate! (pic of Markie & Nin)
• Went to Subic for the ASD Training that was put together by OPMC Trainers (Penny, me & Berlin), and was conducted by 2 guest speakers (pics).
• Gabby & Tricia's birthday celebration (pics) - It was fun! I was able to play with plastic baloons again! Nagpalayok! Nagrelay! It was fun!! and the best part is I got to be with my cousins!!

FEBRUARY 2005

• Feb 13 ... Brought Tita Aida & Tito Ben to Subic. (pics)
• Feb 14 ... Valentine's Day!
• Feb 18 ... first ever (Philippines) MTV HipHop Awards & I was there!
• Feb 19 ... my birthday!! Lucky me coz that was a Saturday so most people had their day offs. I had a "small" gathering at my house. I only invited my close friends so I wasn't expecting a lot of people there. Later on that night, we needed to get more chairs coz some of my guests were already standing up. The people who went: My relatives (can't enumerate this, but around 30+ relatives) plus ... Terence dT, Penny R, Wal C, Berlin M, Joema M, Lauren B, Joyce P, Alex A, Cathy B, Kitin B, Cla M, Anna Marie B, Josette S, Angela H, Arvy M, Zein A, Karen Q, Kench dV, AJ G, Al B, Melvin C, Dana, JF V, . I got a pretty decent number of people drunk ... congrats to me!! hehe. At the end of the night ... I was so dead tired that I almost slept during the "drinking session" with my cousins.

MARCH 2005

• My 2nd time to Puerto Galera ... the place of all evil. haha.
• March 12 was a gimik with the WHOLE marketing department of OPMC. Yep that includes my boss!! Cool. hehe.
• I went out with Cathy and Cla ... two of my best buds back in highschool. We went to Fridays then to Starbucks. Then a bright idea struck us ... we made a note to each other to be kept forever. I still have mine with me!
• My sorta last gimik to Greenbelt (March 19). I went out with my college friends and Ate Kaye. We even took a picture in the bathroom. That night I also saw David & KY
• My cousins from Laguna went to my house to say goodbye coz "the day" is coming. (pics)
• Last carwash with Ate Kaye at Tazza/Genki along Banawe (pics) ... **sniff*sniff**
• Ang huling inuman with cousins (pics). Kakasad grabe ang night na yun. I shed so much tears. I hugged my cousins before the left. Hohum.
• March 23 ... ang araw ng flight. The stop over was at Taipei. Grabe, malinis ang lugar nila.
• My mom had her birthday at Mira Mesa. It was also Easter nung time na un, and also my grandpa's birthday (dad's side).
• I really liked my room in Escondido.
• The initial plan was for the family to go to San Diego Zoo but we ended up going to the SanDiego Wild Animal Park. JC and I got swarmed by birds when we had the nectar thingy. Also, we saw some majestic lions ... cool.
• He told me that break kami coz of the set-up coz malayo, etc. and he said na para daw I don't get held back and could go out with people.

APRIL 2005

• Tita Bel picked us up and we went to an outlet near Carlsbad. Then we stayed at this hotel in Carlsbad and we saw the flower beds ... awesome! (pic)
• Tita Prosie and Tito Willie brought us to Mt. Soledad and near this beautiful (yet rocky) shore which is actually called Cabrillo.
• We also went to Ferry Landing & Colorodo Beach.
• We had one of our MANY moves from Tita Bel's place to Tita Sandra's place. (pics)
• We went to Disneyland and Universal Studios with Tita Sandra & Tito Carlos.
• We also went to Tita Joyce's place. She's the sister of my godmother (Tita Sandra). They have this super cute dog but I kinda feel bad for him coz he's blind.
• April 13, we arrived in New York and Tito Dan picked us up then brought us to Tita Nerissa's home in New Jersey. The following day, Tita Nerissa gave us a tour of the city. Then on the 15th, Tita Nimia, Tito Rod & Keith picked us up at Tita Nerissa's and brought us to Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty. Later on that night, we met more of my mom's highschool batchmates at the reunion at Tata Bino's in Queens.
• The night of April 17, Tito Jun picked us up and we went to Maryland. We went to this botanical place in Washington (I think). There was also this big church that we went to, then for dinner ... we went to Hyatt Hotel ... sossy! (pics)
• He said that he can't live without me and that he can't imagine my life without me so he wanted to get back together. Pumayag naman ako ... tsk tsk.

MAY 2005

• I had a mega big fight with someone. This was the 2nd time I was really mad. First was a Saturday last April 2004. Those are the rare moments I really scream at someone and lose all my patience. FYI, super patient ako so I rarely get super mad ... so when I get super mad at you ... (un)lucky you!
• May 3, my mom and brothers left for the Philippines. This was one of those rare occasions that my brothers and I cry together. I was so touched coz my brothers were really crying and I really felt that they were concerned and worried about me. **singit: naiiyak ako while thinking of that moment at the airport in L.A.**
• I went to Ida's birthday and met some people. As usual, I was quiet. I only got "talkative" when I had some alcohol. haha the power of intoxication. (pics)
• Anna and I went out occasionally to have our "bonding moments".
• Hooka night with Ellen, Ashley, Enzo, Mark, & their 2 other friends (oh my gosh, sorry, I forgot the names!)
• I moved to New York (for good) ... I think that was May 15. At first I stayed with Tito Dan in Queens then I moved to Tita Cha's place.
• I called him to greet him for the monthseri ... he broke up with me coz according to him, I'm making his life more difficult and that I don't "try" to understand him. I was so tired of having the break up-make up routine. It was like a roller coaster coz I didn't know "where" we are and I don't hear from him often.

JUNE 2005

• He asked me back and said that he'll make it up to me. I believed him (stupid me, tsk tsk).
• We went up to MA to check Marc's school. (pics)
• Ate Marites, Kuya Mon and cutie Zac went to NY so we met up with them. (pics)
• For father's day ... we went to Atlantic City.
• I went to Marc & Keith's grad party. Keith's ex and I were buddies at the party. hehe. She was fun to talk to, di po ako nagpapakaplastic. Tunay pong she was fun to talk to at the party.
• I started work. It was good ... pretty much like my first job. The people were nice, but I don't talk much to my co-workers so ... there's the problem, my shyness.

JULY 2005

• My love life went crazy these past months. I don't want to elaborate on this but bottom line is ... we broke up. (a lot of people congratulated me on this decision, hmm)
• I had some time alone ... just for myself ... which is good. I did a lot of things ... laundry, fixed my room, etc. I also opened up my "baul" and started reminiscing ... I saw my lola's letter for me. As expected, I cried.
• My first July 4! We watched the fireworks from Mercy College.
• I heard a shocking news that someone died ... ¤=( Though I don't know her, my cousin talks to her ... so yeah, it's shocking. ¤=(
• I had my first ever Hooters courtesy of Marc!
• Went to a picnic at Mountainside ... it was a super awesome place.

AUGUST 2005

• My first Bubbagump in NY! Though it's expensive ... I enjoyed it. I savored every single bite. hehe.
• It's when "Teapot" really talked to me. ewwwww. FYI: Teapot is the guy at the bus stop who tried to make a move on me. And I called him Teapot because he's short & stout. haha.
• Tiffany went to NY so we gave her a tour. Actually, it was like Keith was the one giving both of us a tour. (pics) Miss you Tiff!
• The Pangilinans went to Delaware so I had the whole house to myself for one week. It was fun!! hehe. That was the first official month that I cooked food. Yahoo!
• I think this was when I started getting "Friends" crazy.

SEPTEMBER 2005

• My lola started using oxygen tank which proved that her condition was becoming more and more serious.
• I finished reading the "Da Vinci Code". It was nice!! It's one of them books that I can't put down.
• I met up with Tita Melda at Toys R Us at Time Square ... it was nice to see family!
• The original plan was for me to go home in December, but My lola was terribly sick so I went home. I left JFK Airport on Sept 22 (NY), I arrived at NAIA on Sept 24 (Manila). When I first saw my lola, I cried coz she looked like she was in so much pain. Later on that day, she woke up and she was able to recognize me. She even pulled me to her and kissed me. **singit: naiiyak na naman ako! Accdg to my relatives, ako lang ang ginanun niya. I miss my lola!! ¤=( **
• Sept 25 ... My lola passed away. It was a very sad day. While the nurses were arranging stuff, my cousins and I went down and just hung out at the lobby of the hospital. We were reminscing the good times with her and the things that we are gonna miss about her.
• Sept 26, my lola was at Sto. Domingo. Then we transferred her to Lourdes Church for the rest of the week. During these times, I saw a lot of my relatives which made me happy but the circumstance wasn't that "desirable". (cousin pic) Some of my friends also dropped by ... Cathy, Cla and Nap.

OCTOBER 2005

• Before having the ceremonies/mass at the church, we had the last picture taking with Mommy. There's this pamahiin kasi na bawal bumalik or lumingon so we had to do everything na. When we moved her to the church, we had the mass. While Jo (our psychic friend) was videotaping the whole thing, she was also seeing "sprits" ... one of which was my lola. At the end of the ceremony at the church, she said my lola was waving and sending out flying kisses to everyone there. **singit: naiiyak ako pag naiimagine ko si mommy, like now** We then went to Loyola for the libing. (pics1 pics2)
• Since I'm at Pinas na, I met up with some of my friends. I went clubbing, went to different restaurants, fast food places, & shempre ... malls!
• My cousins, brothers (and the gfs) and I went to Enchanted Kingdom in Laguna. It was fun!
• Oct 13 ... I had to go back to NY. My mom brought me to the airport. It was weird being alone in the airport. Tas I had a very bad katabi on the plane. Super bad! She was "hogging" all the space, what's worse is she can't understand/talk in English ... so I can't tell her to move or something.
  

NOVEMBER 2005

• My family went to Loyola to visit my lola ... inggit ako. I called them though while they were there.
• Keith & I went clubbing sa NYC (People to be specific) with his college friends. (pics)
• My first thanksgiving. I wasn't in the mood coz I miss my family. When we were at Tita Nimia's aunt's place ... I ended up going home earlier than expected coz I ended up crying a lot. Seeing them together made me more homesick.
• I got in touch with Elaine ... my cousin in Australia. It's so cool that we get to talk again!
• When we went to UMass, I saw snow! That's the first official sighting of snow. hehe.
  I completed my "Friends" Collection!! All 10 seasons!!

DECEMBER 2005

• Keith brought me to Rockefeller and I saw a pretty light show! The tree was nice, I sorta wanted to skate but then I realized if I fall down ... a lot of people will see me since it's an open space .. so NOOOO!! So we just went to Hooters after that. When we got out of Hooters, it was already so cold.
• Joyce (my boss) took us out for dinner. (pics)
• Dec 17 ... I had my first haircut sa US. Pucha! Ang mahal!! Anyway ... we also went to Keith's office party. His officemates were really nice. I (surprisingly) talked to people. hehe.
• Dec 21 ... We had a luncheon at work. There was a lot of food. I do mean a lot. hahaha.
• We went to PJ's house for his going away party. I met some of Keith's other friends but then again ... di na naman ako nagsalita. I just ate and drank.
• I talked to my family until 1 AM last Christmas coz I miss them so much. I sent lechon to them na naging ugat ng discussion coz the place I ordered it from didn't include my name. After talking to my family, shempre I slept then when I woke up, nagbukas kami gifts.
• Christmas day ... morning we went to mass, took pictures with the tree, then ... afternoon we went to the reunion at a hall near the house.
• I've been browsing through a lot of blogs, profiles, web pages, etc .... I found out a lot of things (sorry to the people whose stuff i snooped ... i'm curious aka nosey, hehe) which made me feel so lucky in my relationship with Keith. I saw blogs that proved the lying and hiding of a lot of things that was done to me in the past. It actually makes me wanna talk to *** and **** to verify things but doing that won't really be helpful to me. It'll make me hate someone and hatred is something I don't want to have now. I have enough stuff to think about.
• Dec 31 ... It's the last day of 2005 and it's freaking snowing!! It's cool to see snow but I don't like it being too cold.

If I had to describe my 2005 in word ... it's a "rollercoaster". I've had a fair share of ups and downs ... enough to make me realize that God didn't forget me. He's really wise in giving the challenges and blessings to each. I realized that my family is the most important thing in the whole world. I also found the one who will not make me cry and will not hurt me. I learned that it is never right to "settle" for someone or something ... there's always that "one" that is meant for us.

I'm pretty sure that 2006 will hold more surprises and harder problems but I know that my loved ones will always be with me to face all those.

So 2006 ... "Do your worst, for I will do mine" --Count of Monte Cristo