A roller coaster 2011

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

(1) Do beat reporting, which includes talking to a senator by phone at around 3 a.m., ambush interviewing the BSP chief and DILG Secretary in an elevator and washroom, and texting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and New People’s Army spokespersons, among others.

(2) Asking favors from people I met or talked to for the first time.

(3) Flew and hit land hard.

(4) I also have never drank nor smoked so much, as I did in 2011. I will definitely have to cut down.

(5) Phoned in two 500 word stories. Ang hirap, ang hirap (Curtis, 2008).

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No, I actually gained weight. Yes, I am at my fattest stage… Never again to martial law! I am not going to give-up without a goddamn fight (Curtis, 2011)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not that I know of.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My dad died of kidney complications. I still feel weird that nobody’s knocking at my room, checking if I went home for the night. 2011 is not my year.

5. What countries and/or states did you visit?

This is so USA. (Alegado, 2009)

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

I want an uncomplicated love life, awesome figure all year round and capacity to save. (Alegado, 2010) Plus, I also want to gain the lost confidence… echos, los banos, labanos!

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 11, 2011

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Learning lots, and meeting lots of people to learn from.

9. What was your biggest failure?

That’s a really controversial question; I’d rather not answer that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes, mostly stress induced.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Books and mocha based coffee shared with friends. (Alegado, 2009)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I’d give snaps for really helpful old-timers, kind sources, awesome new friends, loyal old friends, hard working and idealistic reporters, and efficient press relations officers.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Back stabbing bitches whom I met in and out the workplace, robbers and criminals of all sorts, and inefficient press relations officers all warrant dying a slow and painful death.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Food, alcohol, and replacements for a stolen laptop and mobile phones drained my bank account.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Reporting and breaking big news. To be fair, I also got excited about getting paychecks.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Cupid by Amy Winehouse (Back to Black, 2006) and Until You Come Back to Me by Stevie Wonder (Anthology, 1977)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? I'd like to think that I'm happier.

Older or wiser? Wiser.

Thinner or fatter? Fatter.

Richer or poorer? Richer on paper.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Reading, managing my anger and keeping my mouth shut

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Rolling my eyes

20. How did you spend Christmas?

For the first time in History, I actually was awake for some 22 hours on Christmas day! But I did work during the holidays.

21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?

Movie watching

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?

No, actually. I just had a few happy crushes

23. Did you fall out of love in 2010?

Sadly, yes.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

2 Broke Girls, Protect the Boss and Game of Thrones

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Yes.

26. What was the best book you read?

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffeneger

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Ellie Goulding

28. What did you want and get?

Lessons learned

29. What did you want and not get?

I’ve been wanting a an uncomplicated love life and a toned body.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Like Crazy (2011), Sakuran (2006) and Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011)

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Please read: 22nd.

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

Having a toned body… I know I’ve said this over and over again in this entry. Pero, putsa, kung di akong mukhang Buddha, mukha akong kantoboy.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Laid back

34. What kept you sane?

Friends and alcohol

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Pchy, Bongbong Marcos, Jennifer Lawrence and Ji Sung. Yihee, I can feel my insides moving.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Episodes of the Arroyo vs Aquino saga is sometimes eyebrow raising. Girl, kulang na lang mag-planking si Sec. de Lima sa airport.

37. Who did you miss?

I think I spent ample time with people who matter (Alegado, 2010).

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Old, idealistic journalists

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:

Desiderata

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

“He walks away, the sun goes down

He take the day but I'm gone

And in your way in this blue shade

My tears dry on their own,” Tears Dry on Their Own by Amy Winehouse (Back to Black, 2006)