2010 Reckoning

It was another "full" year for me. So much had happen. As expected some of the things I planned worked, other failed miserably and a few surprises did happen. I made friends, a lot of acquaintances, maybe a few enemies, zilch lovelife, multiple jobs, travels, botched plans, a few gadgets, and I can say overall a good year!

I will not enumerate one by one what happened in the 12 months of 2010, that would be too exhausting and boring. A few events do stand out out of the rest, and let me start last summer.

Honestly, I was not prepared for what is to come on May of 2010. I wasn't exactly happy in my job but it was, as I say to myself better than nothing - and for that period of time I was also experiencing a detached feeling on what I do best (or so I think I do best which involves tinkering computer codes). I wasn't exactly happy but settled and I was not looking for anything to spike my interest either.

Looking at it now, in retrospect, I guess it was time for me to rev up my skills. I was axed - almost a year after I was hired. I was shocked at first, may have undergone the 5 stages of grief.

Denial. "It is good and besides I don't need this company".
Anger. "The company's profit is on the high! Why us?! Management should be at fault!"
Bargaining. "I know I will be out of work, can I at least have this monitor?"
Depression. "Im useless, my skills are all worn out. I will not get any good jobs now. Sleep. Laze around. 3 months of being unproductive."
Acceptance. "I will pass my resume around and apply for that programmer job. Review."

Yes, I have undergone all those emotions, it was a roller-coaster ride so to speak. But August 2010 tote a light in the darkened tunnel brought about by the business decision of my previous employer that made me and 80+ co employees jobless.

The summer of 2010 also brought me to new places. Let's start with the undeniable "it" place for summer beach getaway - BORACAY!

My Ideyatech friends bought our tickets month prior due to a SALE promo from PAL. Boracay has always been in my bucket list of places to visit - but is not a priority since I imagine it as super expensive because of all the hype and the press it gets and how luxurious it is.

And yes, luxurious it is! The perfect natural white sand shore that stretches island-long. The beauty and the scene of it is just completely paradise here on earth. I enjoyed my stay in Bora. Not to mention that I spent not a great deal, thanks to my frugal friends who doesn't surrender in finding the best deals for a cheap spend.

At the tail end of the summer, I went out with multiple groups. I only know one or two persons from each of these groups because I was just so eager to go to the places they are going to visit that I risk being "OP (out of place)". But I managed, and instead become "FC (feeling close)" to them.

Camotes with the Tamiya peeps. Camotes is another popular destination that is so near home that I always put it at the back of my head. I was just so happy to be invited by my former highschool classmate. The beaches there, I can say hold a lot of potential, is maybe at par with Boracay's if it is to be developed and maintained properly. There are many attractions and sites that can be explored - caves, the different resorts, souvenirs, lakes - to name some.

Bohol with MTM peeps. I was invited by another former classmate from highschool. She was also invited by her friend, whose boyfriend works at MTM (technically I am a 3rd degree invitee). But my the powers of FC with me, it was a nice and memorable experience. I've been to Bohol many times, but my goal for this particular visit is not to tour but to experience the extreme! Zipline and Plunge at Danao Bohol adventure park.

The experience of being dropped 200 meters down a cliff is just so mind blowing and scary that I just have to do it - one tick off from my bucket list. One minute ride on the zipline feels like an eternity when you look down and feel like you are going to fall with just a small movement made. It is a hair raising experience so to speak.

Snorkeling and island hopping with Wipro. The only thing that I love being with this group is that they are so into accounting and always looking for the best deals without compromising the experience.

The rainy days came, but the heat didn't really disappear. It's always sunny and the rainy days that did came was forgettable. Nothing Ondoy worthy to remember about and Im not complaining.

With the rain came rejuvenation.
Renewed hope.
Great potential to be someone I used to know.

The Gadgets.
Buying gadgets that I like is not an easy task. For me with a limited financial resources I have to think twice, thrice, a multitude of times before deciding that I will buy such gadgets.

Because I was hooked to running this year, I bought an ipod touch 4th gen with the Nike+ sensor. It records the distance ran and also saves the history of my runs and I can upload my records to their website. It's a nice feeling to view the history ran overtime. Also this gadget is good for reading ebooks and listening to audiobook and music. It has many purpose except for a cellphone - we have an iphone for that (but I dont have it, its way to expensive for me).

My canon ixus has been with me for 3 years and it served me well. I need to upgrade from a point and shoot camera to something with more manual controls. I was initially looking at the micro four thirds system dSLR but was taken away by Sony's NEX5 system. It may not have all the dSLR functionality but it does have what I need. It takes better pictures too compared to my point and shoot, and has interchangeable lens.

Family.
It was me who left for a year to Manila in 2008, now my sister left for Australia. We may have lost a sister but we also welcomed a new member of our family, my niece Chacha born October 3. We are a growing family if I may say so. My youngest sister is having her husband and 2 children stay at our house. I may not agree with that setup but I am not in the position to say anything since I am not the owner of this house, my parents are.

Family drama is kept to a minimum this year because everyone is busy with their day to day affairs and leaves little time for each member of the family to really get together and speak their minds or air their issues towards the other members. It is good if not bland.

To end this rather long blog, is a prayer.

Lord, thank you for being with me and my family and friends this year as you always do each and every year. I just want to thank you for all the blessings especially the learning that you showered to us. It is with great humility to ask, but what I do ask is that you will continue to bless us and protect us, Lord.

P.S I completed the 9 Misa de Gallo this year! Cheers!

The Day After Christmas

In 2010, the day after Christmas is a Sunday, 25th being a Saturday. It's also a four-day weekend which starts on the 24th and ends on the 27th. The holiday on the 27th is originally a holiday on the 30th which was moved to promote local tourism within the country.

Anyways, Christmas techically has passed and we are now waiting for the New Year! For this Christmas I gave some of my stuffs as gifts- I was short of cash. 

First off for my youngest sis is my Canon digicam I have for 3 years. Its LCD screen may already have sunspots, but it still takes good pictures. Besides I also bought a new cam, a sony nex 5. 

Next was my ipod shuffle 3rd gen. I already bought an ipod touch which makes it a redundancy and a dust collector. Better given than to sit there and rot or rust. This one is given to my cousin Kynji.

Since Clyde is such a reader, I gave him a boxed set of Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials. This collection includes The Golden Compass. I bought this set 3 years ago through Amazon site.

For the rest of my "inaanaks" I just gave them 5 super crispy 20 peso bills.

As for me, I was given a polo shirt from mama.

This Christmas is definitely better than last years'.

A New Season Begins

Yes.
New Year brings with it a rejuvenation kind of feeling that makes me feel and think that I can do anything!
Basing from previous years of life reflection it's better to feel this kind of feeling once in a while than feel hopeless and weary all year long. Even if, basing from the past, this feeling is like an itch - once scratched and in due time will fade - it's better than feel nothing.

So it is with great joy and jubilation that I will continue to write the next chapter of my life. It is not that I was not active in posting pictures, thoughts and even nonsense to this blog - but what Im aiming is to make my writing not just ranting or stress reliever but also something that I can read in the future and will make me understand myself better.

Welcome 2011,Goodbye 2010!

2010 Round-up

2010 is fast approaching to a close and it's time to have a summary of what went well, wrong, awesome, cool, disappointing...etc

But you have to wait because that's about 26 days from now.

I'm getting it ready and I'm contemplating on buying a new domain for my blog, or move my blog somewhere else.

The Villain in Me

I cant contain much longer my anger with my B-i-L. Recently I've heard from the careless whispers of our commune that he is a cheater.

Last night, even in my dreams I wander how to physically, or psychologically torture that bastard. If only in real life I can pull that stunt off.

Maybe I will just burst with the slightest provocation, time will tell.

Christmas Party 2010

Company Christmas Party

Tomorrow, Dec 4 or techically later at 6pm, will be my first ever Christmas party with my new company - let's call company N. I've been with company N for almost four months now, and I can say that I have made acquintances with the other employees.

It's just dissappointing to witness these really skilled people leaving the company. But I guess that's the nature of this job because I may still be jobless had no one ever resigned. 

Anyways back to the event. All I know is that this year's event is bigger than the previous years. There are items to be raffled out and Im secretly praying to win some, since I am quite lucky with raffle draws. 

Im wearing the maroon long sleeves I bought back in Christmas party 2008 - also worn in Christmas party 2008 - when I was still in Manila. I will not wear the tux with it since nobody's wearing a tux anyway (I guess).

Im also part of the group presentation. Woe will be rendering the hand sign interpretation of the hugely popular Christian song "I am yours".

And who would forget the food? There has been many testimonies that the food in Marco Polo is good! - but I will rest my case in the momwnt I have tasted them.

Nex-5 will be usable for tomorrow's event!

That's all and I will sleep.