A Year-Ender Survey
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
I went hiking up 3 mountains in Palawan, March 2005.


2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't have any resolutions. Next year, no!


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin's wife gave birth to a baby boy.


4. Did anyone close to you die?
No


5. What countries did you visit?
None


6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Money to travel


7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 24, 2005 because hmmmm ... Never mind!


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I diligently worked on most of my assignments and got paid for it.


9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't think of them as failures just charge them to experience!


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No


11. What was the best thing you bought?
Books


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister for her tenacity.


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I rather not think about it, anymore.


14. Where did most of your money go?
Movies and books.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My new cellphone.


16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Pretty Vegas - INXS (with their new lead singer, DJ Fortune)


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Happier
ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. Richer or poorer? Richer


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


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


20. How did you spend Christmas?
Heard Mass at 10pm on Christmas eve, had noche buena and opened gifts. On the day itself watched "Love Actually" 3 times.


22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes


23. How many one-night stands?
None


24. What was your favorite TV program?
Rockstar: INXS


25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No


26. What was the best book(s) you read?
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Exile by Allan Folsom


27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lifehouse


28. What did you want and got?
A new cellphone


29. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Phantom of the Opera


30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 37, we had lunch at Misato,a Japanese Restaurant in MetroWalk. Then watched a Japanese movie ("Hidden Blade") at Greenbelt, dinner was at Seafood Club, Greenbelt 3.


31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It would have been a big boost to my self esteem if the guys I went out with actually made some time/effort to see me again. So they won't be merely "first dates".


32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Always in jeans and t-shirts


33. What kept you sane?
Prayers


34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Josh Lucas


35. What political issue stirred you the most?
None


36. Who did you miss?
Nobody


37. Who was the best new person you met?
Manolet


38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
That loving somEone doesn't guarantee that he will love you back. Ergo!
The Beatles sang "Ob la di, ob la da ... life goes on ... yeah ... la la la la ... life goes on"


40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I would fall asleep
Only in hopes of dreaming
That everything would be like it was before
But nights like this it seems are slowly fleeting
They disappear as reality is crashing to the floor

After all this time
Would you ever wanna leave it
Maybe you could not believe it
That my love for you is blind
But I couldn't make you see it
Couldn't make you see it
That I loved you more than you will ever know
A part of me died when I let you go
And I loved you more than you'll ever know
A part of me died when I let you go

(Blind by Lifehouse)

2005 IN REVIEW

Take the first sentence (or two) from the first post of each month of 2005. That's your year in review.


December
Well I'm sorta, kinda back from my hiatus. But not entirely. Because you see, I am still monitor less. Actually I do have another monitor but it is currently on loan.



November
I did say on the first day of October that I was looking forward to having a good month. It being my birthday month and all. But now that it is over, I'm just glad I survived it.

Mere words cannot truly express my complete devastation.
The day I heard that he was going to be a father, soon.



October
My quote for this whole month [My Birthday Month]

"Always think of one happy thought each morning. Once a happy thought gets started, you can't help but feel warm hearted the rest of the day!" =)



September
Yes I am cranky, irritable and swamped with work but when I saw these in my inbox they really made me laugh out loud.



August
So popping 500 mgs of Ponstan continues. I'm heavily medicated and I look like something the cat dragged in so I think it is wise I just lie down and get lost in a sordid tale about the re-installation of a Russian Tsar in "The Exile".



July
I'm back! I had a great time relaxing. I will surely blog about it some time next week. For now I need to do some WORK!

I leave you with this image of my room key at the Westin - Room 735! I wish the guy
on the card was indeed in my heavenly bed but alas he is merely a model! Teehee =)



June
Blissful day at Tagaytay (May 30)
My mother's birthday celebration started with lunch at the Viewsite Seafood Restaurant.



May
"It's May, it's May .. The lusty month of May"
Ok nothing really lusty about it I was just humming the song from "Camelot". Can you believe it's already mid year? Time flies!

Let's all have a merry month of May despite the stifling heat.
Keep cool!



April
Pope John Paul II, 1920-2005
I've visited Vatican City twice. In 1982 with the family and the second time in 2001 with my sister. We were fortunate to have been blessed by the Holy Father. An experience I will cherish for life.

May a choir of angels welcome him in their midst and may God grant his humble servant, eternal rest.

Amen.



March (my Palawan trip)
Yesss!
I have my air tickets.
I have booked my accommodation!
I have my itinerary.
First day - island hopping
Second day - river adventure
3 days, 2 nights! Complete all inclusive package!
Short but hectic sked.
I'm so excited, I can't sleep! :D
Is it Friday yet????



February
My sister and I were brainstorming for gift ideas for our parent's wedding anniversary this coming Saturday!
Sipping coffee at Segafredo in Greenbelt - We were on a roll:
- a trip to Brussels, Belgium (not possible within such a short time frame, need at least 6 months to prepare for that!)
- a trip to HongKong (short notice)
- an overnight stay at a 5 star hotel (we couldn't decide which hotel :D)

So pressed for time, we just ordered 2 movies from Amazon for Dad. He has been looking for those titles for ages. Hopefully the package gets here on time.
As for mom well we are still clueless! It is always very difficult to buy a gift for her.



January
A new year beckons thus a new layout for my blog.
And I'm throwing in my new picture as well. :D
I'm posting in advance because I'll be busy.
Busy cooking and eating.
Yes I do know how to cook! DUH!
Busy drinking.
So I will be too drunk to blog.
Busy wishing.
Wishing for not just happiness but pure joy.
Not just wealth but heaven's treasures.
Not just silence but God's peace.
So go out and party. 2005 is here!
Happy New Year!!!

It is the day after Christmas
And I am still overjoyed.
Overwhelmed more like it.
I was completely taken by surprise when I got these gifts from my family.
Utter joy beyond words. =)




P.S.
The cellphone which I bought for myself a few days ago ... well I gave it to my mother.

4 malls and a new cellphone
So with 5 days to go before Christmas, I was stricken with a guilty conscience. My sister berated me for being such a cheapstake. She told me I should stop being a scrooge and go buy gifts for our parents. She claims she did her Christmas shopping while she was in Davao so in order for me not to lose face I should haul my butt to the mall(s) and get them something ... Anything!
At first, of course I resisted with remarks like:
"Are you crazy?, I don't like crowds" "Traffic is horrendous this time of the year."
"I'm broke!"
But it was useless.
She insisted she would drive me to the malls.
And threatened me with "Unless you want to walk home, I will only pick you up when you've bought the gifts!"

So first stop was The Podium to withdraw money from the bank because unlike 83% of the population who have regular jobs and are entitled to a 13th month pay and hefty bonuses this time of the year, me I dip into my fledging savings.

Then I walked to Robinson's Galleria scoured every wing in that mall. Trying not to faint from hunger while roaming its ultra chaotic crowded environs.

I decided I might have better options at Megamall instead so I hopped into a FX and 20 minutes later was in the midst of yet another crowded environment.
I tried to do my shopping as fast as I could.
Gift for my father ... Done!
Gift for my mother ... Done!

I already knew what to get for my sister but that meant walking over to Edsa Shangri-la so fine I might as well just to get it over with. Gift for my sister ... Check!

Since I was on a roll, I bought myself a new cellphone, finally. Nothing fancy and it doesn't even have a camera but at least it won't hang and freeze whenever I make a call.
And in my excitement and shopping euphoria I decided to have it giftwrapped as well so I will open it on Christmas eve.

Teehee! =)

This made me smile, today
I received this email from one of my oldest (as in longest not age wise) and dearest friend, Carr:

"Daphne, send my greetings to the whole family .... I wish that in the coming year, your Prince Charming will arrive & hopefully take you to his neverending world... :-) Seriously, I know you're not looking for him anymore ... but when the time comes, I hope he loves you & take care of you in his own way."

The Holiday 10

1. What's your favorite holiday movie?
Love Actually

2. What's your favorite holiday song (title and artist)?
"So this is Christmas" by John Lennon

3. What's the best holiday gift you were ever given and why?
I don't remember anything tangible but I do recall all those envelopes with money I got when I was still in school.

4. Do you have a special someone to kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year's?
No, I don't .... boohoo

5. Name your favorite reindeer?
Rudolph

6. Favorite holiday food?
Keso de bola and Ham!

7. Snow day - cuddle by the fire or hand me a snowball?
We don't have snow here. Another boohoo!

8. What was your New Year's resolution from this year? Did you stick to it?
I didn't make any resolutions.

9. Is there really a Santa Claus?
No he is just a figment of our imagination.

10. Present or stocking stuffer?
I have no idea what this means.


P.S.
Don't you just love that feature that tells you when your intended recipients opened the e-card you emailed them? So I know for sure when someone is ignoring me and doesn't bother to read the e-card I painstakingly chose out of the 34345677 cards on the Internet. I know it bruises my ego but I still send e-cards to people who have long forgotten me. I don't know why!

"He's making a list and checking it twice gonna find out who's naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town!"

And in my case, I'm Santa Claus.

But.

I don't have a list.

My immediate family aren't getting anything from me.

For us, it is birthdays that matter.

My inaanaks (godchildren) will get cash.

Most of my friends are either far away or they don't celebrate Christmas because they have different denominations.

I don't have any office mates.

So I don't have to buy a gift for my monito/monita.

Only thing I have to do is send e-cards.

2 sets.

1 for Christmas and another bunch for New Year!

That's about it.

So I think I will just buy myself a gift.

But first I got a date.

A date with a giant ape named King Kong.

Heh

Laterz dudes and dudettes! =)

Ten on Tuesday

I am way past the age when I would wake up and find pressies beneath my tiny Christmas tree.


I also know for a fact that I, me and myself will be the one buying all these things myself (except for # 4) eventually.
But what the heck, here's my list! =)

10 Things You Want for Christmas
1) A new cellphone - My standard line for the past 3 years now.

2) Dark blue jeans

3) Gift certificates for any spa treatment

4) Real Christmas cards sent by snail mail

5) "Sidewalks of New York" DVD - I adore Ed Burns!

6) Pearl earrings

7) Fancy underwear in different colors

8) Internet prepaid cards - to feed my Internet addiction.

9) "Shumaisi" by Turki al Hamad

10) A small frying pan with cover - so the oil won't splatter all over me when I cook fry food.

Winners

An intern cop from Iceland, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir was crowned Miss World 2005 held in Sanya, China.
I was rooting for Miss Mexico, Dafne Molina Lona.
Why?
Well, we share the same first name albeit mine is spelled DAPHNE.
She is the one in the blue gown.


Meanwhile, a radio sports talk show host from Kansas, Danni Boatwright outlasted, outplayed and outwitted 18 others to win the title of sole Survivor: Guatemala.



I was expecting explosive outburts from the 7 jury members during the final tribal council but it was not to be. Except for Judd mouthing out his vitriol from being betrayed by Stephenie, the others were pretty subdued and it was pretty tame. I'm just glad Stephenie didn't win! I'm staying tuned for the next season, Survivor: Panana, Exile Island which according to Jeff Probst would be played differently and with a lot of twists.


Hey I won something too. 824 pesos in the lottery. I got 4 out of the 6 numbers. That should be enough for me to get a blow dry and a pedicure too! Woohoo, happiness!!! =)

Horror of horrors
Earlier this evening after I got home from Greenbelt where I watched Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, my sister called me from Davao. She suddenly remembered winning a few gift certificates and wanted me to check their expiration dates.

1. Legend Villas
This entitles the bearer to an overnight accommodation for two in a Villa Suite Room with Buffet Breakfast.

2. Sand Castles, Boracay
This entitles bearer inclusive of three days and two nights deluxe room accommodation for 2 persons only.

Guess what.

Gift certificate no. 1 valid till December 9, 2005.
Gift certificate no. 2 valid till December 12, 2005.

Oh nooooo.

Hmmm well.

With things as hectic and toxic as they have been since August with my sister practically living in Davao for 2 weeks every month, I figure we would never have gone anyway.

But still.

Allow me to just scream out in frustration.

Grrrr.

Of babies and the color pink
I wonder if there is some higher authority conspiring to make me more 'girly'.
Not a mean task because people still think I am a girl and not a woman of 37 summers!
But I blame that to my petite height.
Did you know I was once mistaken to be a 9 year old?
Yes, true story indeed.
I was frolicking in a beach somewhere in the east coast of Dubai. this lifeguard who happened to be Filipino, mind you ... approached me and asked if I was accompanied by an adult because kids are not allowed to play in the sea, alone.
I told him I beg your pardon but I'm not a kid.
He apologized, laughed nervously saying - "Akala ko 9 years old ka pa lang" (I thought you were only 9 years old)
So to avoid looking like a kid I told myself I won't wear pink ever again.
But last night I checked my closet and discovered to my surprise a wide array of tops in various shades of the color pink. Yesterday I received a package from my aunt in the US who gifted me with a light pink Old Navy t-shirt.
So yes I am slowly learning to like the color pink again.
I just hope that I now look at least 12 and not 9 years old. Hehehehe


Speaking of infants, it seems that being pregnant is very IN these days.
Britney Spears gave birth to her son.
"Elektra" star, Jennifer Garner has her own Violet.
My friend Donna's daughter is infanticipating.
Yes. She is going to be a grandmother soon. Gosh.
And of course ER is going to be a dad, next year.
The poor guy is freaking out keeps asking me for advice.
Me of all people!
What do I know about babies?
My limited knowledge comes from books like the one (little Earthquakes) I'm currently engrossed in/with.
It is about 3 new mothers exchanging babies stories with each other.
It is written by the same author (Jennifer Weiner) who penned "In her Shoes" a movie I have yet to see. Because it is about sisters and family and I will just try to ignore the fact that Cameron Diaz is in it. Me don't like Cameron Diaz. :D

I just want to say ...
Kudos to the Philippine team for garnering the most medals in the recently concluded SEAG (South East Asian games). Well done! They all persevered and made us proud to be Filipinos. Despite all the negative publicity, the political turmoil and the endless bickering of grandstanding politicians, our athletes trained quietly and diligently to make the games a success. Bravo!


Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck naming their newly born baby girl VIOLET is so cute. Isn't the name very pretty?


I wish the Bransen family wins the Amazing Race: family edition. The Weavers are such an irritating bunch while the Linz behave like frat boys during sem break. Such brats!


Hopefully anyone BUT Stephanie wins Survivor: Guatemala. Gosh she is really annoying to watch. I don't know why they haven't voted her off yet.


I simply love December - the streets are well lighted up with bright Christmas decors; the cool climate (for once I don't sweat once I step out); all those tiangges (bazaars) even if I don't really buy anything; eating bibingka, puto bumbong and roasted chestnuts (which I simply adore!) and people seem to be a lot more cheerful than usual.


I plan to watch a lot of movies before the Metro Manila Film Festival starts its run from December 25 to Jan. 7 (?) because I'm such a snob and I don't patronize Filipino movies.


I actually truly wrote this paragraph from the movie Love Actually on a Christmas card, last year and mailed it to someone."With any luck, by next year
I'll be going out with [le chef or maybe no one]
But for now, let me say - Without hope or agenda -
Just because it's Christmas
And at Christmas you tell the truth
To me, you are perfect.
And my wasted heart will love you
[until you grow old and haggard and lose all your teeth!]
Merry Christmas!!!"Regardless to say, it was the most embarrassing thing I ever did in my life! But I don't regret it at all!


My sister will be out of town the whole of next week so that means I will have access to my monitor and my computer ... Hurray ... I really miss bloghopping!


It is difficult to compose a blog entry when I am in an internet cafe. Too many distractions I cannot gather my train of thought. It has taken me an hour to write this post and I've edited it 34566777 times.

So I will just end by paying a tribute to John Lennon whose 25th death anniversary is today, December 8.

Gosh has it been that long??? I love this song!

Imagine
Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

I'm back
Well I'm sorta, kinda back from my hiatus.
But not entirely.
Because you see, I am still monitor less.
Actually I do have another monitor but it is currently on loan.

Long story!

So what have I been up to?

Let's see:

I had a haircut.

I met up with my college friends which was fun because we only see each other like once in a blue moon.

We exorcised a ghost. At least that's what I thought it was. For the past weeks, I would hear a rustling sound whenever I use the bathroom upstairs. At first, I tried to ignore it thinking it was probably the draft from the vent. Then when I told my sister about it. She said she noticed it as well. So we called a priest to bless our entire house na rin. Because it would seem rather odd if we told him to simply sprinkle holy water in the bathroom of all places. So far I haven't heard the sound again.

I went to Tiendesitas, I love the place!



Shopping galore. Novelties, Plants, Antiques and Delicacies all in one vast area near the C5. Nice ambience too.

I bought a lot of books at the National Book Store warehouse sale. Enough to fill up one whole row on my book shelf. Great bargains, novels were priced at only P50/P100!

Speaking of books, I finished reading the book I used to blow up my monitor. Salman Rushdie's "The Ground beneath her feet". All 575 pages of it. Phew!

I bought a pink t-shirt. Me the one who wasn't into pink. Go figure!

I watched Harry Potter, twice. Yeah yeah yeah, I know! But I was really bored so my sister literally dragged me to watch it with her, two times. It was ok but I didn't bother reviewing it on my other blog because frankly I would just get all the names wrong.

I've set up the Christmas decors/lights in my place. Quite early since I usually do it on the 8th of December. I'm not really a Christmas person which is ironic because I live in a country where we they start putting up the decors as early as September. For me, it is overrated, we forget the true meaning of the day. It isn't about the gifts, the lights, the ornately decorated trees, Santa Claus or the office parties. It all seems meaningless when you are sitting in your car loaded with gifts and totally drunk after yet another party. You stop at a red traffic light and this tiny homeless urchin knocks on your car window begging for alms. Oh I don't know. I'm being way too righteously melancholic. I guess the older I get, there is an aching need in me to seek a significant meaning to my existence. Either that or I'm just getting way too cynical for my own good.

By the way, today is the 2nd anniversary of my blog.
Hurray! =)