Status: Reminiscin’
Music: Say It Right – Nelly Furtado

I know this comes a bit late. But what the hell? I just want to say this. You know, 2006 is not that pretty a year for me, but it’s not terrible either. But surely, the past year gave me a lot of memories I can never ever let go of. Here are the top 9 highlights of the past year:

9. World Tour (?).
Have you ever gone to more than five countries in just one day? Sounds impossible, eh? Well, Maw and I have. Some time in July or August, the quest for a Film school scholarship started. Maw and I did a little world tour. And because technically, foreign embassies are foreign territories, we felt like we were having a world tour when in fact we never left Manila, entering one embassy to another, sending letters to ambassadors, and talking with some foreigners. It was fun.

8. Mugged!
Talking with Tonet while walking has to be my biggest regret last year. Just a block away from Andre’s apartment (which is now my apartment), a stranger with a knife approached me and forced me to hand him my cellphone. I did not become upset because of the cellphone. It was the idea that I was mugged. It was terribly traumatic. And for the longest time last year, I was cursing the entire urban poor population, and whenever I saw a squatters’ area, I secretly wished for a big fire. See this post for more. But after several months, I grew tired of hating them and learnt to understand them, and eventually got over it. I’m a good boy now.

7. This Kiss, This Kiss
It’s not the kiss per se that is unforgettable. It’s how the issue exploded way out of proportion in no time. Nah, I rather not discuss it.

6. North Luzon Trip
Straight from a Palawan trip, I joined Winwin, Icang, Dohna, Pam, Lei, Nep, and KZ on a three-day trip to Northern Luzon — Pangasinan, Baguio, and every place in between. A lot of things happened that I don’t know what to say. Heehee.

5. Thesis Defence
Yes, it was nerve-wracking, but after a few months, I could barely remember the entire thesis defence experience. Maybe because, there was really nothing spectacular and nothing horrible to remember. It was just, all right, we faced the faculty, defended our film, and that was it. All happy.

4. Palawan Trip
A simple trip to Palawan turned into a wake, when my grandfather died while we were having a vacation there. All my plans were cancelled and for a week, I just helped my relatives take care of the wake and ran some errands. But less than an hour after the funeral, I went island-hopping. Hahaha. And it felt fantastic. I told you, I’m the type who easily moves on.

3. World Cup — Germany
Unlike Ayn who really flew to Germany and its neighbouring countries and felt the stagerring energy the world’s favourite sport creates, I satisfied myself by just staying inside my room and having my eyes glued to my TV screen as I watched football game after game after game. And when the quarterfinals kicked off, I stayed in Manila just to see the games live in Ateneo. And yes, the lowest point of last year for me was when Germany lost to Italy in the semi-final. That was totally bad… and painful.

2. Thesis Production
The memories of the entire thesis production linger longer than the thesis defence. I learnt a lot of things and met new friends in the process. Pre-production — I got closer to Prech. Principal photography — I got closer to several people, some of which I did not even imagine I could be friends with. Editing — I got closer to Andre. And of course, from the very start up to the very last minute of production, Winwin was with me. And that was really unforgettable.

1. Graduation
Finally, after four years in a hell-like heaven, it was over. I was very proud, and indeed, it was the most unforgettable.

Status: Starved
Music: Candyman – Christina Aguilera

Asta and Dohna have told me a number of times that I am very picky when it comes to food. Actually, they didn’t use the word picky; they said I’m too maarte. If I were a different person, I would’ve felt bad. But apparently, it’s true. I’m really maarte, but only on food. And I’m not just picky. I’m strangely picky. Here are some of my strange habits and preferences:

3. Aside from Filipino and Chinese cuisines, the only Asian foods that I munch on are Thailand’s tom yam, Indonesia’s nasi goreng, and Japan’s chicken teriyaki and pork tonkatsu. Anything else — thanks, but no thanks. I love the Korean people, but….

2. I won’t eat carrots once they’re cooked. And I won’t eat tomatoes until they’re cooked. Fresh carrots and cooked tomatoes taste better. But aside from that, I’m like this for health reasons. Recent studies show they’re healthier.

1. I don’t eat beef. I don’t know why. My brain must have had repressed the memory of my experience that made me hate beef so much. I throw up because of the mere smell of beef, raw or cooked. And nope, not even hamburgers I can stand. Ironically, everyone in my family is a beef-lover. And they love preparing kare-kare, beef steak, caldereta, bulalo, etc., so whenever they cook something with beef, I lock myself in my room so as not to smell anything… beefy.

When I was younger, my parents made a rule that I had to eat, or at least taste, anything that they were serving on the table. But I guess I was just a severely spoiled brat they did not succeed in any way. How? Because I really would not eat and starve myself, and my parents would show pity on me, and prepare something else. Since then, they never forced me to try beef again.

Status: Happy, shalala…
Music: Be Without You – Mary J. Blige

Yep, I’m already 21. I’m not that young anymore. Hehe. But what the hell. My 21st birthday is absolutely not the best birthday I had. It was just OK. But I want to thank the people who remembered and greeted me on my supposedly special day. You know who you are, people. And those who didn’t, it’s alright. I don’t usually remember your birthday anyways, so, fair enough. Haha.

But really, I’m the type of person who doesn’t really seem to care about important dates or occasions. The only birth dates I know are the ones that fall under the months of February and March. Outside these months, there are only less than eight people whose birthday I remember. And yep, I remember the birth dates of my family members, too. And no, I don’t keep a list of my friends’s birth dates.

Usually, it’s Cocoy, Josh, or Winwin who greets me first on my birthday. When the clock hits midnight, I would usually expect a text message from any/all of them. Last year was different because it was Prech who first greeted me, and the three monkeys just followed. This year is also a different case. It was Winwin, not Winwin Espiritu, but Winwin Cabello — a high school friend’s brother. It really felt weird because we’re not really close but he waited until midnight and stayed awake just to greet me. And his sister, who is my real friend, did not actually remember that it was my birthday that day. Talk about irony.

Status: I should be feelin’ good
Music: Feeling Good – AJ Tabaldo

Exactly a year ago, I was so sick. But I was able to travel from Batangas to Manila, and meet some of my friends in the university. I planned to watch Pride and Prejudice with Josh, but I backed out the last minute because my body couldn’t withstand my aching joints and terrible fever. Instead, I had a box (or two) of pizza delivered, and shared it with my friends. When I felt a little better hours later, I decided to just push through with the movie thing but because Josh couldn’t make it that night, Andre was the one who joined me instead. We spent the rest of the night at Figaro.

Two years ago, Josh gave me a Kitchie Nadal album, and we had lunch at Oz Cafe — my treat. We stayed there longer than we intended to. Came evening, I had dinner with Ayn. I can’t remember where, but I know I gave her a treat.

Five years ago, I saw a movie in a theatre in Lemery with my girlfriend back then, Michi, and some of my friends. Again, I can’t remember what movie we watched that day. But I know I was really, really happy.

Eleven years ago, my mum threw a very lavish party for me at our place in Batangas. Most of my classmates and teachers were present. It was one of the most expensive parties my mum spent some cash on.

Twenty-one years ago, a midwife was pulling me out of my mother’s womb as my Daddy watched. It was a very bloody day.

Yep, TODAY, I TURNED 21. But today, there’s nothing special.

Status: Half-asleep.
Music: Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks

Taken at the UP Cinema Yule Ball 2006 held last December 16, somewhere in Mandaluyong. Of course, that pretty Chinese lady with me was my date that night, Maw. She was also my date at last year’s Christmas Ball. Click here to view our photo at the Ball one year ago.