As before, this is our year end review that Kris and I (with her hubby Harv recently joining in), share with each other. It had to be 5 big events (good or bad) that has happened to us.

My previous recorded 5′s are here and here and hopefully I get to document future ones. Only because it gives quite a nice summary, year per year.

Without any further ado, (drum roll please) here’s my 5:

1. Filipino Dragons Singapore (or FDS) as mentioned in a previous entry. For the first time in my entire life, I’m part of a sports team. One that (for the sports bit) trains hard, competes, loses graciously and wins spectacularly. In relation, there’s the definite weight loss/gaining of muscles/evening of tan, that comes with the love of the sport. But wait, there’s more. Ever since I’ve joined, I’ve upped my social scene with this group who tends to party as hard as we train. Without FDS this year, life would have definitely be less fun.
2. A project at work where I received a considerable amount of criticisim, attention (both good and bad), rewards and finally appreciation.
3. Canada did not want me. Neither did Singapore. Just as I was making progress with planning, I went back to square 1.
4. This year, mostly with FDS, meant meeting loads of new people. But sad – yes, I’m sad – that I also lost a few. Losing in this case, meant losing touch (the lack of proximity really played a part in losing friends who I used to see every so often), or simply letting go of people who used to mean a lot. Of course, there’s the saying people come and go, but what made this a big part of my 2009 was the amount of emotional investment I went through for each of the losses. Much like a break up (maybe even a little worse), there was the feeling of sadness, resentment, betrayal, revenge, losing of trust, to finally giving up. The feeling has now plateau-d to acceptance giving way to civil politeness.
5. Naiwanan ako ng eroplano. This is definitely my kick-myself-in-the-butt moment. Don’t want to go through the details, but this lack of responsibility caused me money which is a a domino effect to the happenings in the next 4 months of 2010.

2009 was not the best year for me, and I’m excited to get it over and done with, finally. But I am optimistic of the silver lining waiting to happen.

That done, and my blog is alive once again.

Happy New Year, folks!

hello once again, and this time, diary, i give you full permission to kick me in the butt for being too “busy” to forget about you.

but never mind about that. here we go for a short update.

well, it’s almost christmas and i’m in the Philippines, ooh yes. i came to see one of my oldest friend get hitched. i’m, yet again, a bridesmaid, but this time, i think it’s going to be the “last”. well at least not for a very long time, if ever. maybe it’s an end of an “era”. most of my friends are either hitched, or just won’t ever be. welcome now to the babies and children’s birthdays world. not to sound, bitter that is.

anyway, as said, my friend’s getting hitched and i’m home for the wedding. i promised to make sure that i take care of the bride, while the maid of honor goes and chases, este, takes care of her son. i had my first and only fitting of my gown last wednesday, and bought my shoes this afternoon. i still have 2 days to pretty up, with the manis, pedis and all that. i’m actually excited. i’m a sucker for bridal marches and i hope to catch a glimpse of my friend just as she walks down. the bouquet toss (if there will be one) is another story. i hope i don’t sound too much like a kj and say i’m not interested in this one. i’m slightly thankful also that this is not a “relatives” reunion and i won’t have the regular “ikaw, iha, kailan ka susunod”. well aside from the brides mom. but that, i think, i should be able to handle.

on another note, i’m mostly on vacation mode. this is the first time i’m on a long enough leave to pinas (since i started working in singapore), so i’m taking my time with the things i planned to do. take note my leaves to pinas have consisted from a day trip to a max of 5 days. so yeah, a 2 week vacation is something.

so if you ask me, what am i planning to do here? well aside from the wedding and major resting, there’s the shopping, the pampering, the fiesta-ing, and of course the reunions.

see you *soon*, my silent diary.

But anyway, in due respect to my chunk-change yearly domain registration, and to my avid reader (note: there’s no s in reader), here’s a slight update

• I currently live in Singapore - okay well not really an update since I’ve been here since March of last year, but just in case a reader/friend/family who happens to stumble by this blog and is still asking “Where the hell is Yevka?”, well that’s the answer. A happy update (from last November) is that I moved house – further away from the office and the town, but a better environment and way better facilities. Better facilities included a tennis court, a swimming pool, gym and, my absolute favorite, a jacuzzi.
• I also work in Singapore - again not much of an update. At the start of the year though, my boss resigned, making me and my teammate feel a bit like orphans. From then till now, we’ve been thrown around a bit, working with several people, following orders from various “bosses”, reporting to anyone or everyone, doing the odd bit jobs, until they finally split us apart and put us under two separate teams. I’ve had my qualms about the entire situation, but now our situation is much, much better.
• I joined a dragonboat team - pretty much the highlight of my year SO FAR. Will definitely make it to my 5 events at the end of the year. As invited by my friends, we joined Filipino Dragons Singapore, comprised mostly of Filipino professionals, and have been training with them since April this year. So far, I’ve joined in two races, have raised up my tan level (to quote my friend – I used to be mocha color, now I’m dark chocolate!), have also raised my fitness level, and lost weight. Or at least inches, coz I haven’t really weighed myself properly yet. We’re currently training for Sava Sprints, which is a 200-meter race in October.
• In relation to joining FDS, I’ve been to Rawa this July - Pulau Rawa is an island in Malaysia near Mersing. To get there, we rented a bus to Mersing, and then rode a 20-min ferry to the island. White sands, clear waters, yummy food, wonderful, wonderful place. With 39 other members of the team, a djembe, guitar, caracas, shisha set, volleyball, ipod with speaker, and loads and loads of drinks, we made a 2D-1N trip, that was a party through-and-through.

For now, that’s my highlights. Next time, I’ll try to post pictures.

How’s the rest of the world been? :teehee:

Bold means YES

1. Started my own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii. – I wanna
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than I can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world. - EuroDisney counts naman diba?
8. Climbed a mountain. – I wanna
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo. – Didn’t say I had to be good right?
11. Bungee jumped. – I wanna
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched lightening at sea.
14. Taught myself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child. - Class of 95, high school. I remember we “adopted” a child as a group. When we graduated, we “passed” her on to the next class to adopt. Can this count?
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown my own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitchhiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. - Naughty, naughty! Hehehe!
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon. – I wanna
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. - I think so… I’m not sure though.
29. Seen a total eclipse. – Did you hear about the latest eclipse? There was one last Monday, daw…
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. – Both
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise. – I wanna
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. – I wanna
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught myself a new language. – I wanna… Singlish doesn’t count. Haha.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. – I wanna
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had my portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. – I wanna
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business. - Kinda…
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving. – I wanna
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check. - Didn’t mean to…
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. – Speeding tricycle?
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. – I wanna
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican. – At least I don’t think I have… hmmm.
82. Bought a brand new car. – I wanna
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had my picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous. – Kinda…
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit. -Almost. Haha…
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Rode an elephant. – I wanna

Ayun lang… that’s a total of what I’ve done in 30 years…. hehe… feel free to grab.

This year, marks, yet again, another special year. Very soon, I’ll be ending my “Twenty-something” blog theme as I reach the big 3-0. As with 2008, I’m creating a theme to set my “game” of the year. I’ve been thinking about it a few days already, and some of my possible themes had been “growth”, “change” and a good fair bit, “letting go”. For one reason or another though, it didn’t seem right.

With due respect to my upcoming thirty self, the theme I’ve chosen is Celebration. As “growth” and “change” seems to be inevitable anyway, Celebration involves several things, including letting go of my twenties self, and finally acknowledging, appreciating and celebrating the peak years they call 30′s. I intend to celebrate, also, successes, friendships, loved ones, occassions, work life, and learnings.

So Cheers, 2009! :thumbsup: Give me your best shot!

What’s your theme for the year?

Thanks again to Steve Shapiro as I reaffirmed my need for a purpose.