I’ve been meaning to do this kind of post to just put everything that I want to remember for 2017 in a nugget. So here it is:
Spent the New Year with F Buddies at our place. My parents were pretty strict back then; even after I graduated college. So having my friends over for a drinking session for the very first time was very unusual and memorable for me.
Jen, our previous LNC teammate, was back from Abu Dhabi (or was it Dubai?) and so we got together and went to our favorite spot (Rue Bourbon). It was another rare occasion.
Summer was spent with friends at a private resort. Loads of fun.
After 8 years, I finally went back to Singapore! Singapore was my first out of the country experience. It was 2011 and Nick, Xali, and I were fresh grads when we decided to try our luck to work there as nurses. We were there for three weeks and stayed not at a hotel but at Xali’s uncle’s apartment so we kind of felt like a true local. I enjoyed every minute of it. We did our own laundry, bought groceries, cooked almost everyday, watched a movie (my first 3D movie), played the lottery, etc. I even learned how to ride a bike there. So when I had the chance to go back to Singapore to visit Kenneth’s dad, I was really really excited.
Tricia, our youngest sibling, graduated from college. Our parents’ pride and relief were pretty apparent since all four of us were already finished with school. Finally.
Our dear grandfather passed away. I get teary eyed thinking about it now. We loved him so much and we extremely miss him everyday. 😔
Our relatives from the UK had a 1-month vacation here in the Philippines. Our cousins grew up so tall and cute and lovely. I miss them so bad.
We got married again, at a church this time. It was a bittersweet moment because our grandfather just passed away. It felt wrong having to celebrate our wedding when we were still mourning.
Attended 3 weddings and 1 christening this year
This was the year of “artventure”. I rekindled my passion for art and experimented with watercolor, digital design, and calligraphy. I missed being in a school-like setting so attending those art workshops were really fun and refreshing.
Celebrated Miguel’s 7th birthday, our cutest cousin yet. I’m still hoping for a baby boy from Ate Beng2.
DIY takoyaki at some resto and tried making homemade gyoza but failed. It was bland.
Went back to Japan (my favorite country) with Nick, Benson, Bryan and Irving. I feel like I would never get tired of this country. There’s just so much to see and explore! They have the most helpful and friendliest people ever. I purchased my first professional watercolors here as well.
Discovered I have gall stones. Boo!
We had our so-called honeymoon in Korea. It was our first time there and it was an extremely cold November (as low as 6 °C). It was a fresh experience but we can’t help but compare it to Japan. And there was a time when we got really mad at each other and separated for a while. So for me, memories of Korea were not that enjoyable. But I got to experience autumn (one of the things in my bucket list). It was breathtaking. ❤️
I sold my first artwork! It was very satisfying. I’m really proud of myself and I’m so excited where this artventure takes me.
Had our F Buddies Christmas Party/open forum. Everybody cried except Xali (boringgg 😂). I think I’ll reserve another post detailing the events and explaining why there was a lot of crying involved.
I got a Kindle for Christmas! It doesn’t get here until mid-January though.
Isabelle and Illysa, our cute cousins, hosted our 2017 Slumber Party. It was amusing how the two sisters really prepared for the party (prepared the plan of activities, invitations, balloons, snacks). Activities involved were a modeling showdown, watching a scary movie (but we ended up watching their parents’ wedding), blind makeover challenge, sharing secrets, etc. The party ended after the blind makeover game when Illysa cried because her makeup was “ugly”. It was still a lot of fun and I can’t wait for next year’s slumber party. They keep me young (channeling Regina’s mom 😂).
Merry Christmas! Hindi ako masyado na-excite nung mga nakaraang days na malapit na ang pasko. Pero nung nasa mga Christmas parties na ko, dun ko uli naisip na December nga talaga ang favorite month ko. Umuwi kami ng Quezon province for Christmas pero 3 days lang. Bitin nga. Ang strict kasi kila Kenneth bawal basta basta mag-leave. So sa day 1 ng bakasyon namin, umattend kami ng binyag ni Leon.
Day 1 – Dec 23: Leon’s Christening & F Buddies Christmas Party
Andun mga friends namin sina Benson, Dimple, Kat Neric, Mcdo. Favorite kong kasama si Benson pag may videoke kasi pareho kaming pasikat. Baka ganun talaga pag nangarap kang maging famous singer pero hindi ka naman naging ganun so dinadaan mo na lang sa videoke. Nakakatawa pa kasi ang hina nung mic kaya hindi kami mapakali ni Benson. Bothered na bothered kami na hindi naririning ng mga tao yung kanta namin. Pag alis ni Benson, kachikahan ko lang si Dimple and Kat about HS life. Mga naging crush, ex, naka-away, naka-fling, kung sino bang pinakagwapo sa batch na to, mga katangahan, kung ano ano pa.
Tapos nagtext na Xali about sa Christmas party naming F Buddies. Dinadramahan pa namin yung dalwa ni Bong and Nick kasi hindi nagpaparamdam.
Napilitan na sila
Tapos ok na sinundo na ko ni Nick kila Lee. Nagsuggest sya ng videoke so syempre payag na payag naman ako at nabitin ako kumanta kaya napunta kami sa Welkin Tower. Naka-ilang skip kami ng F Buddies Christmas party through the years kaya medyo big deal na natuloy kami netong year with exchange gifts and all.
Ayun masaya lang kami tapos nung pahuli nag iyakan. Nakakatawa. First time ko makita umiyak si Bong. Si Nick siguro mga second time (hindi kasali yung mga fake cries nya). Ako cry baby naman talaga. Si Xali lang ang strong siguro kasi hindi naka-inom. Parang sya lang ang pinaka matinong kausap nung gabing yun. Haha. Almost 5AM na kami natapos. Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Si Ian at Kenneth sumuko agad tulog sa kotse. Basta ang mga tanda kong tidbits ng pinagdramahan namin: Pag si Bong ay may gustong i-share about sa life nya, hindi na nya iisipin na babarahin lang namin sya. Tapos si Nick naman, ittry nyang hindi na maging super OA sa pagka-neutral pagdating sa mga opinions nya. Parang yun lang naman ang laman nung ilang oras naming dramahan.
Masaya pose
Day 2 – Dec 24: Diaz Christmas
Siguro mga past tanghali na kami nagising. Sumaglit lang kami sa SM bumili ng gift wrappers tapos pumunta nang Pagbilao. Tumambay lang ng konti at gumawa ng oobleck. After nun, umuwi na ulit Lucena (around 10PM) pumuntang RGR kila Lee, tapos pumuntang bayan kila Lola tapos sa Site kila tito Joey then umuwi na sa bahay. Nasweetan ako sa gift ni Kat Sister kase art related. Super na-appreciate ko. Yung gift ni Kenneth na Kindle (na ako din ang bumili) on the way pa. Super excited na din ako dun ang tagaaal.
Lagot ang dami
Day 3 – Dec 25: Merene Christmas Party
Last day na namin sa Quezon tapos luluwas na din pa-Manila ng hapon. Kelangan umuwi ng medyo maaga para hindi ma-traffic. Pero mga past 5PM na din ata kami nakaalis. Mga past 10AM na ata ako nagising tapos kelangan ko pa magbalot ng mga gifts. Isa pa lang nababalot ko. Pagka gising ko direcho agad ako sa taas para magbalot. Eh 11AM daw kasi kelangan nandun na sa Pagbilao sa mga Mommy. Pagdating namin sa Pagbilao ng mga 12NN, mga tulog ang tao. Sila Ate Gigi pala galing din Manila.
After kumain (sarap nung pata tim at carbonara), games naman. Kahit ang tanda ko na tuwang tuwa pa din ako makisali sa games. Pinaka favorite ko yung musay kasi kahit matatanda agawang agawan. Na-injure pa yung likod ko kasi napasalpok sa kuya. Work from home tuloy ako ngayon. Para akong nabugbog. After games, intermission number ni Illysa. Nagprepare daw sya ng 6 na sayaw (pero sabi nya sakin nung isang araw 4 lang daw so nadagdagan pa haha). Sabi ni Ate Beng2 gabi gabi daw nagppractice ng sayaw si Illysa para sa Christmas party. Haha. After sayawan, gift giving na tapos kailangan na namin umalis. Huhu. Sinisigawan kami ng “Boringggg!”. Ayoko pa talaga umalis pero yun nga, kesa mapagod magdrive si Kenneth baka biglang abutin ng sobrang traffic. Naiyak ang Mommy nung gift giving kasi naaalala ang Daddy. First Christmas namin na hindi kasama ang Daddy. 😔
So yun ang Christmas 2017 namin. Fun and emotional. Injured ako sakit talaga ng likod ko parang feeling ko pa ay kinakapos ang hinga ko. Pagka gising ko lang ngayon saka ko naramdam yung sakit.
Bruised knees every year
Sa Friday ay uuwi ulit kami for New Year naman. Sa Pagbilao naman kami magbabagong taon. Yun ang setup namin. Christmas kila Kenneth then New Year sa amin. Wala pa akong namimiss kahit isang New Year sa bahay kaya sobrang importante sakin ng New Year. Tsaka hindi kasi kami naghahanda ng Pasko, New Year lang talaga. Ang Papa pala hindi ko na nakita nung uwi namin kasi duty, sa New Year na lang daw. Then may slumber party din kami nila Isabelle and Illysa. Haha.
Gleniz Da Menace 