Hola, 2009! Vol. 2

This is the second part of my year end wrap up, which is becoming a tradition already since I was also doing this, at this exact time last year. Hope to continue it for more years to come.

On the first part, I was trying to talk about what I did or did not like about the year and memorable events from politics to pop culture that I'll never forget and always associate with last year. In this post I am summarizing the personal stuff that was left out from the previous one. But i won't make this long and whiny. I'll try.

2008 was a year of contrasts as I've said. Personally, I had never been pushed to the limits to be patient and to be determine to finish the things to be accomplished. Most of the time, heck, 80% of the time my life has been focused on medical school on trying and trying on how to become a really great doctor. Let's just say I've been more mature compared to when 2007 ended.

In a nutshell, this is what happened:
- Started the year on some spill over issues but we worked it out.
- I was able to rebuild the bridges of friendship on some people that I was almost falling out of
- Still is stubborn regarding one person that I haven't talked to except during times when we need to be civil.
- Able to do really well during finals and battled some menacing faculty and was able to change my view points on honesty and integrity
- Had an amazing but short yet significant summer. I finally went to Siquijor after years worth of curiosity and had an awesome time!
- Visited Dumaguete and had another wild time.
- Started Junior year and hated it so much
- Fucked up Pediatrics clerkship and I still hated Pedia
- Bonded with awesome group mates in clinics
- Super stressed and I became an anti-social for three months, going to the hell hole and back again.
- Everyone from the class danced during Intramurals and it was a blast!
- Had an amazing case conference on Infective Endocarditis and actually pulled it off. I dare say that the best case con among juniors this year!
-Did surprisingly well in Surgery
-Reconnected during sembreak with friends I haven't talked or hanged out with for a long time
-Started and kept this blog updated!
-Learned a lot from the OB-Gyne rotation which is not the same with Pedia (bleh).
-Got busy for the masquerade ball
-Winning the parol contest!
-Pulling of the masquerade ball - not perfect but it was good enough to be called a smashing success!
-Being patient with someone you considered a friend who was saying things behind your back and you have no fucking idea what you did!
- Did my first suture on a scalp laceration nonetheless!
-Partied a lot and had a rocking good time every time, two weeks before Christmas!
- Enjoying christmas break and receiving lots of gifts!

Favorite Books I've read:
1.) Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis
2.) Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
3.) Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
4.) Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

Happy that I got 'em:
1.) Love in the Time of Cholera - thanks to Mark
2.) The Reader - thanks to Jo
3.) If you love school, you'll like work - thanks to Dawnah
4.) Three Weeks with my brother - thanks to Cha, from the US!!
5.) Rant - thanks to Jo again

Favorite Movies:
1.) The Dark Knight
2.) Across the Universe
3.) There Will Be Blood
4.) Once
5.) Love Songs

Favorite Shows:
1.) How I Met your Mother
2.) Iisa pa lamang (hahaha)
3.) Amazing Race
4.) Supernatural

-more on watching reruns this year of Friends, Sex and the City, and Survivor

No new year's resolutions this year except: Live Fully, Think twice before you act and you, yourself only know who the fuck you really are and no one else!

Thanks to family and friends for the support and making this year very memorable!

2009 will hopefully be a better year. To quote Krystle, it might be an adventure!

Adios, 2008! Vol. 1

In as little as 3 days 2008 will be over. Gone. It will be part of history and a pile of the previous years planners and calendars will be useless! This year brought a lot of new things and events that will be remembered in history!

I am ambivalent towards this year. I mean it was colorful all right with lots of things happening in my personal life and also the world around me as I know it. It was supposed to be my year - the year of the Rat - but it didn't quite feel that way. Overall, it was a year of tests - a test of strength, character and perseverance. It was a foreshadow of the upcoming years to come only milder. I've cherished triumphs from pulling off case conferences that at hindsight was a long shot getting good grades at unexpected exams especially when the studying was neither here nor there and I've endured failure both academic wise especially when expectations aren't met and failure as a person. I've realized that I wasn't as mature as I've aspired to be. I know I have mature but I still need time and more experiences to really say that I am already "mature". 2008 gave me lots of opportunities to polish that but most of the time I ended up whining and going back to the dumps and back again. Every fucking time. 

On a positive note, this year I've come to know more who really are my friends. Those people who have always been there for me anytime, anywhere and whether I am at the top or bottom have never failed to extend their support and concern through listening to me and cheering me up whenever I need a perky cheer to get me through the day or week. You guys know who you are. And to those who told me things straight to my face and letting me know what I need to do you are real friends indeed. By doing that I declare you as catalysts of my maturity and to those people who said things behind my back which you think I didn't know, I actually couldn't care less. It doesn't matter anyway.

With the curriculum for Junior year and Junior clerkship, I have learned so much even though I despise you to the core! I've learned determination, confidence and patience from the past eight months. Though I admit you've also given me the most headaches and stress combined!

2008 has been both fast and slow, happy and sad, gentle and harsh - a year of contrasts but I'll always remember this year for that. I mean, way back I couldn't have wished more that this year will be done with, now I ain't that in a hurry. Looking back again (I am so in emo mode), it was a pretty good year. Good but not great, a little bit bad but not horrible.

Unforgettable events:

1.) Heath Ledger died of an overdose - It was a bittersweet end. And I actually enjoyed most of his films and I commend him for being always in character. His performance in "The Dark Knight" is a fitting but creepy finale. But at the same time you couldn't help but wonder again and again - "what a waste of talent indeed for dying"

2.) Obama as the new US president - Though I was pining a little for Hilary Clinton because of her experience compared to him, despite her giving off an aura to me of catty and uptight WASP-ness, I couldn't be more happier that after 150 years of emancipation a black president is more than ready to rule one of the world's most influential countries. Part of the thrill is watching him make amends and reforms of the previous administration's incompetence. I am not gonna talk politics here but I hope he keeps his promise of ending the useless war in Iraq. It will be six years already come March and what has it done?

3.) Eight Golds for Phelps and the Beijing Olympics -This Olympics will be hard to top especially the opening ceremonies. I enjoyed it a lot. But Michael Phelps an American swimmer, who was diagnosed with ADHD, went on to break records and got the eight gold medals he was aspiring and surpassed Mark Spitz with his seven golds and he became the Olympian with the most medals. And he's still training to compete for 2012 in London. It was inspiring and exciting watching this guy harvest 'em all. With determination, hard work, will and the power of suggestion, you can reach your goals!

4.) The Recession
It was actually a pain in the pockets with prices soaring high - taxi fares getting expensive, dining out has become a luxury and shopping has become a little bit elusive. I was really pleased with the rollback at the end of the year.

5.) Philippine Politics as a Teleserye
Countless of scams from the ZTE broadband deal, to too much money on freaking fertilizers, an impeachment complain for the nth time and more backstabbing, party switching, walk outs and quotable quotes from so called respectable lawmakers have flooded the headlines in newspapers and can compete with the country's top soap operas in terms of drama (crying during Senate hearings) and comedy (from well pronounced and enunciated English).

6.) Britney's comeback
Britney Spears is indeed invincible. After battling a nasty divorce, encounters with the paparazzi, battling addiction in rehab, growing back her mane, she won 3 VMA's  after 16 nominations and no wins, had a fifth new album debut to number one selling 500,000 copies and she absolutely renewed and reinstated her image as a sex goddess, but this time she's a little classier. 

7.) David vs. David
I'm getting bored with American Idol. Being in the top 12 is reward enough since some instances those getting the boot are more successful than the winner or they can get their big break - theater, TV or an album that will never sell. Still, that's not bad for exposure. Though I'm borderline bored I tuned in religiously. This season was a hodgepodge of talent indeed. The finale was really unexpected with Cook, the rocker defeating the favorite, Archuleta who is more or less a Jonas brother specie, by at least 12 million votes. Cook was overshadowed early on but was recognized for his ability to make any song his own - into a rock/emo vibe (Always be my Baby, anyone) and showing personality every week. Both have never been in the bottom 3 so it was actually any one's game I supposed. 6 months later both released their albums with Cook debuting at no. 3 selling 283,000 copies compared to Archuleta's 185,000. Cook's album has already been gold and another single from any of those solid cuts on the album can propel it to platinum at least. Post-Idol battle spin off: Cook wins but Archuleta has a solid fan base.

8.) Cebu getting more urbanized
More access to the hottest trends, more malls, more places to hang out... On the other end capitalist greed, pollution, chaos and do not forget the every increasing traffic every rush hour. It doesn't help that the city's road uptown are not wide enough, so what can we do? Suck it up. If those people from Manila can make heavy and horrendous traffic as part of their routine, why can't we?

9.) Federer saves a slump
Roger Federer was ruling the world of tennis for at least 4 years. This year the Federer express train is showing signs of aging and slowing down to a halt. Critics are saying this is his worse year. I disagree. Though he lost the number one ranking to Nadal, he's still been showing consistency by reaching the semifinals at the Aussie Open and losing both finals of the French and Wimbeldon to his nemesis. It's still no easy feat to reach two finals! I have to say his showing is not at par with what a world number can show. It would have been a very bad year but I was happy as he won the Olympic doubles gold medal after losing during the quarters and taking home the US Open! Two more Roger and you'll be the greatest tennis player ever! And I wish you'd finally take home a French Open crown. I'm hoping you'll win the Australian this January, equaling Pete Sampras record and to make it sweet, win the French Open and you have overthrown him and joined the small elite group of players who have captured all Grand Slams!

10.) Internet revolution is getting stronger
You've come a long way baby! From dial ups and just e-mails for business, now the Internet is so hot that it's just keeps on getting better. You can get everything (almost) from the Internet. But what I love about it is it made the world even smaller. Plus networking and social groups are fun ways of keeping in touch plus video sharing and profiling have made stars out of ordinary people. What's next?

Post Christmas Blues and Observations

Christmas had arrived and left already. This year I was very attached to making it significant and memorable. I think it was. I am really happy with the gifts I got this year. I was expecting more books but I didn't get any book from my family. It's a good thing anyway. I've been spending more and more on books this year and more and more are still unread and yet to be touched. I am really happy with the external hard drive my sister got me! It was a lifesaver for me and my laptop. Plus she already got me in advance since I was planning to get one before internship but now I've got all my movies, music, pictures and important documents in my ever reliable and new best friend gadget - my external hard drive. I also got cool shirts which I realized I need new shirts since I've been borrowing a lot from my father and my brothers. Being in the same size as your family members helps.

Right now people are running out of cash from too much holiday shopping, some are still rich and enjoying the post Christmas slash clearance sales while some like me are already scratching their heads and saying "Wait, has one week of my vacation been used already?". I haven't even started on reading for the exam on Monday and I still have about three books I want to read before classes starts! 

I've been really decadent so to say on this Christmas breaks. Parties and get togethers, impulsive shopping trips, pigging out on the holidays and leftovers and sleeping for 12 hours every night. Sigh! I guess I was more productive but at the same time I am enjoying this! Good thing that the left overs weren't that many. Last year I got sick to the point of eating leftovers for three days after Christmas. This year I only got to eat on Christmas Day, brunching on Noche Buena extras. Ironically, I miss not having lechon paksiw for almost a week. Last year I got sick and nauseated of having it on three meals for three days.

I'm predicting that I will be broke after this Christmas break. I still have three people on my Christmas gifts that don't have gifts yet and my resources are getting more limited. And speaking of sales, I am going crazy over the endless bargains at SM. They are having a clearance sale till January 4, 2009. I have lots of thing I want to buy! Fedora hats, shirts, under wears, colored wayfarers, shoes... the possibilities are endless but the finances are not enough to keep up! Don't forget the books from National Bookstore! Oh so plenty indeed! I mean 20% is good enough for me.
 
As I've said I don't have the Post Christmas blues this year. Instead I am left pondering and perplexed on how time was so fast, trying to make a study schedule in my mind and squeezing in more get togethers and bonding time since some people still owe me a Christmas gift! Carry on!

Would've Been

Lola Naring would've been 91 years old. She died six years ago on this exact date at around before lunch time in her sleep. She was my great-grandmother on the maternal side. Since we were growing up with both a grandmother and a great-grandmother, to avoid confusion we called her "Lola", like our parents did and our grandmother "grandma".

I  found out about the news after waking up I went downstairs and my mother told me about while she was baking goodies for Christmas Eve. I guess that was a shock but I really didn't grasp it yet. That was the saddest Christmas. I mean, Christmas and caskets don't actually and will never be in the same sentence. We never felt it that much during Christmas Eve since the usual dinner and festivities were already planned, it just that after dinner and before opening of the gifts there was a vigil to be done.

I was in denial the whole time. As if I was watching a soap opera with all the things happening. So I spent most my time staying at home, surfing the Internet or just watching movies and window shopping. I don't want to process it.

Her funeral was held on New Year's Eve because most of the relatives didn't want to usher the new year with grief. It's as if a gesture so that everybody can have a fresh start on the new year. That was the time that I finally was able to accept everything that has happened during the past nine days. New Year's Eve dinner that year consisted of only spaghetti and chicken since we weren't able to prepare along with the usual traditional fruits and round pastries for good luck. That year was memorable but not in a very good light.

My fondest memories of Lola were sleeping at her bed, rummaging through her books and magazines (she really read a lot and she got most of her books from the second hand shop, a trait which I got) and receiving Christmas gifts from her that she actually made.

Her death made me appreciate Christmas every year since then. They say that every happening has a purpose, well I guess I can conclude that the purpose of her death was to actually revitalize my zest for life. That time I was about to downward spiral into an abyss of uncontrollable melancholia. It was something I can't fight no matter how hard I tried. When she died I was able to fight a lot stronger but 10 months later I eventually entered the black hole but I came through thanks to the memory of her and the thought of my friends and family. Maybe it was just too much emo and overacting but honestly I couldn't find a logical explanation why I suddenly felt sad. Her death could have triggered it but I know for sure her death delayed the transition.. The most profound theory I could come up is it was undiagnosed depression probably due to stress and an impending burn out.

I have learn to celebrate Christmas all out after she died and I am ever thankful for the support and love of family and friends.

Six years have passed and four of your great grandchildren already finished college, two of which are pursuing careers in medical field by putting up through med school and the rest are well behaved and educated. You'll be proud! She always claimed that she will still be alive the time I graduate from med school. She would've been 93.

Rest in peace Lola! You've already lived a colorful life from surviving the Great Depression, fighting and protecting children during World War 2, being widowed and remarrying again, losing a son and watching your clan grow. I'll never forget you. Thank you for the lessons learned.

Merry Making, Jolly Feeling and Feel Good Shopping

Last week was exhausting. But the fun type of being tired - not toxic and suffocating. After the short quiz on Gastric Ulcers on Internal Medicine, I was in a celebratory mood the whole week! Plus doing really good on an exam, in which, I hadn't even finish second reading and I was on duty at the ER of a busy hospital that weekend, standing for almost 8 hours with no sleep at all, is a very much added bonus. I couldn't ask for more. What I was doing the whole week (apart from TRYING to read before and after lunch, catching up on sleep and practicing surgical skills like knot tying) was partying and shopping!

MONDAY: Party # 1: Secret Santa with Clinics Group 2
This was very spontaneous. We haven't had the chance to actually plan when to exchange the gifts and reveal our Secret Santas. Initially we wanted to have a separate party - specifically dinner and getting wild the rest of the night. And most people wouldn't want to settle on a lunch wearing our uniforms, too lame they say. Since it was the only night that we can be complete, because some of us are going out of the country and some have Christmas parties too that were booked weeks ahead, we decided to give it a go. The plan was to go to Ayala to find a gift at 8 p.m. and the dinner at 9. The result: Had a really great time! Dinner was at Hukad and exchanging gifts and photo session was at the fountain at the Terraces. It consisted of acting out your Secret Santa and the people guessing who it is. I was really surprised! My secret Santa gave me a copy of "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Thanks Mark! I'm so grateful! After party with karaoke and ice cold beer (literally). Spontaneity is indeed more fun than planned parties. Maybe not all the time but in this case it was!

TUESDAY: Party #2: Exchange Gifts with Closest Friends from Medschool.
This was also spontaneous I should say. We picked out the names before lunch and bought gifts after. My gift was actually from my house. Dinner at Cafe George. I had a heavenly chili con carne with rice. Then exchanging gifts thereafter. I got a planner from Careza, who admitted that she wanted to give me a book but could not find one that I might not have so she gave me a planner and sharpener - for exams!. Intimate, harmonious and fun bonding. Karaoke party (again!) at Paseo for 3 hours and after party with gossip at I.T. park. I had so much fun guys! Significant improvement on my singing as they've commented.

WEDNESDAY: Shopping Trip #1
Taking a break from parties and karaoke by getting presents for my friends at a tight budget. I was proud of myself for being able to squeeze 8 presents out of 1,200 pesos. Mind you, they are nice and super presentable!

THURSDAY: Party #3: Elixir Batch Christmas Party, Theme: Fashion Week.
Not everybody came but it was still fun because people were so game at anything. Everybody also dressed up in their own individual unique styles! Great and awesome food from the Promise Catering! Gone in seconds as people were enjoying themselves with third servings! I wore a brown statement T-shirt that says "I've Been Bad All Year", red skinny jeans, Jack Purcell black sneakers, accessorized by a brown Fedora hat and black shutters ala Kanye West! Our group won best presentation! We danced like silly to boy band and girl band tunes and to a novelty song. 1,000 pesos baby. The games were also fun. After party at Grill Avenue for Karaoke (again, third time this week) and more drinking. I fell from my chair and puke buckets but it was all good!

FRIDAY: Chill Day #1:
Jo finally came home from Manila and we decided to meet and just chillax and talk. And also she brought me homemade Banana Creme Pie! The best! Perfect blend of sweetness and flavor, not to sweet and you can actually taste the sumptuous combination of bananas, cream and the crust! Please bring more Jo! Had an interesting conversation at Starbucks, late dinner at Shakey's at the Terraces and controlling a book-gasm at Fully Booked.

SATURDAY: Shopping Trip #2
With Jo again and I think I've already completed my Christmas list except for Jo's because it's in Fully Booked. It was packed! I finally got myself a hoodie. More pictures taken and more talking.

SUNDAY: Chill Day #2
Together with my family. My sister is currently buying stuff to make her list complete and my mother is getting some new Christmas bowls for candies and desserts. But as for me I'm almost broke so no shopping. I was content with browsing around and making more lists. Dinner at Flavors of China and coffee moments at Coffee Bean with some relatives.

And today I compensated by sleeping for 14 hours! Whew what a busy week that was indeed but I am only more hyped up to make this Christmas more memorable!

It's All Been Done

The masquerade ball is over! After seven months of countless arguing over the theme, flaring tempers, getting broke because of the weekly contributions, dealing with diva moments, being patient over other people's inadequacies, revising and more revising, tension, nerves and gritted teeth it has finally come together and we did fly with passing colors! I can say that despite all the set back and the delays it was way better than last year in terms of preparation, decoration and food. The only thing that made last year fun was that the whole batch dressed up and the photos were silly and funny. This year the 600 pesos contribution was totally worth it. And judging from audience reaction majority enjoyed. Have to get feedback from the residents and consultants.

Honestly I was negative on the fact if we can pull this off considering the rifts in between the committees but apparently so the stars aligned with us. So it just proves that whatever you set you heart to and work hard on it like fighting like hell - you'll get it.

Despite all the drama - I'm really glad it's done and we did a good job.

After the program a wave of relief washed me and right now I am still soaked with the euphoria and I feel really high. The weather in Cebu this weekend is perfect for relaxing. It was rainy and very conducive for sleeping and perfect for lying in bed the whole day and going out means wearing sweaters and scarves and fashionable clothes that wouldn't be appropriate for Cebu weather.

I am breathing in and out this weekend!