2008 Summary

Inspired by the blog of my sister-at-heart Mec, I listed down some of the things that sums up my 2008. Here goes:

1. Something new that I did in 2008
- I went on a long road trip with Buboy and we went caving (twice!) which may be the most physical of all my activities in the past five years at least.
2. New year’s resolution
- I actually don’t have one except to try to keep writing on my thank you journal
3. What I want for 2009 that I did not get last year
- Baby

4. Most memorable experience or happening
- It’s still the road trip that Buboy and I did early 2008. It was the best two weeks of our lives together. It proves that we can live alone together, far from family and friends, have lots of fun and not kill each other :o)
5. Achievements
- Adjusted well enough back at work
6. Disappointments
- I don't try hard enough
7. Investments
- Probably the new insurance and retirement fund we bought
8. Splurge
- For me it has to be the dress I wore at Juvie and Benny’s wedding. I still can’t believe I paid that much for a beach dress!
9. Historical event
- Everyone will agree it has to be Obama winning the US presidency
10. Life lesson
- I can’t do everything and it's okay.. God sent someone special to help..

I cannot believe how hard it is to answer some of the items above, to think I chose them items! I guess I wasn’t really being conscious of what was happening to me last year. This is eye-opening! I shouldn’t miss what happens in my own life… I should be on top of it! I really should do better in my 2009 summary.

-chebong

the blog's new face

I was looking for a new look for this blog. I kinda got tired of the old one. I thought maybe a new template every now and then would motivate me to visit the site and blog something every few days or so. I found a lot of pretty templates online but I'm having trouble downloading what I like so I ended up with a custom blogger template. I also love this one because of its clean breezy look.

I'm still waiting for Buboy to pick me up. I bet he's on his way already coming from his 4:00pm meeting at HighStreet. I'm well fed from our afternoon meryenda so I'm still okay, though I hope he gets here soon. I guess i'll have to busy myself with the internet for now. Oh well..

-chebong

Nanay's birthday

Nanay celebrated her 60th birthday last January 12. We had a simple party for her and invited mostly relatives. Weng, Juvie and I chipped-in for everything. It was fun. Considering that it was a Monday, a lot of people attended and we were up until 2:00am cleaning up.

I wish Nanay happy senior years ahead. We may not be okay most of my adolescent years but I have come to appreciate her and what she’s done for us since I graduated from college. We’re still not that close but I believe our relationship has improved a lot since my younger years. I love her and I know she loves us too. I really hope we can give her good life ahead.

-chebong

Sagada... again

Buboy and I went to Sagada for the second time in 2008, this time with my sister Weng. We were mesmerized and truly captured by the beauty of Sagada and its people when we reached it at the tail of our January 2008 Northern exposure trip that we made a promise to ourselves to go back, and we did! This time our trip there was in the middle of a very long Christmas holiday vacation, thus the place was beaming with tourist, local and otherwise. Even the president (GMA) visited Sagada while we're there.

We went caving again, though instead of the big cave exploration (Sumaging Cave) we opted to try the cave connection. It’s a bit more exciting (not to mention exhausting) as we entered the burial cave and came out of Sumaging cave. It was a 4-hour tour inside the cave but it tested my endurance and patience and I found out I still have enough stamina so it was well worth it. The next day we hiked to the big falls. It was an hour-long hike down a rice terraces. The falls is so majestic and its crystal clear cool water refreshes us after a long hike under the sun. But the hike back up almost crashed all the energy I had left.

The thing that makes us want to go back there over and over again is not only the refreshingly cold mountain air and the striking landscape with all the adventures it brings, but also the Sagadan people who have shown us nothing but warmth and hospitality. Truly Sagada may be considered the last frontier of Luzon.

-chebong