On 2008

JANUARY- Mom celebrated her 70th birthday. Bunso and me bought mom what she was dreaming for her whole life. An oven. She was very happy. She kept on talking to her friends about it. This year, mom's not home. We miss her. We love her. When she gets home by March, the gas tank is next. Right Bunso? hehehe. Also, Daye's 26th Birthday. I love her too. Tried to make a career move too by enrolling for IELTS review class.

FEBRUARY- Became a Godfather to the son of my very best bud, Sachiyo Ivan Soyao a.k.a Nino. A very cute kid. Nice work kuya. Hope I do good someday too hehehehe.

MARCH- Celebrated my 30th birthday at seaside with friends. Eating galore. Everybody was filled to the brim. Then, had a singing session at Music Match. One of my best birthdays ever. Dad also bought a laptop for me. Thanks dad. I hope I have the best 31st birthday ever again this year.

APRIL- My sister passed the bar exams. Am proud of her. Faith and determination carried her to success. I love her. Joined two basketball leagues. I really love the game. Although I am not the player I was when I was younger, I proved to myself I still have game. Got nine three-pointers in 1 game to prove it. hehehehe. I hope I get to play some more. I just love basketball.

MAY- Tita Sonia went home after a long long time. She went home to be with lola. Got new shirts. I was happy hahahaha.

JUNE- Tita's husband followed tita home. Went to Baguio City to take my IELTS cum vacation. I had fun. It had been a while since I had been to Baguio and the change in scenery was very good for me. I felt refreshed when I came back.

JULY- Got an 8.0 in my IELTS. Was happy. Now, what should I do with it? That is the question. Lola got hospitalized again. But she recovered real good. Tension in the house was brewing. Bummer. Bunso and me are caught in the middle. Was sad.

AUGUST- Mom left for the states amidst the tension. Daye and me tried to fix things. Somehow, everything was pacified for the meantime. Played ball again against the nurses at work. Of course the doctor's won, I am on that team. :)

SEPTEMBER- Dad's 60th. Gave him shorts hahaha..shorts with few pockets...just like what he ordered. Welcome to the senior citizens club dad hehehe

OCTOBER- Traditionally, this month has not been good to me and this year was no exception. October 2008 has got to be ranked as 1 of the worst months I ever had my entire life. It rocked me to the core.

NOVEMBER- Smarting from October, buried myself with work. Got to start posting again on my blog and for the first time in 5 years, I think I missed our alumni homecoming in high school. I also got rear-ended by a jeepney. Was not hurt but my car was. November was a pretty bad month, but relatively better than October.

DECEMBER- The year is ending. Wallet is drained. It has been peaceful at home and somehow, I am happier. I think finally things are looking up. I hope this carries over to the new year.

You see, 2008 has been an up and down year for me. It was filled with joy and pains alike. But I am thankful I am alive. And to those people who made 2008 the way it was for me, thank you very much. I came out of it, a better man.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

On Surnames

Again, feeling bummed to the core here at home, I was left with no option but to check what's new in my own little blog world and voila!!! inspiration struck.

As I was reading the blog of my sister's ever loyal friend, Nysa and seeing how proud she was of her brother, also a good friend, Jan Argy, I can't help but be proud of them both, my sisters and me. Why? You see, besides the fact that we share a friendship, albeit mine not that close with these two (Jan and Nysa), we share a lot more. We share the same surname.

TOLENTINO.

Yes, every letter of it. And I am proud of this fact. The five of us are all college graduates who have found some measure of success despite the odds we were up against. We persevered and toiled during our college years to achieve what we have now. We are not rich people but it did not hinder us from dreaming and reaching for whatever we could grab. Because of this, we are able to hold our head up high, proud of the fact that we somehow, did all right.

We are not perfect. I am yet to fulfill my plans of going into residency. Kaye has yet to still find her niche abroad. Bunso although happily in love ( awooo! awoo! awoo!) has yet to find her happiness career-wise. Jan, well, I don't know what he lacks (is there anything?) and Nysa, still searching for the love of her life ( I sincerely do hope I am wrong for your sake heheheh).We are not perfect, yes, I am quick to point that out. But, somehow, I feel we did our part to make this world a better place and we would continue to do so for as long as we can. And we will forever make the people who love us goddamn proud...

For Santa....

Since I just stayed at home today and ran out of programs to watch on TV, I decided maybe it's time I add on my very limited collection of blog posts. Besides, it has been a while since I posted something. Inspiration just did not strike me again...well, at least not until today.

You see, I just opened up my sister's blog page (anneclaudette.blogspot.com) and after reading her love story posted on-line (kudos to you sister!!!) filled with every bit of melodrama that can be found from here to Timbuktu, I noticed that she already had her Christmas wish list and I thought, what a good idea.

So I decided to do my own little wish list. I know I would be lucky to get just even 1 of the items on my list but, what the heck, it's Christmas and wishing (and believing) that somehow, Santa would find a way to put these gifts under my Christmas Tree is not only for the kids but also, for the kids-at-heart.

So here it goes...

1. A new Ipod (mine"s busted... sigh).
2. An original Lacoste shirt, size 6.
3. An adidas jacket.
4. A magic potion that can rid of my illness...sigh....
5. A round trip ticket to the US for me, little babs and my dad... we miss mom terribly.
6. A nice smelling perfume.
7. A Vista premium software.
8. A nice long-sleeved polo shirt.
9. A new basketball.
10. Some peace around the house.
11. A paper currency of another country.
12. 13th month pay!!!!
13. A nice cabinet for my room.
14. A nice computer rack.
15. A nice swivel chair.
16. Original Copies of House MD and Grey's Anatomy.
17. An all access pass to ASAP hahahaha...
18. The recipe of tuttu de mare pasta from Don Henricos.
19. A nice theme for my cellphone as I can't install the themes I download...bummer.
20. And...the winning combination to a P200M lotto draw...hay... hay...

There you go...Santa's got his work cut out for him hehehehe.

Merry Christmas!!!