Leap Second

It’s always hard to say goodbye.

On my October 12, 2007 post entitled “Why Goodbye?“, I laid down my thoughts on saying goodbye, and why I regard it as “the hardest, the most painful and the saddest (also according to Celine Dion’s song) word compiled by the lexicographers”. After that post, series of hellos and goodbyes happened up until the last moments of 2008.

New Year’s Eve became a short yet fulfilling period of reflecting for me, amid the relentless banging. Nostalgia sank into me upon reminiscing the events that happened all throughout the year. It then stirred mixed emotions inside, remembering my wide smiles, twinkling eyes, great laughs and most bitter ocean of tears.

What many people don’t know about me is my tendency to become highly sentimental over things, individuals and events I regard of high value. Looking back and realizing what those things did to me on my eighteenth year in this world, 2008 is indeed my most memorable year to date. That night, saying goodbye to my best year yet was a bit hard. I still don’t want to change 8 into 9. AS IF I CAN DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. LOL. Am I just afraid to turn 19, gradually saying goodbye to my teen years? Presumably there’s something more to that.

I’M FRAGILE, maybe because of my youth, and being at legal age does not mean ample maturity and firmness towards things. Still, I can be provoked and be broken into pieces. Maybe that’s what I’m afraid of, after having reconstructed. Like a child starting to learn walking, a wall tested by time and circumstances would be vital to strengthen my knees.

Thanks for the leap second, I had a breather for 2009. Whatever life will bash on to me, it matters. But it won’t crush me anymore, I hope.

Welcome, 2009! Happy New Year!

Wishlist of an Eighteen-Year-Old Kiddo

Eleven days before Christmas.

Last year, I had my set of wishlist on this blog. Some of those things I’ve wished for came, some don’t. For a fact, I know that everyone has been thinking what to give me this year. Where’s the conceitedness? LOL. Due to changing times, having a new set of wishlist would indeed help you.

YOM’S WISHLIST!

Jacket. I need it badly! It’s cold! Haha. Otherwise, hug me all the time. LOL.

Size: XS
Color/Design: Any (as long as it doesn’t look jologs)
I RECOMMEND: Topman, Folded and Hung, Adidas

Shirts. Yea. I still need shirts as part of my closet overhauling this year. LOL. Want to help me?

Size: XS/S (depending on the boutique. It would be better if I’m with you when you buy. LOL)
Type: Statement, vintage or any type of shirt
I RECOMMEND: Topman, Folded and Hung, Bench, Penshoppe, Human

Jeans. New shirts are useless without another pair of jeans. Faded/whitewashed/caramel-washed jeans are very much welcome.

Size: 28″/29″
Type: Skinny/slim fit. No straight cuts or loose fit jeans, please. Haha.
I RECOMMEND: Folded and Hung, Topman, Human, RRJ

Sneakers/rubber shoes. I’ve been using my sole pair of sneakers for almost a year now, so it should be replaced ASAP. Haha.

Color: White
Size: 8 1/2″-9″
I RECOMMEND: Converse, K-Swiss

Socks. To supplement that pair of shoes, a new set of pair of socks will do. Complete my footwear package.

Color: Black
Type: Foot socks
I RECOMMEND: Brands having quality-made fabrics (I hate Biofresh na!)

—

Having those things mentioned above would be really, really great.

However, that’s way too superficial.

This year has been too challenging for me. On my eighteenth year in this world, I’ve experienced (and still experiencing) some of the best and the worst things so far. The best ones will always uplift me, but the worst ones will surely do the opposite. Knowing that worst stuff will give you a shock, definitely, for it is way too serious for a guy of my age.

I just need your prayers to get through this. That would be the greatest gift.

Resolution 101

SHINNEN OMEDETOU!

Because I couldn’t think of anything to post as of the moment, I decided to click my old blog and see the post that I had last year. Though the post’s concept is quite banal, it has become an inspiration to my post this year.

Now, I’m not going to lay down my resolutions. Instead, I’ll evaluate my last year’s resolutions.

Attending classes regularly. Check! I’ve minimized my absences, especially during the first semester of my sophomore year. I was able to stop my chronic vice of not attending classes if I don’t want to. Finally, the cutting-ero in me is now gone. Haha.

On Punctuality. A big X! Haha. I still come late even if the class starts at 1 P.M.

Loving Math 11. CHECK! I do love Math now! Really! Actually, I have taken more Math units this year, including Math 14 (Plane Trigonometry) and Math 100 (Introduction to Calculus). Fortunately, I didn’t fail these subjects! Hail!

Playing DotA less and saving money. I haven’t played DotA for quite sometime now. However, saving money is still a big problem. Bad money management.

More time for texting, more time for studying and being a Scholar. Only this year that I have realized that these two things [texting and studying] are actually contradictory. Haha. Anyway, it’s fortunate for me to find time for both things, although the effort for the first semester wasn’t enough to become a University Scholar or a College Scholar.

Frequency of making stands on issues and of blogging. This is a big check. Some of my posts tackle issues, specifically political issues, that bug the country. I hope I could continue the practice more often. In the first place, this page won’t be called “The Political Buzzerbeater” if I would remain complacent on things of national importance. Moreover, I’ve been an active blogger this year and it somehow instilled in me a sense of achievement.

I want to thank everyone who have crossed my way, especially those people who didn’t just cross but those who were able to create a quality friendship with me. I’m proud that most of my new confidants were my co-bloggers. I hope to befriend more bloggers.

This year, my resolution is that everyday will become a resolution day. Anyway, who said that resolution-making is only done during New Year?

—

It seems that 2008 will be a great year for me.

I was able to complete the Rooster’s Mass. Most of my wishes were made, including the plain white Havaianas. Hehe. Now, I’m even happier that I started this year with a reconciliation to a person who made my 2007 damn unforgettable.

And my another set of wishlist? Hmm. It was a dream come true.

Misa de Gago

The Advent is about to end this coming Sunday, which means that the preparation for Christmas will end in a matter of days. Yet, I don’t really feel the atmosphere and the attitude peculiar to the Christmas season.

***

Speaking of Christmas season, one of the most notable tradition that we have is the Misa de Gallo. Literally translated as “Rooster’s Mass“, the practice is traced during the Spanish colonial period. The mass was actually intended for Filipino farmers who want to attend the mass but could not leave their fields. Misa de Gallo, in addition, lasts for nine days (December 16 – 24) and is usually another way of preparing for Christmas. There’s this belief that if a person were able to complete it, s/he is guaranteed and privileged to wish.

Waking up early might be a big deal for some, and the so-called Anticipated Mass is crafted. This is, in my opinion, the Simbang Gabi in a literal sense. It starts on December 15 and ends on December 23.

I was in Grade 6 when I was able to complete the Simbang Gabi (the Anticipated Mass). Because of my great desire to pass the Manila Science High School entrance exam, I exhausted every means to gain Divine Intervention! Haha. Every first Thursday of the month has become a novena day to St. Jude Thaddeus in Mendiola, the Patron of the Hopeless Cases. Well, I’m not a hopeless case, for that matter. Lol. In addition to that is the completion of Simbang Gabi. Fortunately, I passed because of my innate intelligence (LOL!) plus the Divine Intervention.

After that completion in 2001, an attempt to have a back-to-back year almost succeeded. Had our family wasn’t scheduled to spend our Christmas in Pangasinan, I could have not missed the last day of mass that year. Attempts to complete the nine-day-tradition became unsuccessful during the past few years.

This year, I’m on my sixth day. That includes the third day which I almost missed! Contrary to 2001, I’m attending the madaling-araw mass. (How conyo! Haha.) Imagine the hardship I am experiencing everyday. WAKING UP EARLY ISN’T MY THING! Yet I’m making my way towards the completion of the Rooster’s Mass.

However, I just want to note some observations regarding the tradition.

Wishlist

Due to excessive boredom being experienced by my still-lazy mind, I browsed my Blogspot page and tried to compare my [Blogspot] posts to my posts on WordPress. My posts here seem to discuss more serious stuff, which I think was just partly done on my Blogspot posts. Politics, in addition, has become more salient here.

Conclusion: I’m getting older, eh?

***

Whew, Christmas is fast-approaching. Colder weather, just like my Christmas. (BITTER?!) Haha. Anyway, enough of that. I just want to make this post a light one.

Are you now experiencing the Christmas shopping rush? Is the thought of giving me something giving you the discomforts? Well, I want to make your life easier by indicating my wishlist here. Haha.