In 2006, I learned...

This year...

1) I learned that things go beyond your control and sometimes you'll experience one bad luck after another that all you can do is watch each one unfold before you....and that the best way to deal with it is to make yourself as least affected as possible.

2) I learned that a priest is probably not the best person to give advise on marriage...well, at least not the priest from a certain church in Mindanao Ave. who tells the bride and groom that once married, you are not supposed to invoke the right to privacy, you have to be completely open to each other! Sure, spouses have to be open to each other but total loss of privacy? No way! I believe that even though married couples vowed to be "one", they don't really have to share everything. Privacy and having a part of you separate from each other makes the relationship healthier. Well, I can't really blame the priest, he's not married. I remember in one episode of Urban Living, Daphne was showing a Moroccan inspired house with a bathroom that has 2 lavatories opposite each other, and Daphne said "the secret to a happy marriage, separate sinks". If you can afford it, why not? In my case, I'm content with separate closets and separate areas in the dresser.

3) I learned that it's difficult to print a balloon or do any task that requires steady hands while listening to tambalang nicole and cris sa Love Radio. Similarly, ang hirap mag-emote na mataray sa jeep kapag sila ang pinakikinggan. Why? kailangan pa bang imemorize yan? :)

4) I learned that "papampam" means "papansin" and "dyunakis" means "anak", thanks to my dear HS friends.

5) I learned that a single text message can make or break your day.

6) I learned that children are so clever. Once, when Yuan and I are making iced tea, I said to him, "Let's not put ice anymore, malamig naman yung tubig eh"...and he replied "why? it's name is ice tea eh"..oo nga naman...

7) I learned that you have to conquer your fears for your children. The most that I've done to celebrate new year is play with watusi, now I'm lighting piccolos which yuan calls "pansabog". I have yet to gather the courage for theme park rides.

8) I learned that if you want only true friends in your wedding, hold it out-of-town and/or on a weekday! Only true friends will take the inconvenience just to celebrate with you that once-in-a-lifetime event in your life.

9) I learned that it's fun to receive forwarded sms jokes and it's fun to forward them, too as long as naka-unlimitxt ako syempre! :)

10) I learned that people change and I too have changed a lot but having said that, I realized I'm still me in so many ways! hehe, labo. So add ko na yun, I learned na malabo ako! haha

11) I learned that most of us live in the future, not the present. Well, then that's better naman than living in the past.

12) I learned that aging will really get to us sooner or later. Have you ever looked at people older than you and thought "ganyan din kaya itsura ko o katawan ko pag tanda?" Well, this year I've done that many times.

13) I learned that I don't like Shakey's anymore and that I still love the tacos in Pancake House.

14) I learned na kaya ko ring mag-two-piece, kapalan lang ng mukha yan! hehe

15) I learned that paradise is not a place but an experience. :)

Happy New Year! I hope it'll be a better one for all of us! :)