What a year! Last February 2017, I wrote about the things I needed to take to heart for the year. 2016 was such a weird and difficult year for me. I felt like 2017 should be redemption and purpose! And so it was. But before that difficult year-end essay which may or may not be written, let me share the highlights of 2017 through a photo/diary entry!
J A N U A R Y
The first trip of the year on the tail-end of January turned out to be Mt. Pinatubo. Pinatubo is an active volcano located in Central Luzon. Pinatubo's eruption in 1991 is the second largest eruption of the 1900s. Anyway, I went to Pinatubo with friends thinking that it would be easy enough to conquer. We had a 4X4 ride from the jump off point and about an hour to an hour and a half trek to the crater. It was cold and drizzling. The 4X4 ride was a ridiculous riot and was probably the most exhausting part of it all. Once we came back from the trip, we could barely walk, we were grimy from the combination of dust and rain, and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed. But it was worth it! Probably better if you go on days with no rain to see the crater clearly.
I started the year with every intention of going back to school. I took an undergraduate psych class required for the board exam earlier in the year. I sent my application for graduate studies in psychology as well as submitted requirements for the Law Aptitude Exam (LAE)! So January was my first month back in UP! 🤓
F E B R U A R Y
February was such an artsy month for me (I didn't ~make~ anything, I just supported local art haha). I went to Tagaytay Art Beat - an art and music festival at Museo Orlina. Local indie acts were lined up and local artists also exhibited (and sold) their work. Tagaytay was extra cold even in February.
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| @artbyvalerieharley |
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| @kurumilloart |
The day after we caught the Sa Wakas Rock Musical at the Power Mac Center in Circuit Makati. Sa Wakas was a pinoy rock musical that featured the songs of Sugarfree. The musical is your typical pinoy romantic comedy: boy meets girl, falls in love, meets another girl, falls in and out of love, may or may not be in that order. What sets it apart is how the story is told and how Sugarfree's songs aptly capture the roller coaster ride that are romantic relationships.
The LAE was scheduled on February 19. And this girl went to the Art Fair Philippines at the Link Carpark a couple of days before the exam. Here are some of my favorites from the fair:
And then, went to the Escolta Block Party the night before exam day!! I just wanted to know what's up and feel the scene. I haven't gone back to Escolta after that adventure, but I'd be sure to go again this year! Anyway, I took the LAE the day after but felt that I wouldn't pass. I didn't prepare for the exam AT ALL! Of course I left Malcolm that day feeling sad that I let the opportunity get away from me.
Oh, and I also joined a book club this month! 👯👯👯 I found the book club through a Facebook event, got an e-mail, and met amazing women!
M A R C H
March was Majo's 69th birthday. 💖💖💖 We call our grandmother Majo. I was the first grandchild in the family. When I was born, my grandmother was pretty young then. She didn't want to be called "Lola" or any iteration of the word. 😊
March was also when the much-awaited ANG BANDANG SHIRLEY ALBUM LAUNCH happened!!! It always warms my fragile heart when I hear the audience sing the songs of the band playing. And at Shirley gigs, this always happens. 🎵💓 Incidentally, this was also Selena's last gig with the band. 😔 Glad I took the time to see them play their new and old songs together!!
Sidenote: Later in the year, a Twitter thread shook the local music scene: some bands were exposed of their predatory behaviors and assault/harassment allegations surfaced. Members of Shirley issued a statement here denying predatory behavior and sexual abuse insinuations while reflecting on how their words and their behavior sometimes make others uncomfortable or how they maybe even found offensive. I appreciate how they owned up to how their behaviors unchecked contributes to the larger culture of toxic masculinity and that they're taking this seriously!
A P R I L
We kicked the month of April off with a staycation! And then checked out Art in the Park in Salcedo Village mid-April.
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| Finally met Felix aka Ramon HAHAHA :) |
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| 💘 |
M A Y
2nd quarter ganappe with college friends happened to be in La Union! We took a roadtrip up north, ended up sleeping in the care cos we arrived at 4am at our hotel. Nobody went surfing. We arrived on a Sunday, the aftermath of the Labor Day parties in LU. When we ate at Flotsam, they didn't even have beer to serve to us.
I also got to eat at Izakaya Kikufuji this month for a friend's send-off to Japan! On lolo's birthday (May 23), we went on a staycation at the Henry Hotel in Manila! There will be a whole other post on that. I loved that hotel and I'd like to come back maybe next time without my siblings in tow. On the 27th, we celebrated my aunt's birthday at Tien Ma's in Makati. And on the same day, Shannen and I checked out Lopez Museum and attended a lecture about Escolta! AND!!! Remember how I applied for graduate school in January?? I got accepted! There's more!! I was informed that I qualified for the interview for law school! Nakakaloka ang life! 😂
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| LU Crew! |
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| Inarte at the Lopez Museum |
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| Staycation with the family at the Henry Hotel in Manila 💖💖💖 |
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| Grad school!!! |
J U N E
In June, I attended my first wedding as an adult! This was also the year I got cast in a play as a lead! We had our headshots taken for the promotion materials this month! I got interviewed for a new job opportunity, too. Also, I ended up not going to the law school interview. I woke up early on the day of the interview and just felt like I didn't have to go. Law school used to be THE DREAM for me. I always thought I'd be walking the halls of Malcolm. But somewhere along the way, I let that dream go. It wasn't as important to me anymore. And I had to tell myself that it's okay, your dreams can change.
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| Photoshoot BTS: CE Pablo and his OA collar bones! |
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| Post-photoshoot look ahahahaha |
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