What I’ve Learned (2011)

A collection of random thoughts for the year that was.

-Love is beyond my comprehension - and perhaps any other’s. I’d like to think I’ve been in love, once maybe, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt it back, in the romantic sense at least. It’s something I need to experience before I die. It’s been on top of my bucket list for the longest time now.

-The lack of a father figure has resulted to a (subconscious) frustration to find one. And more often than not, I confuse the fraternal relationship with beyond-the-normal kind of romance. At this point, I no longer know what I want.

-The type trend for this year has focused more on a younger demographic. The (critical) teenage dream type. Hopefully this is just a phase.

-The greatest discovery of the year is an unexpected love that blossomed FOR Singapore. T’was my first time to travel there this year and I must say I very much enjoyed my stay (with a special thanks to my bosses.) The only regret I have is not having gotten the full name of the Singaporean boy I met at the conference we attended. It would’ve been awesome to have made a new friend there. Hi Ben! 

-I don’t get why some people treat their work like it’s prison. Remember the day when you were actually giddy enough to get in the company - that’s right, remember when you actually got your ass to apply? Yeah, so don’t make it sound like you were coerced to do whatever it is you’re doing right now.

-Tyra probably said it best when she said “perfect is boring, human  is beautiful.” At the same time, I’d like to think that a seemingly perfect human is perhaps also the most flawed. I’m no longer surprised whenever the most fucked up person I know (at first glance) ends up being one of my best friends.

-The iPad is now officially one of my most favorite inventions of all time. It’s made me fall in love with the one thing I’d never thought I’d actually like - reading.

-Interestingly, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of buying “real” books and magazines.

-Common themes seem to exist in the films (both old and new) I’ve seen this year: infidelity and unconventional horror. Should I take this as a sign for future plans?

-I think it’s about time I get another job, a side job that is. I feel like taking writing more seriously as of late. I honestly would like to try my hand at expressing myself in a more controlled environment, should any magazine/newspaper/reputable website trust me.

-People who are genuinely interested to listen to other people’s stories deserve tremendous respect. I don’t think there’s a lot of people like that nowadays.

-Whenever something good happens in my career, my personal life gets fucked up. I don’t know why but I’ve been believing this since day one at work.

-If I were a girl, I’d probably be annoying and/or slutty. So thank God for letting me be who I am now.

-I will never get tired of writing, making and watching romantic films no matter what other people say.

-Australia’s Next Top Model is 1,000,000x better than the rest of Tyra’s franchises, including her own.

-I still believe I have what it takes to win Survivor.

-Life shouldn’t be treated like a game of Survivor.

-According to Mike Leigh’s “Another Year”, there are two kinds of people in the world - those who lead perfect lives, making the world go around and the sad, needy ones who just fuck everything up. At least that’s the impression I got.

-The Tree of Life is hands down my most favorite film of the year. Never thought an intergalactic sequence with almost no dialogue could ever bring me to tears.

-Zombadings Part 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington is the best Pinoy film I’ve seen this year so far. Martin Escudero should be a superstar now.

-My personal soundtrack for 2011: songs from The xx, Balance and the Traveling Sounds, Allen Stone, Toro y Moi, Foster the People, Smashing Pumpkins, Coldplay, Johnoy Danao, Up Dharma Down, Techy Romantics, Taken by Cars, Katy Perry, and surprisingly, Rihanna. That being said, I need to figure out where that hopeless place is, so I can finally find love.

-The one thing I will probably miss most is my dog Princess who died last November.

-The best days I’ve had this year were the ones I’ve spent in Singapore, Friday Fat Club nights and summer days with uhm, someone I almost fell in love with.

-The most painful experience I’ve had this year can perhaps be summed up in one word: deceit.

-Nostalgia is an unnecessary pain in the ass.

-The best gift you can ever give to anyone is yourself. As ridiculously cheesy as that sounds.

-2011 in general has been a very depressing year - in relation to my personal life at least, with all the losses and whatnot. 2012 is looking to be a very challenging year, both personally and professionally. But I’d gladly take on big challenges than broken promises any damn day. That’s for sure.