1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Had an advisory class, had my own classroom, etc. Joined a theater musical! Attended a friend's (and not a relative's) wedding.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
What I said last year was, "I'll (hopefully) be more driven. I'll set standards only in reference to myself and not in comparison to others'. I'll be less moody. I'll be more fun." (And that I'l learn how to cook.) Save for the cooking part, I think I'm getting there. :D I have to say, though, that save for certain moments this year, I was happier, I complained less, I'm more self-confident, and I made the most out of what have been offered to me. I've got a long way to go, though, I think.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
Ugh, none. Next year perhaps, or in 2010.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Time to travel.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Hmmm. November 28. Faculty concert. That was one happy day.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Oh I dunno. Being able to submit my students' grades I guess. Haha.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Giving up LitCrit. Wala eh. :p

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Lots of colds and cough, a suspected glaucoma, and laryngitis.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
That bottle of Bailey's for my dad. Hahaha. Also, a pair of dancing shoes.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Everyone! Yay! (As you could see I'm feeling very optimistic at the moment. Haha.)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There's no point in bringing up the past, is there? XD

14. Where did most of your money go?
My new cellphone, food, coffee, Christmas gifts (bawing-bawi naman XD)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Zobel Community Concert.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
"Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. :) Chris Brown's music. "We Go Together" and "Freddy, My Love" from Grease.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
Happier. Sobra.

ii. Thinner or fatter?
Fatter, I think. La nang Fitness First eh. Hihi.

iii. Richer or poorer?
Richer. Yay.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Read books, yes. Wrote stuff other than critical papers.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinated. (I think I might have been the same thing every year.)

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home with my family.

23. How many one-night stands?
Zero :p

24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Big Bang Theory, hands down.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah :D

26. What was the best book you read?
Jorge Luis Borges' Selected Fictions. All those poetry readings.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
David Cook. ♥

28. What did you want and get?
Lots. Hmmm... a new hobby. Tales of Beedle the Bard. Savings.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmmm. The Dark Knight, Kung Fu Panda, and Wall-E.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24. Spent it teaching and then rehearsing with co-teachers. There was also a very late Jollibee dinner.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Trying-hard-to-look-sexy-while-the-weighing-scale-is-protesting fashion.

34. What kept you sane?
Joey. Zobel co-teachers.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Puwede bang si Dr. Ronald Baytan? XD

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
ZTE, Jun Lozada, questions about the politicians' travel budget, the Mindanao clashes, the Pangandamans and the golf course, and basically everything about Gloria.

37. Who did you miss?
Joey. :(

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My students and my new co-teachers. (Talagang walang piniling isa. haha.)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
(1) Stop expecting and just let things, good and bad, happen. (2) Take care of your relationships. What you take for granted may not be there next time. (3) Do more and be more, but know your limits. (4) No matter how crappy teaching can be, it's still the best profession in the world, and you can never exchange it for any other profession and be as happy. (5) Practice makes perfect.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"This is the time of my life."

I'm truly thankful that 2008 came. There were so many opportunities given to me; it's like God knew what I wanted and gave it to me -- not without a real challenge, but I grabbed them anyway, and for that I'm truly thankful. 2008 had its share of really awful moments for me, yes, as in several items in my personal list of Really Awful Moments happened in 2008. I very nearly gave up so many times. But Someone up there pulled me out of it. I really couldn't say I pulled myself out of them; I just woke up one day and realized that everything would be better, somehow. I'm bringing some unresolved problems to 2009, but as Joey would say, I'll simply burn the bridge when I get there.