2010 is a very eventful year for me. Una, I was sent to Beijing for a 2-month extended business trip. Dito ko naranasan mabuhay mag-isa, to take care of myself and show to my foreign colleagues what I am capable of. Dito ko rin na experience ang SNOW! Na nakakahiya man aminin, I tried touching outside my apartment and people are actually staring at me as if I am baliw or something. LOL. Laking pasasalamat ko, nandun sa Beijing si Michele (Bangayan) para samahan ako sa mga tourist spots at kay Rainy para gumimik. Those two months were some of the best memories I will ever have.
After my Beijing stint, I started preparing for my marathon (NY). Dito, nakilala ko ang ilan sa mga taong nung una akala ko mga magiging mga casual friends ko lang but it turns out naging friends din talaga kami along the way. Thanks to Tin for introducing me to Iah, Kap. Tere, Kaye, Macky, Jan, Smacky, Jerry, Mari and the rest of the Thank God It's Sunday peeps. I became a part of the Team BR din where I met Madame and Sir Jovie plus the pool of TBR Elites who guided me too sa aking training. Kayo ang naging instrumento sa katuparan ng pangarap kong New York marathon.
During this year, naging masaya din for me kasi a very deserving lady by the name of Maria Venus Raj made it to the finals of Miss Universe. Masaya ako na nakasama ako sa journey ni Venus from the time na nakilala namin siya at kung nasaan man siya ngayon. Naaalala ko pa yung mga cheap thrills namin like eating out pag may training and just making fond of just about everything. Isang malaking congrashuleyshuns to Venus for making us, her Aces and Queens family proud.
By the last quarter of the year, naging hectic na ang schedule ko. I got a new role in the office as a regional resource. It is like learning everything from square 1. And to add to that, nagtransition pa ako from my original role. It was hard, tough and at times, emotionally draining. But at the end of the day - sabi nga ni Veejay sakin, mas maganda nang busy ka, kaysa hindi. Kasi pag di ka busy, wala ka nang work. Thanks to Anne for helping me out on my new role.
During this time, kailangan ko na din lumipad to the US for my marathon. I didn't really got the chance to prepare much kasi I was so busy. Dumating na yung day ng flight ko na hindi ko man lang napapansin. When I was in the airplane, narealize ko lang bigla na YES, pupunta nga ako ng Amerika. I was really looking forward in seeing my friends and my family na most of them, hindi ko pa nakikilala in person. Thanks so much to Boom and Darcy for accommodating my stay in the US. Salamat din kay Mikee (+Boom) for supporting me sa marathon. It is really great to see familiar faces pag nandun ka na sa point na ayaw mo nang tumakbo at narating mo na yung sukdulan ng fatigue. Salamat sa inyo.
The NYC marathon must have been the highlight of my 2010. It is a good summary of what I have become. First, bilang independent na tao na kayang sumuporta sa financial implications ng travelling abroad. Second, its a culmination of a long journey of training. During the training, madami akong nasacrifice like gimik times, kain (because of proper diet), time with family and friends and some other small bits of event that could have affected my life. When I posted my photos of the marathon here in FB, the comments are overwhelming and I felt proud of what I have achieved. Sa lahat ng mga taong sumuporta, maraming salamat po.
Pag balik ko from the US, I faced more challenges. Dito na magtatake effect ang new role ko, mag bibirthday na din ako saka magpapasko. Along with all these happenings, it just felt right to be on my own. I decided to move out of the house and live alone. At first, may resistance from my parents but then, wala naman talaga silang choice. I need to build my life. I rented a condo and started with just a bed and a fan. It was fulfilling, lonely at times pero sobrang exciting. Salamat sa mga kaibigan ko specially to Herbert and Nelson who were there for me during this time.
2010 is indeed on heck of a year from me. Looking back in December 2009, I was wondering who and what I will be in December 2010. I now have the answer. A person who is stronger, fitter, determined and excited what the future holds. Looking forward to another review of my life pag dating ng December 2011. Ano na kaya susunod? Magkaka ** na kaya ako? What do you think Kent?
Again, sa lahat ng taong nakasama ko ngayong 2010, maraming salamat for being there through my journey. Kita kits sa 2011 ha!