I saw this survey from my friend Mahal's site, and thought this is a good way to summarize and share what has happened to me in 2008... and a good "start-up" blog for 2009...;)

So here goes:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Well let's see... *thinking* Starting with the "BIG" things... *thinks again* the only one I can think of is when I took a BIG career risk and worked abroad.. I'm cautious by nature, and what I did last March was like jumping off a cliff w/o any idea what's waiting for me down there... luckily, it worked well for me...:)

Some "minor" stuff: snorkeling (yes, sad to say ngayon lang ako nag-try), photography (which I'm REALLY loving.. cympre before naman nagta-take na ako ng pictures, pero ngayon lang w/DSLR at sasadyain pa talaga para lang mag-shoot!), finishing a 10km marathon (yeah i did it!), paying my own rent (nyahaha!!). ;) etc. etc. etc....

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Hmmm.. I can't remember if I made any... ehehe... For this year.... Maybe I'll try to make one or two...;)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My bestfriend Debby and highschool friend Jedda.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My lolo Tatang.:'(

5. What countries did you visit?
Singapore (obviously, hehe!) and Malaysia.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Patience?...:P More focus and discipline..;) more self confidence... MONEY!.. ahaha!!!:)

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

March 14 - the day I went to SG.
March 31 - my first day at work in SG.
October 27 - Rawa Malaysia trip..;)
December 7 - Standard Chartered Marathon

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hmmm.. Finding a good job here in Singapore and learning a LOT sa work ko in a short period time.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to save.. BUT, in all fairness, I believe that it's all money well spent!;)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yikes!!! I can honestly say that in my 20-something yrs.(;)), 2008 is the year I got sick the most number of times!!:( Pero nothing serious naman..:)

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmmm... a LOT!.. ehehe.. But the one thing I love the most is probably the TV we have in our room and TFC!!!:) LOL!! What can I say, i'm a TV-addict!:)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mahal, Anthony - I'm happy to see how he's improved in handling his finances..;) And for all the support and love and commitment he's shown me this year, esp. since I arrived here in Singapore.

My sister, Jasmin - Living with her here in Singapore for almost a year now... she has taken care of me more than I took care of HER.. ehehe.. Plus, what happened to her the last qtr of 2008 is WAAAAY FAR from being easy, but i'm just D_MN PROUD of her for handling it well... (love you sis!)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine?..*blush* I'm still a spoiled pwincess...:P

Some guy I just recently found out SOBRANG ibang iba pala sa pagkakakilala ko.. what an A$@!#*#!!... masasabi ko lang sa kanya, bilog ang mundo... what goes around, comes around!..

Well, of course being in a different country, esp. one like Singapore where ang daming variety of people (w/ different religion, different culture as ours).. There are a few I come across na talagang nakakapang-gigil sometimes.. ehehe..

14. Where did most of your money go?
waaaaah!!..*blushes* Techy gadgets... Food... Shopping... Family...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My Mac.. but then, until now I still don't have ALL the programs I need installed, so naiinis na rin ako.. ehehe... I can't enjoy it as much as I wanted to, kasi wala pa akong program that handles MS Office docs...:(

Having a new room - i enjoy decorating rooms. My sister and I loved buying bedsheets, tables, etc. Like I've said so many times, I'm a homebody.. I just LOVE hanging out in my bedroom so I try to make it as pretty and comfy for me...

Going home to Phils for Christmas! - missed my family and friends so much!... Plus of course I was excited to tell them my news!;)

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Ehehe!! Cyempre David Cook's "Always Be My Baby"!!;) Saying I'm impressed with his version is an understatement!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? Definitely HAPPIER!!!

richer or poorer? BWAHAHAHA!!.. I dunno.. I guess it depends on how you look at it...;) I'd say richer kahit ZERO savings ako.. ahaha!!

thinner or fatter? waaaaaah!! I think I'd say more or less the same lang... no big difference.. *whispers* sana.... ahahaha!!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
SAVE!...:P Blog!.. Exercise!!!... AHAAHA!!!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Shop!!..:P Being paranoid and overly conscious of what other people say/think....:(

20. How did you spend the holidays?
Since we flew back to Phils on Christmas day, half of it was spent at the airport and inside the plane.. Then my family just had a VERY late lunch at a Japanese restau in Bluewave. Didn't really like the food, but I enjoyed catching up with my brother and sister.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Hmmmm.. I'd say yes, but with the same man..:) Having a long distance relationship and a "normal" bf-gf relationship is SO MUCH different... Since being here in Singapore, I get to spend most of my free time with him.. And I guess we can both say we've learned a LOT MORE about each other... And it's made our relationship stronger.. It's faaaar from perfect... but everything I learned about him, everything we've been thru, just made us love and accept each other so much more...

22. How many one-night stands?
DUH!..

23. What were your favorite TV programs?
Nyahaha!!! I think this is the year I spent the most number of hours watching TV shows!!..:P
TARA3, American Idol, Heroes, Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl, Prison Break, Grey's Anatomy, 24, The Contender Asia, and marami pang TFC soaps!..;)

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
HATE is a strong word... Parang I don't want to give him THAT much emotion naman.. *evil laugh* Let's just put it at nainis ako, then tapos na... good luck na lang sa KARMA.. bwahaha!!

25. What were the best books you've read?
hmmm...*thinks REALLY hard* just my usual romance novels that I can't recall anymore.. ehehe!!

26. What was your favorite film of this year?
hmmm...*thinks again* Can't really say FAVORITE ko sila.. But I enjoyed watching it:

TWILIGHT (I watched the movie first kasi before I read the book kaya I enjoyed it pa), Made of Honor, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Iron Man, Highschool Musicale, 21, The Incredible Hulk, Sex & the City, Mama Mia, The Dark Knight, Eagle Eye, Transformers, Step Up 2, Vantage Point, Definitely Maybe.

And watched sa VCD ni Jajah: A Very Special Love!;)

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
A definite downgrade, as Jajah reminds me too many times...:( I used to wear shoes with heals all the time.. and kinda girly girly style.. now dahil madalas ang lakad (as in walking) dito in SG, slippers(flats) na lang ako... and usually shirt and shorts/pants na lang ang outfit ko.. Plus of course I was only able to bring here some of my clothes from PH.

28 Whom did you miss?
Of course my family and friends in PH!:'(

29. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a LOT of new people... But cympre I'm most happy to have met Anthony's friends here in SG.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I guess I've known these before pa, pero I can say na in 2008 ko talaga sila "napatunayan" kumbaga.. That there are things in life that are worth the risks involved... And that as long as you think positive and have faith in God, you'll succeed..

31. What was your greatest musical discovery?
dunno....

32. What did you want and get?
A job here in Singapore!:)

33. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
turned 20-something...;) On my birthday, my sister, Anthony and I watched the worst movie (for me) I've seen for 2008... Wag na natin banggitin ang title!. ahaha!! libre naman so buti na lang! AHAHAHA!! Then the next day (also our anniv), had a birthday (karaoke) party at my bestfriend's (jajah) flat.

34. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
hmmmm..*thinks again*

My first thought would be NOTHING. I LOVE 2008! I think it was a great year for me...

Then as an afterthought, maybe if it ended as great for the people I care most about, I'd be happier..

35. What kept you sane?
my mahal keeps me both sane AND insane!.. nyahaha!!!;) And my faith in God.

36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
hmmm... Patrick Dempsey..?

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: