24 is my favorite TV show, a truly gripping, heart-stopping suspense that follows the operations of CTU agent Jack Bauer. 24 is the number of hours in a day. 24 is my birthday; to be exact, the 24th day of the month of March. And 24 is my age at the moment. Before I bid adieu to this age and before I begin my life at 25 which will soon commence (if God wills), I decided to give some pondering on what has transpired over the year I enjoyed being 24.
Last year, I had a birthday that commemorated the death of Jesus Christ and a feast of fish – bulad and bangus, and some veggies and benignit on the side. My only attendees were members of the family. I got no gifts but TONS of greetings – text messages mostly (I just wished each meant P1.00 added to my savings account) and an e-card from a friend in New York. I never really threw out birthday parties. The last one was when I turned twenty-two and second to the last was when I had my debut, and yes, at 18. Following this trend, I’ll have my next birthday bash when I turn 28.
Last year also meant new job, new friends and new challenges for me. On December 2004, 3 months before my birthday, I joined another company, a bigger one. Bigger in the sense that it employs more than 200 individuals, 70% are men, 30% are women. I was quite excited with this new environment – more men, which I assumed would mean, hopefully, more opportunities for getting hitched. A year has passed; I should have realized women tend to overanalyze situations. I am still single, still waiting for Mr, Right to pass by.
New friends. Oh yes. My colleagues in the Finance and Admin Department which comprise 5% of the total population of the company have added to my friends’ list. And I should say I get along with them very well for I reached one year working with them.
New challenges. By midyear, I became an officer in our Toastmasters club. Initially, I was appointed assistant to the VP-Ed. But the VP-PR position got vacant, so the original VP-Ed took it. Naturally, I ascended to the VP-Ed throne. I never realized this was the busiest position until I took my first assignment. I never realized it could be frustrating until members of the club started to get lazy on delivering speeches. Despite all of these, I am glad for the lessons it gave me. I’m indeed very fortunate to have been given this responsibility.
Two of my closest and very good friends and I went on our supposedly dream trip. It wasn’t really to a dream destination but I call it “dream” because when we were young we used to dream about taking faraway trips together. Really together. Never have we thought that our short vacation in Manila was already that dream realized.
I thought that would have completed my life at 24. But somehow the stars have been very kind they granted one impossible wish. My friends and colleagues always tease me about not having a boyfriend, and most of all, not having one since birth. Sometimes it does irritate me and sometimes it makes me desperate. Hopeless romantic, that’s what they call me. And they’d tease me too about never being kissed. Yes, I’ve never been kissed. So what? I retorted but deep inside me yearns to try that, too. Surprisingly, some guy gave me that. He wasn’t my boyfriend, not even some guy interested in me, not even a friend. It happened during a night out organized by my balikbayan friend. I got so drunk, got so wasted and practically threw myself over my friend’s guy friend who I just met that night. And the rest is history. It was just a kiss, mind you. Nothing more than that. So that’s how I got my first kiss. Unforgettable and unromantic. At least though, I got to try it before it might be too late.
One month more to go…I’m going to be 25. Who knows what the remaining days can offer me before I turn 25. But whatever is in store for me, I am excited about it. I just can’t wait to be 25.
Last year, I had a birthday that commemorated the death of Jesus Christ and a feast of fish – bulad and bangus, and some veggies and benignit on the side. My only attendees were members of the family. I got no gifts but TONS of greetings – text messages mostly (I just wished each meant P1.00 added to my savings account) and an e-card from a friend in New York. I never really threw out birthday parties. The last one was when I turned twenty-two and second to the last was when I had my debut, and yes, at 18. Following this trend, I’ll have my next birthday bash when I turn 28.
Last year also meant new job, new friends and new challenges for me. On December 2004, 3 months before my birthday, I joined another company, a bigger one. Bigger in the sense that it employs more than 200 individuals, 70% are men, 30% are women. I was quite excited with this new environment – more men, which I assumed would mean, hopefully, more opportunities for getting hitched. A year has passed; I should have realized women tend to overanalyze situations. I am still single, still waiting for Mr, Right to pass by.
New friends. Oh yes. My colleagues in the Finance and Admin Department which comprise 5% of the total population of the company have added to my friends’ list. And I should say I get along with them very well for I reached one year working with them.
New challenges. By midyear, I became an officer in our Toastmasters club. Initially, I was appointed assistant to the VP-Ed. But the VP-PR position got vacant, so the original VP-Ed took it. Naturally, I ascended to the VP-Ed throne. I never realized this was the busiest position until I took my first assignment. I never realized it could be frustrating until members of the club started to get lazy on delivering speeches. Despite all of these, I am glad for the lessons it gave me. I’m indeed very fortunate to have been given this responsibility.
Two of my closest and very good friends and I went on our supposedly dream trip. It wasn’t really to a dream destination but I call it “dream” because when we were young we used to dream about taking faraway trips together. Really together. Never have we thought that our short vacation in Manila was already that dream realized.
I thought that would have completed my life at 24. But somehow the stars have been very kind they granted one impossible wish. My friends and colleagues always tease me about not having a boyfriend, and most of all, not having one since birth. Sometimes it does irritate me and sometimes it makes me desperate. Hopeless romantic, that’s what they call me. And they’d tease me too about never being kissed. Yes, I’ve never been kissed. So what? I retorted but deep inside me yearns to try that, too. Surprisingly, some guy gave me that. He wasn’t my boyfriend, not even some guy interested in me, not even a friend. It happened during a night out organized by my balikbayan friend. I got so drunk, got so wasted and practically threw myself over my friend’s guy friend who I just met that night. And the rest is history. It was just a kiss, mind you. Nothing more than that. So that’s how I got my first kiss. Unforgettable and unromantic. At least though, I got to try it before it might be too late.
One month more to go…I’m going to be 25. Who knows what the remaining days can offer me before I turn 25. But whatever is in store for me, I am excited about it. I just can’t wait to be 25.
