Current mood:	nostalgic
Current music:	Buffy - Walk through the fire
Entry tags:	christmas '08, epic, life, milestone, rowing

Once more with feeling.
It's that time of the year again, dawn of a new era. I have to say, 2008 has been really a good year for me, phenomenally so. Not everything was perfect, but through all the ups and downs, I've had the time of my life. Finally felt like I've done something epic, as I look back upon a year in review, I realize I got the opportunity to take part, or be part, in things I never thought possible for me--prior to getting to do them that is. Brief rundown, let's see; conquered a sport, became the captain of said sport, kept up with a great team, lost a bit of weight (245 to 19x right now: 50 pounds!) and the fact that I'm still here with the same people year after year, that's definitely something to sing about. It's been a great year and just like last year's entry, this is going to be epic long. Cheers!




January 14, 2008. Parle à ma main.

The start of it all; our first La Mesa training day, way back when we had the idea of going to Malaysia as an eights crew. Originally it was me, Jeff, Enc, Ari, Fona, Miguel, Chino and Jason but the worst things got the best of people. It was a shame, we could've cleaned up but some people can only go so far. People break, we've learned this the hard way. So as captain, one of my goals is to make sure this doesn't happen to bring a strong Men's 8 crew--seven months from now.

February 4, 2008. MNML.



A-ha, the first fitness test. One of the most physically grueling things on earth, separates the boys from the ladies, and the men from the boys. It truly is amazing to see how far we've come.

February 8, 2008. Done like dinner.







Well this was fun, French dinner out with one of our teachers in Ateneo avec Patsy, Berta, Cristina and the rest of my class. School at this time was fun, I learned a lot. From Dr. Corrado's supranationalism to Mr. Tirol's epic history lessons. Great teachers I would say, made for a good semester.

March 1, 2008. Warmest regards.

Had fun rereading this post, talks about achievements and how I had none at the time. How time changes things, no? It's amazing. Anyway;



Check it out, the time I got on the 3k there is 11:17.6 as opposed to the time I got a month ago, 10:45.9. Compare Fona's old score to his new 11:44.6 and Jeff's 11:16.5. Ari's not on here as he did not make the fitness test last month, something family came up. Silly guy, too bad.

March 9, 2008. The smell of blood carries very far.





I look different, haha hullo veronca. Athlete's night with the team (quite the different team), the night I won Most Valuable Player (MVP) unexpectedly and Ari got Rookie of the Year or ROY as we say. In my phone his number still reads "AriROYmvp" and Fona's is still "Lord Fona", they changed it themselves and I don't know why I still haven't changed it. Werd.

March 23, 2008. L'art de vivre.



The art of living, whaaat. Trip to Tali, just like every year, with the cousins. Fun as usual, I miss Tali, the cliff, the sand and the sea. I miss the beach actually.

April 4, 2008. School hard.



Summer 2008 just started and we had the last of the Fitness tests. Great picture, fun times. The start of History 165 and Spanish 1, training was starting to pick up right around here and it was fun, as usual.

May 11, 2008. It felt just like, a heart attack.



Hanging out with Anna revoltish, Glen, Mollie and Marco in Petron. Nothing special, this date just marked the day we finally got back to La Mesa after quite some time. Training had picked up, too much fun.

May 23, 2008. Latins do it better.



Summer school had rounded about finished, I got my license (and subsequently lost it) around this time also. Two months to go till the first Malaysian competition and we were starting to feel the pressure, haha most days would be spent rowing in the morning and spending the next four hours (a total of eight hours, some days) with the same people; namely, Enc, Ari, Jeff and Fona. From the random (lanshop) to the completely bizarre (stuck ourselves inside a tiny sauna in Fitness First), it was always interesting and each single day made me look forward to the next. Fun times.

June 18, 2008. Play now.







That's better, taken from a string of parties. Both Caria's iyakitty_yak and Ryc's traffictrauma parties.

July 20, 2008. Big bad.



Lunch out with my lovelies, hahaha Berta, Patsy and Tata shootreloadroar. It was fun aye. Also;







Results of the photoshoot with Scott Kho, back in the original formation of Enc, Jeff, Martin, Ari and Fona on the single. First Malaysian configuration, this was terribly near our first competition and we were kind of ready. Lots of drama, don't want to elaborate anymore but all you need to know is we've gone past it all.

August 11, 2008. Bronzed. and August 12, 2008. The eve of the war.







The day we got back from Malaysia, two days prior to my birfday. We got bronze and got so much darker, hence the title. Met a ton of people from Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan. It was a learning experience to say the least, mistakes we've all learned to chalk up to the lack of experience. We've learned from it now, we're better because of it. This was one of the most trying things I've ever experience, well looking back now it shouldn't have been that big of a deal. It taught me things about teamwork, about catching someone else and having someone else there to catch you back.

One of the better and lighter things from the competition, the PAPAYA dance we did onstage;



Too funny. Oh this was also the post where I commit to ultimate fitness, haha no steps in the past two weeks have brought me anywhere closer to this goal.

August 18, 2008. Trust is the name of this game.







Didn't have a party this year, brought Lola cake to school and ate at the steps. Gossip girl style, whaaat. Ginno sjorovare makes an appearance for the first time. This was also the time I've stepped up as the captain (due to a turn of events) and the establishment of the fact that we were going back to Malaysia to redeem ourselves. The doubles (Arev and Dada), the Women's fours (Liane, Ingrid, Didi and Nic) and then the five of us guys. Pretty big stuff, and I think we've all done well for ourselves.

August 23, 2008. It is go time.



Priceless. Jedi moment with the keys falling into the lake. What can I say, I had to act fast and save everyone. Can't say the same for my glasses though haha.



September 5, 2008. Fisticuffs.







Hahaha surprised Mollie at her house, gee I miss my color. I can't believe I turned pale again, ghastly so. Not exactly white, but pale. I hate it. I miss the sun.

September 22, 2008. Lion's den.





Tea party at Mollie's for her 20th! Had an awesome time. Crew right about this time was already building momentum, the doubles, both fours and Enc's single. It was very exciting at this point.

September 27, 2008. À l'infini.



My blockmate Gabby gabd died. It was sad, he quoted that from my journal and it was only when he passed away that I somewhat understood. I don't know but I miss him. Sad.

October 8, 2008. Lionized.



The end of first semester with Anna revoltish in school. The end of the nightmare for me.



First inspiration board I've made--real life interpretation of any of these things? 0%. I should make another one!

October 13, 2008. La guerre.





Lame party with great friends, always a plus. This was the eve of our round two in Malaysia, I was giddy with excitement!



The last row, as it was. Permasocks for the win!

October 21, 2008. Nothing says sexy like silver.,
October 27, 2008. A message to my crew.,
November 5, 2008. Mischief managed. and
November 23, 2008. Both wide awake and dreaming of yesterday.







I don't think there's anything else that can be said about this, except that I miss it deeply. I miss the dinner table conversations, all I remember is the lot of us spent the entire time talking and laughing our heads off and it's sad because I'm trying to recall exactly what I was saying and I'm coming up with blanks. Best trip of my life thus far, traveling with a team is something else. I miss the races, I miss the hotel, I miss the goofing off on the bus, I miss the rigging, I miss the curry, I miss the people. Definite motivation for this year, 2009, I'll see you again Malaysia.



The Singaporeans we met, estranged love connections gone awry hahaha. Aw.



Aw reading my message to the crew, that was some sentimental stuff. I meant every word. Le sigh.

October 23, 2008. Top hat.







Back to October! Swimming at Mollie's, good times! Say hello to my massive tan line, all thanks to the Malaysian sun. Good times though.

November 2, 2008. Iron terror.



Team building at Tagaytay, Miguel's house. Fun stuff, learned how to enjoy alcohol that night. Seriously, did a few dares and had a blast. Next time again!

November 8, 2008. Snack attack, motherfucker.







Fona's birthday guys' night out at Spiral and Absinthe. Great night out, I had so much fun. He treated us the entire way, boy knows how to have fun and got some of us drunk. Okay, come to think of it, it was just me and Ari gee. I had fun screaming, I miss this. Needs a repeat!

November 21, 2008. Sour cherry.



Had a cookout at Ingrid's house, I made potato soup a.k.a Vichyssoise for the team and it was awesome. After, had a small get together at Ryc's house for Anna's revoltish 20th. Fun times, dress as your favorite fad. Both Anna and I came in hippie headbands, very scene.

November 30, 2008. Musette.



Extribe experience! Kept time and helped out for a 10k running race way out in Subic. Learning experience, submerged into organized chaos I'd say.

December 1, 2008. Fou et tellement evident.

Finally December, the last month! Anyways, ever since we got back from Malaysia, it was straight back to the water for us. La Mesa dam in fact, and this day marks our last row there. We're back to Pasig, it sucks. Sigh, all in due time I guess. We'll be back there.

December 9, 2008. Everyone wants to kill the unicorn.







The recent fitness test with the newbies and all that. I'm confident in this crew, these are the boys we're taking to Malaysia next. Should be fun, it's going to be awesome.

December 25, 2008. Out of phase.







All too recent, Merry Christmas and the annual dinner with the MahGalz at Ryc's traffictrauma house. Added Ari to the mix, at Jhonel and Mich's request. Too bad Ginno sjorovare couldn't make it. Had much fun, as usual. Can't wait for next year's theme. This year it was Sin, not so obvious with me haha.

December 28, 2008. Dubloons, don't drop them.







Borja clan lunch during Christmas day! Aw, this was epic. I missed my Mom but that's what this video is for;



December 31, 2008. Turn to slave but can't be saved.

Last entry of 2008, finally! Spent the last few days of this year basically shopping, fed my stripes addiction with Patsy and Berta. Then got pants (skinny ftw) and shoes with Jay a few days after, I am cleaned out. Not a bad way to christen the New Year, with new clothes! I am kinda content. That's that.


That was my 2008 everybody! Boy, did I look different at the start. How did yours go?

Like I said, that's that! Great year, lots of milestones. One thing different about me is the total lack of going out, I mean yea I still do but not as much as I used to I would say. I'd definitely say it's a good thing. As for 2009, great things to come. Will probably talk about it in the next entry; resolutions, goals and whatnot. Hope you had as good a year as I did, cheers!