Years ago I resolved to not making any list of tasks and to-do's whenever a new year comes in.But this year I decided to have one. I would like to write down what I'd like to accomplish or achieve in the next twelve months. With the present state of the world economy, I'm going to jot down only things that are within my control so that, no matter 's how is going with the world this year, I should be able to tick this list off one by one.Will 2009 be another year full of potential for me so that this list of resolutions be not be promises that will most likely be kept for a few weeks or months, or not at all.
1. Learn how to cook healthy food.
2. Be resourceful in choosing food to eat given the many choices available island-wide. Hokkien mee, fried rice are not the only food in hawkers center.
3. Exercise at least three times a week.
4. Explore and discover one place a month, Orchard Road is not the only Singapore.
5. Learn mandarin, hokkien whatever so that ordering food in hawkers center is not always mind-boggling experience.
6. Learn to control temper.
7. Limit intake of coffee.
8. Visit at least three places in Malaysia.
9. Go home every three months.
10. Stay more on top the finances.
11. Learn how to create web page by not using ready-made templates.
12. Be part of the solution and not of the problem.
I’ll let you know at year’s end how I did.
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
My new year eve
I have an uneventful new year eve, because of that I hibernate for three days. I was too lazy to go out and just stay home until now. My mind seemed not functioning well also because of what happened. Before that I have planned to visit Kuala Lumpur after new year so I filed Friday leave.
You see I planned to celebrate new year eve at the Marina Bay and be there just in time for the countdown and the fireworks, so I attended the 10.30 mass at the Novena church and expected that the mass will end at 11.30. I did not expect that the parish has plan to finish the mass just in time and have their own countdown. I arrived church minutes before it going to start, I choose to sit inside the church though there were already people sitting at the covered carpark which I have regretted after. I was trapped inside and was not able to leave for Marina Bay. Should I chosen to sit outside I had able to leave in time for the countdown. I was disappointed that upon leaving church I heeded straight home.
How was your new year's eve?
I missed new year's eve back home....
This day last year
This time last year I was busy scouring crowded areas in Manila looking for firecrackers to bring home for the new year eve. You may ask why I have to scour when every corner of the street firecrackers store pop outs during this time. These mock up stalls pop outs in busy sidewalks in crowded places like markets, bus stations, near mall in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. These stalls goes side by side with fruit stands.
It goes like this. All these stalls carry the same pricing, usually pricing of their own regulation. These vendors normally purchased theirs in just one source which is in Bocaue, Bulacan. I know the whole stretch of the road carries the same price, what I always did is to stop in every stall and ask for the price and make haggle and pretend i'll be buying big quantity so that the storekeeper will give me good price. Then I transfer to the nearby stall and repeat the same thing and be observant with the storekeeper I just haggled in, chances are he might ask me to come back and offer me good price I can't resist. If I think it's the good price I grab it but if I sense it can be lowered more I continue haggling then close the deal. If not I continue doing it until I reach the last stall at the end of the road and assess which stall has the lowest price and go back to that stall and do the purchase. While doing all these I have to be observant of con men, pickpockets and errant vendors.
I can assure you it is very enjoyable thing to do especially if you are not in a hurry and you have all the afternoon. This is one of the things I enjoyed most doing after Christmas.
Today this all I can do. Have a prosperous New Year.
How did I spend my Christmas Day?
I woke up today late than usual and arrived office just in time, almost. Thanks to the ever reliable MRT. After all the revelry yesterday, today I find my worksite block seems to be too quiet. Today also, my mind and body seems not on sync than usual. But I guess this I felt morning after feeling always pop out after every revelry or occasion-draining day.
Yesterday I spend my Christmas late afternoon at Orchard Road for the annual Christmas show right in the middle of the road. There are floats that not much to be desired, but learned later that they were better than last year huh. The show itself was yawning and appears to be a hush-hush. You see I decided to catch the show expecting it will be grandiose as the landmark road itself, speaking of Orchard Road why the whole stretch of the road is a bit messy. I understand that the road is undergoing upgrading works but I can say that my block worksite is better and nicely maintained. This is being my first time to catch this annual fair. I stayed on until the UP Madrigal Singers completed their performance. I purposely waited for their turn to perform though I was completely not at ease standing outside the cordoned mock up stage. I must say it's a pity they came all the way from the Philippines just to perform in a hush-hush show. Their performance itself was not that impressive as the sound system was not able to highlight their voices well. But one thing I have noticed, their performance was well received after every completion of song, they have rendered a Filipino song Kumukutikutitap and two not so familiar English songs. The rest of the performers came from different countries in the region. The first performer was heartwarming though. He's Singaporean artist performed a dragging aerobic exercise complete with back ups, and two Chinese songs. What a feat for a guy who battled leukemia. Performers from Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, and Hawaii were there to perform as mentioned by the program emcee who I find him annoying the entire show I was there. Maybe that's the reason why not everybody paid much attention to the show although the entire stretch of the Orchard Road was full of people.
I was surprised when I left the show area and found out the huge people along the road and its sides. It was past 9 in the evening. They were there having the grand time taking pictures with them, floats have been lighted out and just settling there on the road waiting for people who love to take pictures with them.
Summing up, I enjoyed spending Christmas day at Orchard Road. The pictures were taken the hours before my iPhone life lasts.
How did you spend your Christmas day?
Yesterday I spend my Christmas late afternoon at Orchard Road for the annual Christmas show right in the middle of the road. There are floats that not much to be desired, but learned later that they were better than last year huh. The show itself was yawning and appears to be a hush-hush. You see I decided to catch the show expecting it will be grandiose as the landmark road itself, speaking of Orchard Road why the whole stretch of the road is a bit messy. I understand that the road is undergoing upgrading works but I can say that my block worksite is better and nicely maintained. This is being my first time to catch this annual fair. I stayed on until the UP Madrigal Singers completed their performance. I purposely waited for their turn to perform though I was completely not at ease standing outside the cordoned mock up stage. I must say it's a pity they came all the way from the Philippines just to perform in a hush-hush show. Their performance itself was not that impressive as the sound system was not able to highlight their voices well. But one thing I have noticed, their performance was well received after every completion of song, they have rendered a Filipino song Kumukutikutitap and two not so familiar English songs. The rest of the performers came from different countries in the region. The first performer was heartwarming though. He's Singaporean artist performed a dragging aerobic exercise complete with back ups, and two Chinese songs. What a feat for a guy who battled leukemia. Performers from Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, and Hawaii were there to perform as mentioned by the program emcee who I find him annoying the entire show I was there. Maybe that's the reason why not everybody paid much attention to the show although the entire stretch of the Orchard Road was full of people.
I was surprised when I left the show area and found out the huge people along the road and its sides. It was past 9 in the evening. They were there having the grand time taking pictures with them, floats have been lighted out and just settling there on the road waiting for people who love to take pictures with them.
Summing up, I enjoyed spending Christmas day at Orchard Road. The pictures were taken the hours before my iPhone life lasts.
How did you spend your Christmas day?
Simbang Gabi in Singapore
I was not aware that there is Simbang Gabi being held here in Singapore because last Sunday the church where I heard mass did not mention about the simbang gabi. It was only last Friday that I came to know so I attended the same day and the day after. The twist of the simbang gabi is that it is being held nightly at different churches. Can you imagine every night you have to go to a church different from the last night you have been to and they are far apart.
I find this amusing and love to complete the nine nights should I have learned it ahead. But my excitement somehow has been dampened by how the mass has been carried out. The priest who is officiating mass has a different approach in conducting the mass, it is far from solemn. That night I thought I was attending a gathering or a rally. Maybe he was just overwhelmed by the crowd or it is just me who is not used to that kind of officiating mass. His homily is diverting, he is reading mails he said emails sent to him a day earlier talking about the letter sender enjoyment of the arrozcaldo being served after the mass, and kept mentioning it the entire homily. The Ambassador and her family was invited to set at the altar together with the sacristans facing us during the entire mass, i was astounded seeing them facing us. When she was introduced and praise to heavens, a lady behind me was not able to control her temper and utter ' oa naman yan, wala naman natulong sa amin yan', what she means by that i have no idea and have no guts to asked her after the mass. After mass she was asked to speak before us, I expected her to say something related to her job like what her office was doing given the present situation but she just mentioned only about her first time arriving Singapore being welcomed at the church and wishing us a merry christmas.
I thought I was not used to it and maybe because of the attendees the church was full pack and overflowing of kababayans as myself also was surprised to see them in one place, and decided to attend the mass the next night at a different church in Boon Lay. Still I experienced the same thing. The priest talking again emails he received and the letter contains how delighted he was eating what else but arrozcaldo after mass. The Ambassador speaking again after mass, I have no idea if she sit together with the priest as I was outside the church the entire mass.
After that I decided not to continue attending the simbang gabi as I learned that it was always that way from the start. I hope God is not mad at me, as I don't feel the spirit nor the solemnity. It keep me feeling I am attending a rally which does not help me good.
No I have not tried the arrozcaldo the priest keep on talking, maybe because I hate falling line? It did not cross my mind.
Would you do the same thing?
the resurrection
I have completely forgotten this blog I have created almost two years ago. Few days ago I was supposed to create one I can call my own and surprised to find out this.
I will be updating this on a regular basis from now on. Changes will be made as this blog develops. Posting will be guided by the new title description and more. Previous postings will still be there. Expect a different perspective from now on.
Enjoy reading and welcome once again.
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