2011 = WIN

It's already 2012 - probably the most anticipated year in recent memory. It's the year we party like it's the end of the world. It's the year of the dragon!!! I'm really excited for what 2012 has in-store for me. I just can't wait!

I remember blogging last year that 2010 was just the beginning and that 2011 will be epic. And boy did the past year exceed all my expectations. The past year has been a BIG WIN.

2011 now sits atop my list and if the trend continues, 2012 will be way better!

So for this year, I'd like to call this year's list as victories because 2011 made me feel so blessed that it felt like winning a major pitch, hitting a buzzer beater, or even winning the lottery.

Ladies and Gentlemen, my personal list of "WINS" for year 2011.

Another Saturday well spent

Bojo and Carmel's Wedding

@ University of the Philippines

MRM table

very beautiful MRM ladies

the men of MRM

Congrats Bojo and Carmel!!!

Stat-Circle Get Together 

@ Nuesca Mansion

Stat-O + kids

Our attempt to do the dougie

Totally made my weekend! :)

Statistics 125

As I've previously stated, teaching was always a dream of mine. Truth be told. teaching for my alma mater, UP, was something I didn't see coming this soon.

Casey and Isabella's Wedding

Last Saturday, one of my closest college buddies, Casey Cabugoy got wed to his very beautiful bride, then-Isabella Cruz.

I've been to several weddings in my life. Most of them are of my relatives'. Only these days do I get to attend my friends' weddings. Late last year, I went to Kim and Yaw's wedding and it was a joy to witness a Kuya & Ate from back in college finally tie the knot in Baguio.

This time around, it was Casey's turn and boy were we excited to see him get married to his longtime girlfriend, Issa.

Shot of the aisle at the Church of the Risen Lord, UP Diliman

Mr. and Mrs. Casey Cabugoy

Barkada pic 

(missing: Gege - stuck in Ortigas)

Such a joy to see them happy!

First of many kisses at the reception

Trademark Stat-O and friends pose

Shameless plug: Souvenir by SugarStop

Congrats guys! :)

Casey and I have gone through a lot. We've talked about our love lives more often than not throughout college and now a year or two into our professional careers.

Words cannot express how happy I am for them.

I wish them the best. :)

Photos c/o Ms. Fatima Han

Champions once again

More than just the skill and creativity, the amount of swag in UP PEP's performance was just awesome.

Proud to be an iskolar ng bayan!

UP FIGHT!

Top Ten for 2010! :)

2010 just ended and a brand new year just commenced. A lot of things happened in the year 2010. There were so many milestones, changes, new people, in new places and even new ventures. I can damn guarantee you that 2010 was one heck of a year and definitely topped all 22 years of my life.

As a quick trivia, our family doesn't do any age old new year traditions - no fireworks, no torotots, countdowns and whatnot. We simply pray the rosary precisely at 12mn then go back to our rooms. :) This yearly thing keeps me in check and definitely reflective in silence and yeah, in boredom. And as such, every year, I make sure I look back at all the blessings I've received. Thus, here are the top 10 things I'm very thankful for 2010 :)

10. "Daang matuwid" dominates the elections

The May 2010 elections marked the first time I voted for national government positions. That's a big jump from the usual class officers then student council elections I'm used to voting for. HAHA.

From the very start, I knew who I was going to vote for and I was confident that my bet, Noynoy would win. Yeah, you can cast a stone on me if you want to - especially those who never wanted and never will like the fact that a guy like Noynoy ended up to be our president. But hey, he is our president and I am happy that he is.

I know this guy does have his shortcomings. He doesn't have a masters degree or even a doctorate to boost his credentials. He doesn't have a long list of experiences and/or achievements.

But yes, I bet you guys will mention the name that he carries. To me, it was more than just the AQUINO bloodline/name. It was his responsibility to protect that name and the love for the country that he inherited. That incorruptible state of mind that we ourselves always wanted. Sa ayaw at sa gusto ninyo, we have a president who's blazing the straight path. :)

9. School Pride :)

Despite the fact that I'm athletically-challenged (if there is such a term), I am an avid fan of sports - especially if my alma mater/s are on the winning end. Thankfully, the teams I cheered for this year all won championships. :)

Ateneo won both Juniors' and Seniors' UAAP Basketball championship. Take note: for the third straight year!!! :) Sweet sweet double three-peat! :)

Now let's not forget the UP Pep Squad for reclaiming the UAAP Cheerdance competition crown :)

UP and Ateneo reprezent!

Hopefully next year I'll be cheering for the green side every now and then. :P

8. Highschool never ends

This is actually a late entry for this list. Had this high school-high the other day - eMboys Christmas 2010 reunion. :) Definitely, a lot of things have changed since the last reunion. Lalo na since high school graduation. It's actually cool to know that most of my classmates back then are mostly law or med students. Mga half pa lang kaming nasa workforce pala. :) Watch out guys, the eMboys just might run this country in the future. :P

7. SugarStop

It all started while my friends and I were walking around Eastwood waiting for a movie. We all needed some extra cash. We all needed some sources of income aside from our allowances/salaries. Thus, SugarStop came to be! :) 2010 will mark as the year this venture came to life and I'm claiming it, big things are coming for this venture in 2011. :)

6. Tagged as Sir Tonico

Yes, that's how I get called these days. I spend my early mornings in Taft teaching - or in better words, educating the minds of college students. I actually never thought I'd have this chance so early in my career but an e-mail followed by a phone call, then a teaching demo earned me the opportunity to teach. :) If you guys know me well, it has always been my dream to teach. Thus, I'm living my dream. Hope all things work out this trimester :)

5. Agency Life

That's me right there living the agency life. Most people say that life in an advertising agency or in a marketing research firm is living life like a prostitute. I must admit that working for my company hasn't been easy. Stress. Overtime. Panic. Information overload. All that mixed up with the honor of working in multinational company like mine. :)

I must say that I'm very honored to be part of the MRM team. More than just the milestones that the team has garnered, it's being part of a team that I can call my family in the workforce. Because of these people, I'm having a good time at work. Maybe it's the fact that it's my first job. But I'm pretty sure this group is special. :)

4. My Passwords

It took some time until the four of us got together. This was like our first complete picture after more than a year. I don't want to be cheesy but these guys and I go way back. Thankfully, we're complete once again and rockin' it. And yes, these are the other people behind SugarStop - which all the more makes it sweet.

Cheers to more adventures with you guys. :) We've come a long waaay. :D

3. Weekends and Holidays

Never have I appreciated weekends and holidays this much until I joined the workforce. I just realized why there are such things in the calendar. :) These non-working days have kept me sane amidst the stressful life of balancing work and school. Other than using these weekends and holidays to sleep and energize, marami rin akong narating - now with my new found adulthood freedom. HAHA.

I've partied hard on several friday nights. :)

and went out of town with friends as well! :D

tagaytay with password

Kim and Yaw's wedding in Baguio

Although it's been said that there will be less long weekends for 2011, I'm looking forward to more adventures with my friends this year. :)

2. I earned my BS Stat Degree!

FYI, I graduated last April 2010. :) Not only did my graduation mark the end of my college life, but it marked the start of my life as part of the labor force. I definitely felt so honored to wear that sablay and receive my award and diploma early this year. It really was a big milestone for myself as I move on now with my corporate life. I've got to admit, I miss my college friends and living the isko life.

1. One big happy family

This year, our family grew slightly bigger as my brother and his wife Kim bore a child - Zia Charlize Maningat. Ever since she was born that faithful morning, she's been our family's bundle of joy. :) She's the first "girl" in the family and that all the more makes her special.

Take note guys, Zia's my inaanak! That makes her doubly special to me!!! :D

As I always say, I'm having the time of my life. 2010 just started everything. I know 2011 will be epic - as well as 2012, 2013... and so on and so forth. All these stress and fatigue that I'm feeling are all worth it. Never have I felt so happy and blessed in my life.

Happy new year everyone!

well said Prof. Monsod

UP! HALABIRA!

Tribo Rocks :)

came home from StatSoc's Fund Run and Council prodwork. went to mass for a while then ate dinner. it has been a long long day for me.

was supposed to wake up at 4:30 so that i could make it to UP at 6am. but heck, i woke up at 6:40.

"anak, diba 5am ka?"

"yes" (sleepy sleepy sleepy)

"mag-aalas siyete na."

"haaaaa??" (on my mind, i was telling myself, "not again??") haha.


and so i rushed to UP after getting ready and arrived there at 7:10am.

run run run.

drink drink drink. (pocari sweat!) haha.

prodwork. prodwork. prodwork.

while eating dinner, i watched the replay of the 2008 samsung uaap cheerdance competition. yeah, just the replay. hehe. although i knew UP already had won, being a frustrated dancer, a UAAP fan, i just had to watch.

despite the mistakes on the pyramids and some lifts, lo and behold, the UP PEP Squad still won from what i heard, with a high margin of victory. Tribo definitely rocks. i thought the mistakes weren't that major and super bawi naman sa originality at innovation sa routine.



wuhoo. champions once again! what a way to uphold 100 years of service and excellence.

congratulations to UST and FEU for always making the competition stiff and tough. also, congratulations to the Ateneo Blue Babble Batallion for placing 4th! and i heard the team was only a few tenths away from scoring third!

i may be an outspoken ateneo fan. but i am still proud to be an iskolar ng bayan. this blog woudn't be entitled "Thoughts, opinions, and daily ramblings of a blue-blooded iskolar ng bayan", if i wasn't proud of being part of both schools. no, i am not a band waggoner. hehe.

UP fight.
Go Ateneo One Big Fight.

UP, number one in cheering.
Ateneo, number one in basketball.

it has been 3 years since i took the test

wow. it's august 2 tomorrow and thousands of senior high school students will be coming over to UP and its other testing centers for the annual University of the Philippines - College Admission Test. all of them have one way or another prepared for this BIG test for have the best chance at being accepted in the country's premier state university.

i wish all those taking the test the best! i hope they could answer the test well, with a clear mind and hopeful heart. though the test doesn't really account for the whole admission process (high school grades are just as important for admission!), i do believe the test can definitely make a big difference. a point or two from the UPCAT may help your UPG reach the 2.33 cut-off. :)

i remember taking summer review classes for the entrance exams that year. in my mind back then, i was reviewing for the ACET, not really for the UPCAT. compared to ateneo, up was more of make-or-break. it was either you were good enough or not good enough. in ateneo, i saw it more like: if you do not do well in the test, it's over. as for the whole 'summer review' thing, it was more like prepping up for shading a lot of circles rather than making your brain work more. which actually served its purpose for myself. i was really bad at taking entrance exams, especially those that had time pressure in it.

to tell you the truth, i didn't expect to pass the UPCAT. all the while, i thought i wasn't good enough. i mean, back in high school, competition was really tough. there were just too many smart asses from our batch. i thought, if i were to pass, n more people should pass too. and so it did happen, n (a large number of students) from our batch did pass the UPCAT.

meant to be :)