#province of Batangas

[travelella]

Taal Lake and Taal Volcano, province of Batangas, Luzon, Philippines

Taken by Hector John Periquin

[postcard-from-the-past]

Old Church of Taal, Batangas province of the Philippines

American vintage postcard

[kirkeyeeeart]

daungan

[takeoffphilippines]

Quick Trip to Sariaya, Quezon Province + Birthday Celebration ng Family sa Lipa Grill

Join me for a delightful family celebration at Lipa Grill, a famous restaurant in Lipa City, Batangas! Enjoy a quick road trip to Sariaya, Quezon, where we often shop for plants to beautify our home.

—

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[southeastasianarchaeology]

[Paper] Exploring the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay complex: Preliminary investigation on the implications of material culture and human osteological evidence in understanding the shrine and its community

Investigating the historical and cultural significance of Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine in Taal, Batangas, through its material culture, human remains, and local beliefs.

via Proceeding of KAPI, 30 Dec 2023: The study at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal, Batangas, by Abbang et al. aims to unravel the origins and significance of its material culture and human remains. Researchers are investigating the craftsmanship of liturgical objects, such as embossed metal plates and sculptures, potentially linked to artisans from Pampanga and Laguna. The…

[wackytacky101]

Alternate Universe where everything is the same except One showbiz location had a filipino retrofit beach bear known as “Batangas Bear”

Yep this is my comeback, sorry for hiatus Ive been getting my ass beat by finals

Originally started off a a filipino version of beach bear but he quickly evolved into his own character lol

Batangas is a province in the Philippines that im actually from so I came up with an idea to make a filipino version of beach bear, the pun being that he can be literally anything so long as the first part of his name starts with b and ends in bear

Batangas Bear is a polar bear (go figure) with black hair and a sampaguita flower in his hair (the national flower of the philippines) He would’ve also had black/Brown eyes instead of blue

In contrast to Beach Bear, Batangas Bear is younger and softer spoken. He’s a very sweet person but at times he finds himself being annoyed at his fellow band mates. He would’ve been picked on by Rolfe and the older band members for his accent but He would’ve gotten along great with Billybob and Mitzi.

Batangas would’ve been able to sing in both; spanish english and tagalog. Rather than an electric guitar, Batangas would play a normal classical guitar. And He would’ve been an exclusive to the Showbiz that was in Dublin California since he’d probably would’ve been made to appeal to the more diverse culture in California or sm like that idk he’s a silly Filipino bear

Batangas Bear’s shorts and bahag would’ve originally been colored blue gold and red (colors of the filipino flag lol) but he’d later gain different accessories down the line as he’d become a fan fav amongst locals

After the closing in Dublin Batangas Bear would’ve been bought by an unknown buyer in the bay area where he’d reside somewhere in Daly City lol.

Planning on making more content within the coming week so stay tuned! (Maybe more on batangas bear lol)

[archamagicalia]

So, I did a thing; basically, I took most of the Rangers who were played by Filipino actors ( and extra Rangers who weren't played by Filipino actors but I also wanted to include ) and basically designated which ethnolinguistic backgrounds and provinces would they be from if they were Filipino in canon ( and if they were born there or not ). Seven of the Rangers in this edit were played by actors of Filipino descent [ Alyssa, Madison, Rose, Theo, Emma, Brody, and Ollie ( the actors of Emma, Brody, and Ollie are mixed-race ) ]; the ethnicities I gave them are not based off the ethnolinguistic backgrounds of the actors' families, for I did not want to pry on their backgrounds because that's private information, so these are my own ideas. Two of them aren't played by Filipino actors, however, their characters are siblings of the characters who were played by Filipino actors [ Vida and Aiden/Levi ]. As for Kendall? Honestly, that's just pure projection; Kendall isn't played by a Filipino actress but I wanted to make Kendall be from the same ethnolinguistic backgrounds as I am because..... look, she's my favorite— I'm legitimately her IRL— and I have the power to, okay?!

List of my headcanoned ethnolinguistic backgrounds + provinces under the cut if you need them. Again, these are not canon and are just the result of projections.

Filipino-Headcanoned!Rangers and their Ethnolinguistic Origins

Alyssa Enrile - Bicolano ; Family came from Tabaco City, Albay Madison and Vida Rocca - Partially Cagayano ; Family came from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Province Rose Ortiz - Bisaya [ Samareño/Waray ] ; Born in the Municipality of Lapinig, Boundary of Northern and Eastern Samar Theodore Martin - Bisaya [ Cebuano ] ; Born in Cebu City, Cebu Emma Goodall - Partially Tagalog ; Family came from Batangas City, Batangas Kendall Morgan - Partially Bisaya [ Boholano ] and Mindanawon [ Zamboangueño + Kalagan ] ; Family came from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Brody and Aiden Romero - Partially Mindanawon [ Zamboangueño + Kalagan ]; Family came from Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Peninsula Ollie Akana - Partially Bisaya [ Boholano ] ; Family came from the Municipality of Calape, Bohol

[maya-chirps]

Severe Tropical Storm Kristine/Trami has recently hit the Philippines and has affected over 3 million individuals leaving many families homeless after the onslaught of the strong winds, storm surges, and flooding with many dead, injured, and missing.

This severely breaks my heart some of the most affected areas are places that I have close ties with. Bicolandia is where my mom had come from and I have family there who were directly devastated by the typhoon and Batangas is where I live where, although I was lucky my town didn't got flooded, my friends homes were affected as well as many of the people I knew.

If you want to help, here are some organizations that are leading in relief efforts and rescue operations that you can donate to:

ANGAT BUHAY is an NGO based in the Bikol Region, one of the most affected areas in the Philippines which first felt most of the storm's impact. They are currently helping with providing hot meals to those affected by the flooding as well as sending out rescue boats to assist people who are trying to get out of the floods. Here's the official ways on how to donate to the organization:

ABS-CBN FOUNDATION is the charity branch of media company ABS-CBN Corporation that is currently focusing on giving relief goods and supplies to those affected by the typhoon. They will be providing a mobile kitchen to the victims in the Bicol region and is initiating relief efforts in the northern parts of the country.

GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION is the charity branch of media company GMA Network that is currently focusing on giving relief goods and supplies to those affected by the typhoon.

CARITAS MANILA is a Catholic non-profit organization that's currently holding relief operations in the Bicol Region and Quezon Province which are the first hard-hit areas of the typhoon. They had actually assisted in helping my province before during the Taal Volcano eruption a few years back.

PAWS Philippines is an NGO focused on animal welfare and proper animal care education. They are currently holding fundraisers and relief operations for people and their pets. Their focus may have expanded since the initial tweet from Naga, Bicol to other affected parts of the country.

PHILIPPINE RED CROSS is the main branch of the Red Cross in the Philippines. They're currently conducting rescue operations in heavily flooded areas as well as bringing relief goods to those affected by the typhoon.

Besides these bigger organizations, there are plenty of individual and private groups conducting their own fundraisers and donation drives that you can donate to as well as local and national government relief operations that you could contribute. If anyone else has any donation links they want to add in, please feel free to add to this thread.

To those still in crisis due to flooding and other issues caused by the typhoon, please stay safe!

[woo-shy]

My first time riding a plane! Sobrang surreal nung pakiramdam lalo nung mataas na tas kitang-kita na yung clouds. Parang ang sarap nila kagatin kasi muka talaga silang soft and fluffy pero at the same time muka silang kettle korn? Hahahaha. Akala ko naman super masakit sa tenga kapag naka-plane pero tolerable naman siya for me, para lang umaakyat sa elev ng high-rise building. Ahahaha. Nakalibre rin kami ng check-in ng supposedly hand-carry baggage namin tapos nung nagutom ako sa flight nalungkot ako slight kase andun yung baon kong crossini. Bibili dapat ako banana loaf ng cebu pac kaso nakakahiya pala pag nasa window seat ka tapos may mga katabi kang tulog. Ahahaha. Pagdating namin sa tagbilaran, pagkain talaga una naming hinanap kasi pa-lunch na rin kami nakalapag tapos di naman rin ako nagbreakfast. Solid yung chicken halang-halang na first time ko natikman. Yun lang rin kasi yung ulam don na bago sa pandinig ko, para siyang cross-breed ng bicol express saka tinola. Sabi rin kasi nung tour guide namin, walang specialty sa ulam ang bohol kasi yung mga produce nila don eh inaangkat lang rin from different provinces since wala sila ganong bukid don kasi mabato yung lupa nila. Though, may pinagkaiba rin naman yung style ng pagluluto doon saka dito sa luzon.

My airport fit na medyo seventeen themed. Ahahaha. Di ko rin napicturean yung crocs ko na puro svt-related ang jibbitz pero kebs na lang rin siguro. Ampanget magpicture ng ate ko kaya cropped yung ootd ko. Ahahaha. Lahat may daliri nya eh. Before flight ko lang rin kinabit yung pins and keychains na binili ko sa tiktok tapos medyo kabado pa ako kase may pagka-clumsy talaga ako baka kung san sya tumalsik o ano pero buti naman at kumpleto pa sila til now.

After namin mag-lunch, nagswimming din kami sa dagat. Nakakapanibago lang rin kasi first time ko mag-white sand na hindi mabato yung water surface (??) ang lambot lambot nung inaapakan tapos di ka matatakot na baka matusok ka ng anything (as a clumsy person na natusok ng tulis ng angkla sa batangas) ang sarap maglakad-lakad talaga saka umupo malapit sa dalampasigan. May part lang din talaga na medyo ma-lumot?? pero di naman din sya ganung nakakabother. Scared ako nung una though kasi nagkwento yung friend ko na na-sea urchin daw siya dito sa alona. Kaya todo tingin talaga ako sa nilalakaran ko. Super conscious at paranoid yarn? Andami ring koreans sa bohol, parang lokal na sila don saka may mga business na sila doon. Nakakaloka sa dami, kahit san ka lumingon eh may koreano. May direct flight daw kasi from busan to tagbilaran kaya ganun pero nakakaloka talaga.

Bukas na siguro yung iba kasi andami kong pictures na need i-filter para makapili ng pang-post. Ahahaha. Tamad na tamad pa talaga ako pero feel ko pag pinagpabukas ko pa to eh lalo lang akong tatamarin, kaya ttry ko na lang rin siguro magpost once a day para di ganun ka-taxing. Ahahaha. Awuw. Sana makabalik ako sa bohol talaga.

[elstreem]

Sorry for inactivity, but rest assured me and my loved ones are safe. We've also had strong wind and rain in our province but nothing too bad, and we all live in places not at risk of flood.

However, this recent storm has badly affected several areas, from what I saw Bicol and Batangas have people in need of help, and probably so many other areas too as the effects of Kristine has been very wide-reaching.

Edit: Added some more calls for donations:

Here is Angat Buhay's relief operations:

Pawssion Project is helping out animal shelters affected:

Plushies for Hope is providing hot meals in various places, including Camarines, Batangas and Bicol:

[sansimeonsims]

Muralla Street and Casa de Leon Oro

Muralla Street takes its name from the similarly named street in Manila's Old City and takes visual cues from the structures built in Plaza San Luis on Luna street in the same district (fittingly, i was just there last Holy Week) as well as some of the ancestral houses in the historic district in the town of Taal in Batangas Province. It gets its name from the fact that it's literally the road near the wall.

The house I'm featuring first is the third house I built (yes, this monstrosity is a residential), the Casa de Leon Oro, so named for both its owners (the parvenu Principalia De Leon family, who despite their rank, actually began as a peasant family) and for the lion corbels they had placed on top of the masonry second story of their house. The family itself lives in the luxurious top floor, while the second and first floors are used as offices, rented to tenants, or occupied by servants and horses.

This house was based heavily on the Casa Manila Museum in the Old City (the reconstructed Mendoza house, originally from the district of San Nicolas). I originally made a similar multi-building lot called Parian de San Simeon, made around the time I could only fit a few buildings in a world at a time. You can see the similarities and contrasts by checking out the original posts.

[apicelladonna]

Your place seems to be typhoon prone.

We are unfortunately! The Philippines is in the Pacific typhoon belt, meaning we're one of the first areas to be hit by the generated storms coming from the pacific ocean for the rainy season.

(I remember my science teacher use to say that with the way our country is situated geographically, it helps lessen the impact of the typhoon's effect in our neighboring south east asian countries as it passes us by. Though with the recent years of pollution and global warming, it doesn't seem to work anymore...)

We get an annual of more than 10 typhoons per year. From my experience, there are a few of those times that hit the super typhoon category that got our house flooded even in the city area (namely typhoon local name: Ondoy/ international name: Ketsana, Yolanda/Haiyan, and this year are Carina/Gaemi, and just yesterday: Kristine/Trami )

(There is another incoming typhoon named: Leon/ int name: KONG-REY, that will enter PAR this Sunday.

(on the left leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility is typhoon Kristine/ intl name: Trami, on the right entering PAR is typhoon Leon/ intl name: Kong-Rey)

AND by weather forecasts, it is said that typhoon Kristine/Trami is going to have a u-turn??? wtf 😥 The official weather term is 'relooping' where coming from the south china sea --> it'll literally re enter our area again? so fingers crossed that it doesn't take that path back!)

My family and I are doing okay thankfully but there are more affected regions around Batangas, Quezon and Bicol provinces that are under states of calamity rn. (Photos are from Philippine Star's socmed page)

If you have any spare change that you can donate or time to reblog this post, here is a well known non-government organization that are accepting cash donations and its other partnered orgs as well in helping and assisting with the relief operations for both hoomans and pets affected by the storm. 🙏

[sollattes]

what call sign/petnames from my country (Philippines) would I give to the hnl boys

Hanaoka Fujio - Ga/Pangga

Ga or Pangga is not really tagalog but from the dialects ilonggo (ilocos) and batangenyo (batangas). It is used as a term of endearment to your significant other, like babe, darling, or love.

And since fujio came from like the countryside or like a provisional place, I gave him Ga/Pangga because both Ilocos and Batangas are considered as provinces here in the Philippines and it only fitted I gave him this petname

I think Fujio would like to keep to call you something dear to his heart or something that reminds him of home since you are his home as a person, so I think he would choose this pet name to call you

Takajo Tsukasa - YAM

YAM is an acronym for "you are mine," not really tagalog but a popular endearment here in the Philippines

Now, tsukasa came from like a village or subdivision or wtv, so I don't really see him using a very native pet name. Instead, he would use a very trendy or modern pet name

Tsukasa really likes to play his feelings lowkey, and it goes the same to his possessiveness, so he would choose to call you this while still being bit possessive but not obvious

Todoroki Yosuke - Ssob

Once again, not really really tagalog since it is just 'Boss' but backwards, it is really popular here in the Philippines whether you call this someone to a friend or a significant other

I don't really see todoroki using a petname, so instead, I can really see his significant other call him this since he is pretty bossy and grumpy and this nickname or petname is usually given to someone who is exactly like todoroki

Tsuji and Shibaman - Lods

Lods is another term that is backwards and not tagalog, lods is idol backwards, but they removed the "I" and added the "s"

now since both tsu and Shiba came from kinda like the city instead of like a province, so I can really see them calling you a more trendy or modern pet name

"Lods" is usually used when someone is admired or looked up, hence the name, and it is more used as a friendly or teasing way, but it can be used as a pet name, and now both tsu and Shiba want to treat their significant other as both their best friend and lover, so I gave them this call sign/petname

Ueda Sachio - Asawa ko

"Asawa ko" translates to "my spouse" in English. It is a tagalog phrase

Many times, I have established that Sachio is sucker for domestic things or married couple shenanigans since he seems so family oriented or husband coded, so this is just perfect for sachio

I originally planned "misis ko" (or "my wife" in eng) because of this one famous actor here in the Philippines, Daniel Padilla, he called his leading lady this pet name in the movie "Can't help falling in love" (would recommend it but you gotta watch it with subtitles since it is 70% tagalog) and my mind just immediately thought of sachio

Odajima Yuken - Tangi

Tangi is a tagalog word that means 'special', 'only', 'exceptional', and many more

I can really see Yuken use this even though he probably grew up in a "very modern" or "Well off" environment

Yuken would call you this since like the the meaning of the word "Tangi", you are his special person, his one and only, the person that he would drop everything for just say it, so the call sign fits Yuken

Sawamura Shoji - Sinta/Aking sinisinta

Sinta is an old-fashioned word for love, and Aking Sinisinta basically means 'my love'

I have established multiple times in my blog that sawamura likes corny and cheesy yet meaningful stuff, so this is perfect for him, and like sachio, he is just so husband coded and mostly this pet name is used by spouses or long time partners already

Sameoka Shoji - Ligaya

The tagalog word 'ligaya' translates to happiness in English

Now we don't have Shoji's full background story yet, but from the way he acts, he has definitely been through something, like not everyone can be so stoic, but like every stoic character in hnl ypu just gotta break down his walls bit by bit to get to his well protected emotions

Like I said, shoji has been through something that we just don't know yet, and that something made him cold and guard his emotions, but him calling you ligaya, a word that literally translates to happiness, can only mean that he found his, once lost or hidden away happiness, he found or felt it around with you, "his ligaya"

Himuro Reiji - Akin

Akin is a tagalog word that translates to 'mine'

Now, like shoji, we don't really know reiji's backstory yet, so every hnl character, this man has issues, but unlike shoji and his stoic issues, this man has some sort of inferior issues, judging from his actions, bringing weapons to a fight (that counts as cheating), and his words, "winning is what counts that's all", he probably tried to play fair but still somehow he coudnt win and that gave him a harsh reality check, and that's where inferior complex comes from, on the surface he may just look like an arrogant piece of work but on the inside he's just threatened, he's scared because he knows that even if he tries to win, fair and square, something or someone will always come and take it away from him

This is where the pet name "Akin" comes in since he is threatened or scared. Those emotions lead to possessiveness and jealousy. You are HIS person, so he goes above and beyond to protect you, even as far as "cheating," though he doesn't just want to call you this because he's insecure he also calls you this because his proud and he want to show off that he can call a person like you his

Ryo Suzaki - Mahal/Hal

Mahal is a tagalog word that translates to love, and Hal is just a shortened version of it

Oh, Ryo, my baby, my precious boy, he would call you this because you are HIS definition of love, ever since he was a kid, he always thought that the meaning of love means devoting yourself to someone to the the point that you forget yourself in the process, but it was alright as long as he pleases the person he loves, right?

WRONG !!! And you have shown him that loving means that you don't have to devote yourself so much that you forget yourself just to prove that you love them. Loving means not forgetting yourself. Instead, it brings out the best version of yourself. Loving means that you can also love yourself in the process, and you have shown him that, and that's why you are his "Mahal," his definition of love

tags : @simpforchuchu

[ask-the-pearloftheorient]

Hello Piri 🕵🏾

I see that you have 82 provinces, that's a lot! How is the nature of your relations with them? 👀

The 18 Provinces are like my siblings, and their children are the 82 Regions, so that kind of makes me their uncle!

They're a blast when it comes to family gatherings, though we'll need to prepare a ton of food in advance. Cebu often brings lechon, he cooks it himself. Batangas has her comforting creamy Lomi, while Albay would rather sprinkle sili (hot peppers) on all of her dishes— like Bicol Express

We also have 8 twins that, okay sue me but I forget which is which a lot of times. Like Ilocos Norte/Sur, Misamis Oriental/Occidental, Agusan Del Norte/Del Sur, etc. . . They look so alike so I have to say pasensya a lot. Remembering people is not really my forte hahaha

Then occasionally I would forget that Zamboanga Del Norte and Del Sur aren't triplets with Zamboanga Sibugay. Pagpasensyahan na po si Tito lol

Though there's one that neither a Province or a Region— Manila.

He's really a rebellious spirit, but also kind of a rich pretty boy. So, it's like if you mixed in me and Mahárlika's personalities, you get Manila.

It's real awkward when they ask if Manila is our child tho, me and Lika are pretty much brothers :^

[bongserrano]

Batangas: My Sky and Earth—An Intimate Recollection and Reflection of My Childhood in the Philippines

To celebrate the first anniversary of Batangas: My Sky and Earth, the author is thrilled to present a special Second Edition! The eBook and hardcover editions feature high-resolution photographs in both monochrome and color, while the paperback offers enhanced black-and-white images from the original release. This unique Second Edition is a heartfelt gesture of gratitude from the author to thank readers and commemorate this significant milestone.

About the Book

When Bong Serrano learned that his older brother, Boying, had cancer, the notes he had jotted down about his childhood took on new meaning. Memories of his time with his family in the Philippines came rushing back. At the center of those memories were the precious moments he'd spent with his Kuya.   Faced with his brother's impending death, Bong asked himself: "What if one day I lose my memories? Who will remember us?" Thus began Bong's yearslong journey of immortalizing not only his childhood but also his country's history and traditions.   Bong grew up in the southern province of Batangas, on Luzon Island. Batangas: My Sky and Earth is a celebration of that childhood. This memoir takes you into a world made rich by the intricate descriptions of life in the Philippines in the 1970s and '80s, where the family unit is close, and many households are multigenerational. From family dynamics to church duties to delicious food and the inevitable annual typhoons, Bong invites you to experience his culture from the inside.   Throughout this memoir, Bong honors his childhood home and country and the memory of his beloved brother. The choice to interweave Tagalog throughout this book's pages helps to steep the story in Filipino culture further. A whole village raised this boy, and as Bong looks back on his childhood, the lessons he learned come to the foreground: clarity, forgiveness, tradition, and love.

About the Author

Bong Serrano is a proud Batangueño, hailing from the picturesque and historic province of Batangas, Philippines. His debut memoir, Batangas: My Sky and Earth, not only pays homage to his roots but also takes readers on a nostalgic journey into the heart of Filipino heritage.

Bong completed his undergraduate studies with an academic scholarship at Ateneo de Manila University and was subsequently awarded a student exchange scholarship at International Christian University in Tokyo. After dedicating several years as an international flight attendant and Japanese speaker for American Airlines, immersing himself in diverse cultures around the world, he transitioned to roles as Digital Marketing Director at both a digital marketing agency and a not-for-profit organization for men’s health in Vancouver, contributing his expertise to both organizations over a twenty-seven-year career in digital marketing.

Though Bong has called Canada home for many years, his heart remains deeply connected to Batangas, where he frequently returns to visit family and friends. He cherishes the bonds he holds dear and finds joy in sharing stories, listening to music, taking long walks along the seawall, mastering the art of cooking adobo, indulging in Asian dramas during his leisure hours, and, naturally, pursuing his passion for writing and storytelling. Bong resides in Vancouver with his life partner of over thirty years.

Bong is currently immersed in his next project, which involves writing a historical fiction. Connect with him and explore more of his work on his website at bongserrano.com.

Watch the Video Trailer

The full-length video montage of my debut memoir, premiering on YouTube for the first book signing event at Indigo on Robson Street, Vancouver, on March 3, 2024.

Second Edition Now Available in Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook

Bong Serrano Media

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

[purplesurveys]

1960

End of Year Survey

First things first, did you have a good year?  It sucked like you wouldn't believe. Like it is almost impressive how big of a disaster at work it consistently was for all 12 months and how everything that could go wrong went wrong. I also had to work like 40% of the weekends in the entire year, so I forgot how to take care of myself and do things I like. BTS was also on radio silence and then the Yoongi thing happened, sooooo overall just a really gross year.

How old did you turn this year?  I turned 26. Year sucked so bad I can barely remember what I did on my birthday too lmaaaaooooo

Do you feel your age?  I feel it in the way that my body feels sore more often and in more places now, in the way that I now voluntarily take a step back from stronger alcohol, in the way that I've been increasingly falling asleep from 10-11 PM, and in the way the number of fucks I used to easily hand out to everything and everyone has drastically fallen.

Did your appearance change in anyway?  I dyed my hair purple one last time in April, then shifted to dark brown by Oct/Nov since I wanted to start transitioning back to black. Uhhh I also started paying more attention to makeup too, I guess. I'm not a mega spender or anything and never will be + I still don't care for makeup trends – it's just that I've started caring enough to want to look nicer when I have physical meetings for work.

Post your favorite selfie.  I honestly don't have any. I was stressed all year and it fucking showed.

If you traveled, where did you go?  Vietnam was my one overseas trip for the year, but we also traveled to a few nearby provinces like Bulacan, Batangas etc.

Which fashion trends did you love?  If anything I just followed streetwear, if that was even a trend. I wasn't a fan of most things that went trendy last year.

Which fashion trends did you hate? Sambas cheapened up so hard in 2024 hahaha. Thank god I never got one.

What was your favorite article of clothing this year? Post a pic if possible?  I'm not much of a clothes person, honestly. My favorite article I got was this fanmade bucket hat inspired by RM's RPWP album.

What song sums up this year for you?  Escape Route by Paramore Groin by RM LOST! by RM

What album came out and has been on heavy rotation since then?  Honestly, probably RPWP too. I didn't listen to music much and kept most of my rotation to BTS or BTS-adjacent songs/albums.

Came out 2023 but I also had Golden on repeat a lot! I find all the songs very catchy and easy to listen to.

What was your favorite movie of the year?  I think Hello, Love, Again wins this round mainly because I waited for a sequel for years and I just wanted a happy ending (which I thankfully got).

Did you make any big permanent changes this year?  Not really. It's the second year in a row that I kind of just...floated by.

Did you vote?  Well, not in 2024. I'll be voting this year for the senatorials, though, even though I already know 90% of my votes will not make it.

Did you move?  Nopes.

Did you get a job?  I stayed in the same job.

Did you get a pet?  We did! Two, technically. We took in Miki, a sickly super young kitten who looked like he badly needed a home. Couldn't have been over a month old. We spent a few days feeding him, giving him affection and such, but I guess he was sick from the get go as he died a little over a week after we found him.

My sister got really distraught after his death, so out of pity my mom (very panickingly) brought home another stray kitten she found, thinking a new cat was gonna be the best solution to a dead cat lol. A little older, bigger this time...around 2-3 months old. I freaked out at my mom at first as I thought it was going to be messing with my sister's grief, and we had already discarded most of the stuff we initially got for Miki... but the kitty and my sister bonded quickly and to me that's what matters. We've called him Max and now he's the cheekiest asshole in the house. And we love him to death.

We've also half-adopted two adult cats in the neighborhood; by half-adopt I mean we regularly give them food outside the house, but we haven't taken them in. They seem to prefer the outdoors more, so we have a schedule in place where they come by dinnertime so we can give them cat food :)

Do you regret not doing anything?  Sure.

Did anyone/thing make you so mad it stayed with you for days?  Yup.

Did you lose anyone close to you?  Not on a personal level but I mean I was pretty rattled by the death of Liam Payne even though he honestly hasn't been my favorite person for the longest time.

Did you fall in love?  No.

Did you fall out of love?  No.

Did you start a new relationship?  No thanks.

Did you go through a break up?  Nope.

Did you have to cut ties from someone?  I disengaged from my uncle because I found out all the infuriating things he's been getting away with. He already got better a few years back, why and how the hell is he back in square one and being a terrible father?

What was the best moment of the year for you?  I'm not going to lie, it is probably when Jungkook came in clutch on the last month of the year to do a 2.5 hour live LOL. It was exactly how it had always been like, minus the late night cooking lessons. It was SO fun and served as such a comforting break after the lack of boraness the entire year. My cheeks hurt when he turned the stream off because I had been smiling so much. Vietnam was also fun :) I always love going to other countries.

What was the worst?  I wept a record breaking number of times over work. Unfortunately it wasn't the casual 'let me cry over this for 5 minutes' since it was full on heaving and even crying during virtual meetings. I really felt bad for myself and those moments are big puzzle pieces as to why the year was so hard on me.

What are you most proud of accomplishing?  Handing a certain number of ₱1,000 bills to my parents for Christmas.

What do you wish for others for the coming year?  Excellent health for themselves and their loved ones.

What do you wish for yourself?  I have one but I don't want to jinx it :)