It’s officially the last day of 2018. Tomorrow, it’ll officially be 2019. Before I say goodbye to this year, I’m looking back to how the last 365 days of this year went for me.



My cousin’s wedding
January

I kicked off the year with a wedding. My eldest cousin from my mother’s side got married and I was part of the secondary sponsors. I was assigned to the cord and I remember being nervous about it because it was my first time and I had no idea how I was going to do it. But I did love my dress because it came in my favorite color, green and I was all glammed up so I took that opportunity to do a wedding #OOTD.

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Old Company, New Job
January

Also went back to my previous company but now I’m part of the digital marketing team instead of PR. 
Found myself a new photographer 
February

My best friend’s partner I realized had a good eye for taking photos. Since I’ve been loving posing for #OOTDs, finding out that Dom was a willing photographer was a real delight.
The First Big Bad Wolf Book Sale 
February
As a book lover, I always look forward to the annual Manila International Book Fair because there are so many books that go on sale but that happens at the latter part of the year. So when I heard about the Big Bad Wolf book sale, I knew I wasn’t about to miss this book shopping event where I can get big discounts for books. 
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Art Fair Philippines 2018
February
My friends, Ryan, Mai and I have been regular attendees of Art Fair Philippines for a couple of years now. It’s nice to check out different art exhibits. We’re cultured people like that! Ha! Ha!

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First Travel of the Year: Iloilo
March


I went to Iloilo during the summer with my friends, Mai, Ryan and Ver. We stayed there for 4 days exploring the city and the nearby islands, Gigantes Islands and Guimaras.   

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Saw A-list Hollywood celebrities in the flesh
March
As part of Netflix’s efforts to promote the new season of Santa Clarita Diet, its stars, Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant came to Manila.

Heartbreak Hotel
April

After months of having my head up in the clouds, it finally ended on a bad note and my love struck self hit the ground hard. 

Spontaneous Weekend
April

I experienced spontaneity one Saturday where after hitting the gym in the morning, I decided to finally check out Dia de Libro 2018, an annual event held by Insituto Cervantes in celebration of International Book Day at Ayala Triangle in Makati. After which, I went to watch A Quiet Place with Rej, the Body Jam instructor at the gym whom I’m friends with on Facebook. I hardly talked to him at the gym but then I saw his open invite to the movie, I said yes and have made a friend since then.  
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New Restaurant Discovery: Taco Man 
April 

Glorietta opened Top of the Glo this year, an open air area at the roof top of the mall and Taco Man was one of the earliest establishments to open there. Ryan and I tried it once and have loved eating there since.  
  

Another New Restaurant Discovery: Nono’s
May
I don’t remember how we ended up in Salcedo Village one night in May but that’s how we (Ryan, Dom and I) discovered Nono’s – the restaurant that screamed of elegance with its white interiors. 
  
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Second Travel for the Year: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
May

Going to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar has been part of my list of places to visit for a long time now. Finally that gets crossed off my list after Ryan, Dom and I went there on Labor Day.  


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Sa Wakas, The Musical
May
I wanted to see this play last year but somehow never got around to it. Luckily, it had another run this year so I went to watch it even without company. It was a good musical that featured songs of Sugarfree. I’m glad I went. 
Quick Beach Escape
May

My company went on a summer outing in Batangas. It was a nice and relaxing beach break. 
My Sweetest Birthday Celebration
July

My friend, Dom and I are both July babies and we both love getting our pictures taken for the ‘gram. When I saw that The Dessert Museum, a “candy museum” in S Maison was offering July babies free entrance if they bring one paying friend, off we went one weekend bringing along Ryan and Mai Ann, our two paying friends. 

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Low Key Birthday Celebration
July

On the day of my actual birthday, I decided to have treat some of my good friends to dinner at TGI Fridays after gym. It is nice to surround yourself with people who love and support you. I’m glad to have these people around.

Hello Body Jam
July

I’m really not the best when it comes to dancing. But by July, I found myself becoming a regular attendee of Body Jam class again after I traded it for more of FGT, Personal Training and Cycling. It’s a fun class to attend especially when Rej is teaching. His energy and talent for dancing are something else. I haven’t missed a launch of a new Body Jam release yet. 

Third Travel for the Year: Exploring Malaysia
August 
I finally picked Malaysia as the next travel destination for mom and I. Thank you Philippine Airlines for your anniversary seat sale promo. My Instagram best nine photos for 2018 are all from this country! 

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Second Musical for the Year: Ang Huling El Bimbo
August
I also watched Ang Huling El Bimbo at Resorts World Manila with Hazel and Sam, from the gym. If you’re a 90’s kid, you’d know that the musical’s title is from Eraserheads’ song of the same title. And yes, the musical had a lot of Eraserheads songs in it. It was such a good play. If you missed it, you can watch it again next year. 



Checked out The Filling Station
September

The Filling Station, a diner feels resto in Makati has been around for awhile. You gotta try their milkshakes! Recently got more popular because of its diner feels thanks to Netflix’s Riverdale. If you want an IG worthy photo of you at a place that looks like Pop’s Diner, go here. My friend, Jordan and I did.
Manila International Book Fair 2018

I was able to add a new Archie comic to my ever growing collection.
Fourth Travel of the Year: Hongkong and Macau
November
By November, I found myself on another travel out of the country. This time I traveled not only with Ryan but with Dom and Rej. It was a tiring 4 day trip but it was also very fun! I would love to travel with this group again.


Read about it:
Christmas Get Together with LEAP 55 ONE LOVE 
December

I’m always glad to see these people I knew from LEAP. Get togethers with them always involve alcohol, a lot of kwentuhan and laughter. 


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Christmas brunch with Team No Chill
December

Life at work can be busy and stressful at times so it’s nice to be surrounded by these ladies. Ready to hear you out when you need to vent or strategize and always ready to take you out for a quick break when the need for it arises. This year, we only had a small get together for Christmas – the core team of the group: Mai, Fate, Eileen, Nicole and me at brunch in Bluesmith Coffee and Kitchen.

Solaire Staycation
December

They say the best things in life are free, right? Well, lucky us, my mom’s friend treated us to a Solaire staycation! It was two wonderful days of staying in a posh hotel for free! 
Christmas Get Together with my Closest Friends 
December

Every year for the past X number of years since we’ve been close friends, Ryan, Mai Ann and I hold a Christmas dinner get together with some of our friends. The people we celebrate Christmas with I realize change almost every year but it’s nice to know that the three of us are constantly there. This year’s dinner was at Mireo in Raffles Hotel, Makati and capped off by videoke at Red Box in Greenbelt 3 with Ver and Dom. I have a feeling this set of people will be part of the Christmas get together again next year. I hope that this group continue to grow in number as the years go by.  


If you asked me back in April how 2018 has been for me, I would have just said it sucks and I want it to be over with. I get that way when something really bad happens in my life. I wish I could have a remote control like what Adam Sandler had in Click so I could skip the bad parts and fast forward to the good ones. But looking back at all these memories I made, it made me realize I made so many happy memories and they far outweigh the bad. 
My 2018 is ending on a good note and for that I am grateful. Happy New Year folks! I hope 2019 will bring us all good things especially for those who feel like 2018 wasn’t their year.