Kinamit

How was your 2022, mga ateng? Was it a memorable one or do you want to erase it from your life and start anew this 2023? For me, ang daming personal challenges na nilabanan at goals na pilit kinamit. Some were successful, some were not. Daming realizations din about life in general. May mga pananaw na nabago, may mga tradisyon na tinalikuran, may mga taong dapat iniiwan sa nakaraan, may mga posibleng pangyayari na dapat paghandaan, at may mga desisyon na dapat pag-isipan nang maigi.

Restoration Project

Rico Rival artwork for Talyang Basahan

Espesyal Komiks

Circa 1997

One of the biggest was when Leni-Kiko lost the elections. Was optimistic about life kung nanalo sila but it all flipped just a few hours after the precinct closure. The once therapeutic grocery eh naging depressing sa sobrang spike ng prices. Hindi man lang 1 or 2 pesos eh, halos lima hanggang sampung piso. May iba pa nga na halos singkwenta ang itinaas. The transportation system is still ineffective. Putol-putol na byahe dahil sa restrictions, ang nakakapagod na EDSA Carousel, ang mala-sardinas na tren, at mga nakakahilong at maiinit na aircon jeep.

On a good side, marami akong na-restore na komiks this year. Karamihan ay guhit ng paborito kong dibuhista na si Rico Rival. I hope the momentum stays para naman madagdagan. May utang pa akong Chika-Chika restoration sa inyo. Naging permanent work-from-home na rin ang setup ko kaya more time for myself and less gastos sa pamasahe at kain sa labas. 

2023 will be a good start for me to change my perspective in life. One of my goals is to bring back my confidence, the Cosmo girl I was during the late 2000s to early 2010s. Some say na as you age, you are more confident about yourself. Somehow I lost that version of me and it's time for a comeback. 

Will exercise more and eat healthier dahil talagang nag-stress eating tayo this year. Although normal pa ang lab results kapag nag-annual physical exam, makikita halos na pa-borderline na tayo sa hypertension at nasa lahi pa naman namin ang diabetes. I hope to prevent that next year. First time ko din makaranas ng UTI at sobrang sakit nakakaloka! More water, less colored drinks na tayo. 

I also hope to read the rest of the unread books I bought for the past few years. Hindi tayo nakapagbakasyon for the past 3 years so it's time for me to enjoy the sea. Siquijor, mapupuntahan na ba kita?

It's always good to write an essay about what happened to your year, may it be good or bad, and the hopes you have for the next year. New year's resolution man 'yan o mga pangarap na gustong matupad, isulat na 'yan sa papel at idikit sa pader. 'Yung palagi mong nakikita sa araw-araw so that it could serve as a reminder of what you can do in 2023. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MGA ATENG!