They say what happens on the first day of the year accurately foreshadows how the rest of the year would turn out. I’m not superstitious, but I became worried this would come true in 2013 when we spent new year’s eve mourning a close aunt’s death. My mom’s sister lost her battle against cancer only a few days after Christmas and was laid to rest on January 31, 2012. My mom, exhausted and deeply saddened by what happened, wasn’t able to prepare for media noche, and she slept through new year’s eve. My elder sister’s family spent it at a hotel, so it was just me and my dad who were awake at home when the clock struck 12 midnight. We usually have a festive new year’s eve with lots of good food and old school fireworks, but not last year.
As feared, 2013 had been a uniquely challenging year for me. I know others have suffered worse, with natural and man-made disasters, but it was a bittersweet year for me; though more bitter than sweet. In 2013, my mom was hospitalized several times for different reasons. She had to go through an operation due to a mild hard attack. I had to pay a large sum of money as penalty for a certain investment I entered into. There have been (and there still are) disappointments and uncertainties at work. An uncle and a good friend died passed away, the latter dying unexpectedly. Several major plans simply didn’t push through. Many times, I felt far away from God as I was remiss in doing quiet time/prayer, and I felt like I was putting my heart and energy on things that are not part of His grand plan for me.
I was looking back at the past year and I realized that despite all the disappointments and uncertainties, there are still a lot of things to be thankful for. I’m grateful that my mom didn’t have to go through further surgery; that I still have a job with officemates who make day-to-day job a lot bearable; that I was able to enjoy 2013 with my entire family when my sister and my brother came home for the summer; that I was able to travel with family and friends; that I was able to shoot a lot this year. I’m listing down my 13 best moments in 2013 in photos. There are more, definitely. I hope I can find time to blog about them individually, but for now, this will do. 🙂
I spent new year’s eve this year with my family in the U.S. God willing, 2014 will be infinitely better. 🙂
My 13 best moments:
1. Experiencing the Laneway Festival in Singapore and seeing Of Monsters and Men, Alt-J, and Gotye play live.
2. The Firestarter workshop by Jeff and Lisa
3. My 31st birthday salubong with my best college friends
4. Bohol trip with officemates
5. Visiting La Union after several years of not visiting with my family
6. Tagaytay trip with my family
7. Palawan trip with my family. Actually, the entire time with my whole family here 🙂
8. Cambodia trip with my good friends, Diane and Lai
9. Going to Corregidor for the first time
10. Imagine Nation 10th Anniversary
11. Sugarpuff Photography – not exactly a “moment”, but I’m just grateful for all the experiences I’ve had surrounding this endeavor.
12. Patti’s debut. I can’t believe my eldest niece is already 18! I feel so old. Hehe
13. Spending Christmas in the U.S.
