Grab. Jump. Be.

Kamusta namang ang pambungad na blog ng bagong taon ay tungkol sa pagkawala agad. 

Wala lang, nakakalungkot at nakakabigla lang din kasi kapag may tumatambad sa iyong balitang namatay na si ganun o si ganyan. Lalo na kapag may rele sila sa buhay mo.

Nitong linggong ito lang, early this week if I remember it right, si Susanna yung dati kong bossing na Malaysian sa Isis feminist NGO ay nag-post sa FB na namatay na daw yung isang kaibigan niyang Malaysian feminist din, si Yin San, na mas bata sa kanya at medyo kabatak ko rin ng konti. Nung huli kaming nagkita ni Yin San, andito siya sa Pinas dahil gagawa siya ng docu film tungkol sa women in politics kaya tumutulong ako sa kalakaran. Pero bigla siyang nahinto kasi daw kelangan niyang umuwi dahil sa treatment. Cancer yata ito, sa breast din tulad ni Susanna before, na na-treat naman yata. Sadly, di yata naagapan kay Yin San. Kaya ayun, wala na siya.

Kaninang umaga naman, nakakuha ako ng email tungkol sa isa sa mga best profs ko sa film undergrad ko, si Ma'am Ellen, namayapa na rin. Cancer din siya, matagal na. Di na yata kinaya ng katawan ang treatment. Napasulat nga tuloy ako ng blog tungkol sa kanya sa academic blog ko. Marami ring nagkomento nang i-post ko ito sa FB. Malungkot indeed.

Goes to show that life indeed is short, folks. Kaya kung may nega man, kelangang alpasan natin ito. Tulad nung Biyernes ng gabi, nakipagkita ako at ang isang kaibigan sa isa pang kaibigan dahil heartbroken. Nakipag-break ang jowa niya sa kanya via -- wait for it -- a text message. How idiotic. Over some beers, we were able to characterize this heartbreaker naman at mabuti na-lift namin ang spirits nitong heartbroken. When we were able to piece together a bad puzzle na we said she should be glad it's done, she said "Then it truly is a happy new year." Of course. New year, new beginnings. Lagi namang dapat ganun ang peg. I hope she'll be alright na.

I'm also glad to have interacted with people that matter over the yuletide holidays who are not based here anymore. My sister from California came home and left after the first week of this month. Same with my girlfriend who works abroad. Brief but meaningful encounters naman pareho with these two women I value in my life. Couldn't be happier.

Hanging out with my sis and my cuz in Malate. Glad this happened. 

Helped me pagpag family nega with them. The Persian food also rocked.

But there was also a test of my zen mode when another balikbayan came home, but I limited my interaction with her. I think some issues could remain unresolved for a peaceful coexistence na lang. That was the bottomline there. Like I said, minimize the nega na lang, for a better life. Yes, sometimes you really have to choose your battles. Choose to interact with people that make you happy na lang. If not, then kebs.

Also opening the month are good news and hopeful opportunities. Actually, bago pa man nag-wrap up ang taon last year, may mga clues na. Ang isa dun ay travel. My paper got chosen sa isang international conference in Asia kaya may travel na naman tayo in that manner this year. Sana nga maganap ito. Tapos reigniting some old feminist media involvement again na kahit wa datung, happy naman ang mga interaksyones na nagaganap. Beneficial pa rin naman ito for the soul.

Grab by the horn lang lagi beks. Saka let's see where the wind blows this time, this year. This will be a year of many changes for me. Big time. Pinaghahandaan ko na. And I actually can't wait for all of them to happen. Kaya abang-abang na lang tayo at darating din 'yan.

May bago nga pala akong tattoo. Finally, nagpa-tatt kami sabay ni mahal. Ang saya! Bonding. Ang saket! Siyempre. Pero ganda na naman nung gumaling na. At eto, nag-iisip na naman ako ng next tattoo hehe. Pareho daw kami ng design sabi niya. Now that must be love hehe. Sige isip muna ng design. 

Ikaw, kamusta ang new year mo so far? Sana masaya din. Let's make the most out of it. Life is short. Ang dami pang kelangang gawin sa buhay. Let's rock and roll!

Here we go!