
1. MOST ICONIC MOMENT – Literally walking in the footsteps of Gandhi on his way to his death. At the Gandhi Smiriti in Delhi. It was as sublime a moment as I may ever have in my life. Sigh.
2. MOST INDEPENDENT EXPERIENCE - Taking myself to Capitol’s emergency room at dawn then heading to progcom as if nothing had happened. Runner up: Getting my blue bird tattoo in Cartimar. Symbolizing freedom in so many, many ways.
3. MOST MODERN SEQUENCE – Harley Boy nights … ’nuff said …

4. WORK HIGHLIGHT - Weeks spent on Koh Tarutao: riding the dumptruck, setting up tents in the rain, cleaning up the garbage, getting my toenail torn off, facing the ghosts of island elders. OK, I led the team too … but note how I’m the one being supervised by the host in this shot as I fluff up wet sand for a challenge … haha!
5. FAVORITE LAUNCHES – Groundbreaking specials Signos and Kalam. The new teen’s show Ka-Blog! because it was consistently innovative. The short-lived giant-sized Big Show because it made me laugh. Survivor Philippines because it was world-class!
6. BEST VACATION - India with Mom. Most importantly because I got to know a side of her I’d never seen before, but also because seeing the Taj Mahal up close for the first time almost made my heart stop. Yes, it was that gorgeous. Runner up: Boracay with Caravan Girl. Because it’s an honor to have a brilliant sister who is also one of your bestest best friends in all the world. And because Boracay’s white beach is one of my alltime most fun places to hang out.
7. BEST SOLO ADVENTURE – Riding motorcycles in Cambodia. Whew!
8. SCARIEST THING I DID – Organize a baby shower for BFF Gilds. Runner up: Give a lecture on editing to documentarists from the Mekong region. I hate public speaking. But it’s one of those things you just gotta learn …

9. MOST MEMORABLE EVENT – Survivor’s Launch Party, because even if I want to forget it, I still can’t. Haha.
10. OUTFIT OF THE YEAR - The short blue dress. Originally intended to break hearts, except that mine was the only one - slightly – broken the night I wore it (see above). Loser!
11. ACCESSORY OF THE YEAR – Blue Sneakers. Obviously.
12. TAMBAYAN OF THE YEAR — Trinoma! My third home after my condo and the network building.
13. KAPIHAN OF THE YEAR – A toss-up between Coffee Bean in Trinoma and Coffee Bean in Tomas Morato for having seen more moments in my life this year than one can possibly imagine. Extra points for making banana caramel cake which I was addicted to mid-year and then launching cream cheese slathered carrot walnut cake – my current addiction.


14. BEST MEAL IN 2008 – CYMA’s amazing lamb chops at D’Mall in Boracay (which none of their branches in Manila cook as well) followed by coffee and a lemon tart at Lemon Cafe, also in D’Mall. Runner up: all the Indian food mom and I ate on our trip. There wasn’t one meal there that we didn’t love!
15. MOVIE OF THE YEAR - On the big screen … Sweeney Todd, which I watched alone — twice! — because my dark side will always love films where the heroes first sing and then end up in a pool of blood. Runner up: Getting Home, which I saw at a Chinese filmfest … the ultimate funny-sad road film. This dirt broke guy carries, rolls, pushes the dead body of his good friend across China to fulfill a promise. On DVD … the sweet My Blueberry Nights because I’m a sucker for non-trad love stories.
16. BOOK OF THE YEAR – Kite Runner. It was heartbreaking to read. I had to stop for days after Hassan’s abuse chapter. Then Time Traveler’s Wife, another non-trad love story which made me cry too many times throughout. Runner up: Eat, Pray and Love - an incredibly apt gift from Haowei - because I could so relate to this woman who went through a painful divorce then went all over the world to find herself.
17. ALBUM OF THE YEAR – R. Kelly’s Double Up, because after all this time, I’m A Flirt, Freaky in the Club and Get Dirty are still on my favorite playlist. Yeah, album reviews sucked but I don’t care. Runner up: Chris Brown’s Exclusive: The Forever Edition. Current addiction, the album’s 7th track You, which has an amazing vibe in spite of the dumbest lyrics imaginable. Haha.
18. EXERCISE OF THE YEAR – Walking!
19. MOST UNEXPECTED GUESTS - Fri Clubbers who came over to my super secret hideout of a home at 2 in the morning to finish a bottle of Tequila Rose. Runner Up: the Rollerblader whom I once found on my living room floor at sunrise, meditating in lotus position …

20. MOST UNEXPECTED POPCORN PARTNERS - The Folks, with whom I watched Burn After Reading (loved this too!), Nights in Rodanthe and Kite Runner … and who are already lining up Benjamin Button for our next outing …
21. BUDDY OF THE YEAR – The big-hearted Backpacker, for putting up with my depression and drunken rambling for months. Runners up: Thoklets for the Quattro Nights before she found the love of her life, Outraged Cowgirl for the frozen margaritas before I stopped drinking …
22. SOUL CONNECTION OF THE YEAR – Walking Friend, for understanding so much about me, so quickly.
23. GUY OF THE YEAR – The Mysterious Boy Wonder, because you always want the one you can’t have. Still, so named because he’s a wonderful person. And because he will remain a mystery to you all forever and ever …

24. LEARNINGS OF THE YEAR – How to see the kids who have their papers signed as human beings. How to listen, how to connect with other people, how to empathize with their pains and their joys and still manage to get things done. Runner up: How to party!
25. GREATEST REALIZATION – I am sure I believe in God. I see Her in everyone around me. I know there is a plan for my life.