In the surrounding cacophony of the tooting torotot and booming boga, I am here in the little paradise of my high-rise home with the happy beats of Cup of Joe and Maki. I was supposed to write a long entry to welcome 2025 but at the moment, all I can think are the movements I did across the year 2024:
a. Attended PRPB Book Talakayan inasmuch as I can
b. Submitted essays to the first citywide Writing Workshop
c. Participated in Bookish Festivals
d. Became a reactor in another citywide Writing Workshop
e. Became a judge in an online writing competition
f. Binge-hiked the Japanese Alps
g. Celebrated Christmas and a beach getaway with the siblings
I used to tell colleagues and friends that my personal measurement of success is movement, because this gave the freedom I craved in this long apocalypse of late-stage capitalism, rampant corruption and chaotic cultural divide. With this year's salvo of Tank & Gank, I was able to tank in the negativity and gank with the little victories I trekked along the way. As 2024 ends, I do hope that I can transcend this personal movement to the little pockets of community that I belong with. With the minutes before 2025, I wish you all a healthy and safe and bountiful year ahead.
2025 will be my year of Tenacity, and it will be definitely tested as I introspect on how to continuously instill foundations for the retirement life of writing that I so long desire. But for this moment, we drink and be merry!
