I will diverge from the conventional New Year’s Resolution to start the year. Instead of listing of what I pledge to do for the year 2007, I prefer to jot down the bests of 2006 I received throughout the year.

No matter what and who they are as long as they brought me deep happiness, they are my blessings. I hope I will continue to receive these gifts throughout 2007.

2006 marks the ending and beginning of life chapters. As Semisonic wrote in Closing Time, every new beginning comes from other beginning’s end. There I graduated college and marched right away to the corporate world. I am thanking that job was readily available as our country is suffering much surplus of unemployed and underemployed graduates. Graduation is only a ceremony that concluded the education, the foundation and the beginning of the handed down responsibility to the family and to the country.

I believe that the previous paragraph is a no-joke truth. And we’re done for the serious part. For the next items, these are the things, people and events that I wished for, I accidentally found then later liked and the stuff that I also earned.

Oyster is the chow discovery of the year. It was a pre-victory treat in Something Fishy by Sir Sanjay to the WASAVi folks of Trend Micro delegates. The Rockefeller oysters really rocked me while my teammates surrendered to its throat-lining tang.

Hair wax is another first. I used to style with wet-look-finishing gel. But since the newest trend of my dyed hair is no-comb anime-inspired, wax is the perfect solution.

Although I wanted to honor You Tube for the best website of the year, I go for the free Napster version of Multiply. There came a time (It was high school I remember) that I used to record in cassette tapes the latest mainstream hits in music channels and radio. Then later on I spent bucks on CD compilations of the popular singles. But now, Multiply is just one textfield and button away and my library goes as heavy as 15 GB of music. 10% is original. Jacob’s Naghihintay is one.

Also, at least for a season, I experienced what is to be yuppie of the Makati living in a condominium, a fraction of being an independent and another fraction of co-existing with housemates like in a reality TV. It was also where I experienced Milenyo, I think the first (as I remember) and the latest typhoon encounter. I haven’t been stranded before in Bulacan. I really wanted to fly home then.

Jordan and Riza is a successful pair developed where I played a small role with their fate. No more details on the what, when and how. I still enjoyed being the third wheel of my best friends.

Shububu is the barkada I never thought that I would have. I was thinking before that when I stepped in to HP, everything would be too serious. Fortunately, I found people with same wavelengths. Even college batch mates Sheryl, Jason, Pao, Ardee and I were never used to be that close that we can even poke fun in front of each other. I leave behind what is to happen after two years.

Being named as the Kuya of the Batch 2006 CS Graduates is truly an honor for me. How come an irregular student slash shiftee be respected and be loved by the people I only mingled for the last two years. Honestly, I really wanted to feel that way. I always believe that the highest respect comes with love and not by fear. Socializing is ruling over ruling. Sigh. I miss the days when I took fast food delivery orders, reserved the laboratory for overnight coding, exhibited class projects and department displays and relaying department announcement and of course crisp news and chitchats.

Being object-oriented, 2006 brought me several material things. Thanks to the company benefits, I enjoy free N91 and post paid plan subscription, a Compaq laptop with biometrics and Globe Visibility. The perks also include enrolment in a fitness center to shape a little. No muscular-Johnny Bravo me, I just seek to be locomotive after work. With my monthly earnings, I was able to double the number of my clothing line. In the end of the year, I was able to give my family a new refrigerator, Noche Buena and Media Noche.

From tangible to priceless gifts, these were the things I had received in 2006. Knowing the abundant blessings I have is a good way of lighting the hope this New Year.