New Years Resolutions

Why do we have to make a new New Year's resolution after we fail to complete the old ones? Good question.

As promised yesterday, we need to inject humor into the business of PLEDGING to make a PROMISE, so we will not get stressed out if we fail to complete what we VOWED to do.

Below, I made some resolutions not only for myself, but also for people close to me. 

We are doing this for the laughs ... sakali mang may mapikon ... Bato-bato sa langit ang mapikon ... sigi ituloy mo na kung gusto mong magalit.

                                   >>>>>>>>>>>>

My New Year's Resolution is to become a budgetarian and a vegetarian.

Tightening one's belt ... a "budgetarian" has to be a vegetarian ... even if okra is slimy and ampalaya is bitter. Vegetables are cheaper compared to buying beef and pork ... sakali mang hindi mo pa alam yan.

                                     >>>>>>>>>>>>

Mom wants to lose weight. It is an oath she wants to keep.

Just don't show her KFC Hotshots, Pork Chop, or Bicol Express. And when you go to the mall ... avoid passing by Chow King.

                                     >>>>>>>>>>>>

Iiwasan ko rin ang mga bagay na nagpapataba sa akin.

And that includes weighing scales ... and lifesize mirrors. Iwasan ko na rin tingnan ang aking old FB photos that will remind me of what I once was..

                                   >>>>>>>>>>>>

Michael's New Year's Resolution: "I will improve my art in procrastination ." That's manana habit, dummy.

"And to prove that ... I will start tomorrow."

                                      >>>>>>>>>>>>

Shiela promised she will pet more dogs.

Michael agrees as long as she will pet him, too. And she cleaned the dog's shit ... pronto.

                                      >>.>>>>>>>>>

Alfred's pledge this year: "I have never been serious, but I will be more patient and tolerant this time."

If something goes wrong ... don't blame me.  I will blame you!

                                         >>>>>>>>>>>

David's sacred vow? To improve his memory and his retention.

So if you tell him, "Go see Michael if he is around." His answer should never be: "Who's Michael?"

                                         >>>>>>>>>>>>

Bonjo loves to eat, it is hard for him to say no.

His idea of a New Year's resolution is how he can fix five small, frequent meals in a day ... midnight snack excluded.

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>

Katong has just achieved his six pack (I termed it a chiseled stomach or washboard ripped abs)... so he wants to maintain it.

He wondered what his resolution would be like with Bonjo around, showing him the rudiments of how to have a voracious appetite.

                                            >>>>>>>>>>>

Every year ... Shiela makes it a point to change herself.

This year ... for a change ... she just wants to be herself.

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>>

Mark and Jane are a photophile. They just love taking photos with their family in a restaurant, out-of-town picnic, on nature tripping, and camping.

There's nothing to change for them. Family is family.

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>>

I was planning to tell Mike his New Year's resolution should include giving more hugs to the kids.

I could almost see Scott react: "But not in public ... Daddio!"

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>>

Zyle wants her dream girl to be the happiest that she could be. She loves her very much.

For the record, that dream girl, by the way, is her.

                                          >>>>>>>>>>>>

After being hospitalized ... Scott wants to avoid peppery, spicy, and tangy food. Well, he had 1 bout of projectile vomiting again.

Can you blame me?"he said. All that hot, spiced, and seasoned food meant one thing.  They taste good.

                                         >>>>>>>>>>>>>

PJ's promise: "New year ... new me."

After 15 minutes, he comes back  saying, "Never mind ... forget it."

                                       >>>>>>>>>>>>

My other resolution is to go out and SIN no more.

My inner self thinks otherwise.  He wants me to go out and be SEEN more.

                                            >>>>>>>>>>>

Much Ado About New Year's Resolution

January 1 every year ... kicks off with people afflicted with the New Year's Resolution bug in the eye of the storm. The malady made them focus on their individual goals, plans, and commitment for self-improvement ...  the people made it as a vow, a pledge, their personal mission for that year that needs to be started. 

Just like the now-vogue fashion week, the first week of January is a "personal renewal week" for people who want to renew and change old habits - designing small but manageable steps for growth.

As of late, however, the annual observance saw some tinge of negative coloring to it, and some people treat the New Year as an unwelcome anniversary. It is a yearly albatross around their neck ... (more like a pain in the neck) as it imposes anybody statutory deadlines, especially to people who are hell-bent in making good on their promise.

"The yearly ordeal is back," ... so they say ... the annual struggle where people have to make a roadmap and the grand scheme to better themselves and zoom in new "mission impossible" that seems so unfeasible and unattainable. They found themselves in the same trap as last year, failing again for the nth time and haunting them and their collective consciousness the whole year round.

New Year's Resolution is a nuisance. Let's face it. We know how hard it is to keep up with the challenge and the demands of making a New Year's promise, for isn't it promises are made to be broken? 

That's what we do. And it is the same routine year in and year out. But whether we keep or break our promise ... the reality is there... that New Year's resolution is like a Damocles' sword (or is it our conscience) hanging over our heads and reminding us that we are negligent and remiss, that we have not kept our word.

Imagine keeping the resolution for a month ... let alone the next 365 days? That's a mega-challenge ... a hopeless endeavor ... and an unrealistic quest.

It is for this reason that we treat and adopt a new approach to dealing with this New Year's malady. How about treating it with humor ... a new frame of mind ... a newfound playfulness ... and not getting serious about it.

So, in the spirit of looking hopeful that 2026 will be fruitful for all of us ... let us be lighthearted, have a playful attitude, and focus on fun ... let us foster a sense of camaraderie rather than being overly serious or focused on stress and worry for what lies beyond 2026.

That will help us kick 2026 off with a laugh, and the realization that most of us agree: "We will make things happen this New Year."

Late New Year's Resolution

 

New Year's Musing

Pahgkatapos ng CHRISTMAS ... said  at ubos na ang KUARTA.

Pagdating ng NEW YEAR ... as expected ... balik tayo sa TINAPA.

                                         ***************

Ang first na limang (5) emojis na ginamit mo sa iyong social media account will predict kung matutupad ang inyong mga New Year resolutions.

See accompanying emojis.

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Ayaw ko na sanang MAGALIT.

Sa ingay na ginawa noong New Year ... nasampolan ko kung hanggang saan talaga ang PASENSIYA ko.

                                         ****************

New Year resolution ko rin sana ang mag-DIET.

Putsa sa sarap magluto ng nanay ... first day of 2025 ... alanganin na. Ang isang sertosong PANGAKO ... ay unti-unti nang NAPAPAKO.

                                         ****************

Isa rin sa mga NY resolution ko ay MAG-IPON. I-postpone ko na lang yan sa 2026.

Paano ka ba naman maka-TIPID ... malapit na mag-alas dose ... natukso pa akong bumili ng lechon?

                                         ****************

Ang kaibigan ko ang New Year wish ... ay mabuting KALUSUGAN.

Habang pumutok ang mga kuwitis sa kalangitan buong ningning  pang nag-toast pa siya sabay sindi ng sigarilyo at lagok ng alak ... at nag-usal na: "Here's to our good HEALTH.

                                           ***************

Isang malapit sa akin ... ngayon lang niya narealize na lubog na siya sa utang.  Hindi niya pala alam na ang PANGHIRAM pala ng pera ... ay PANGUNGUTANG.

Rude awakening. The more you FIND yourself ... the more you LOSE your sanity!

                                           ****************

Next year sa 2026 na ako magbabagong  anyo ... sabi ng kapitbahay ko.

Sino ang niloloko mo? Kung AYAW talaga magbago ... (dahil enjoy ka sa lumang ikaw) maraming DAHILAN.

                                            *****************

Ang hina naman ng neighbor ko ... kailangan pang hintayin ang New Year para magbago? Imagine maghintay ka ulit ng another 365 day cycle?

Ako kahit BUKAS puwede. Kung GUSTO ko... magagawaan ko ng  PARAAN.

                                            *****************

Ang mother namin ay VEGETARIAN.  Wala kaming gastos noong New Year ... paano lahat gulay.

Ang mother naman ng cousin ko ay BUDGETARIAN.  Ayaw magcelebrate ng New Year ng January 1. Ang New Year daw nila can be celebrated anytime. Pag mura na raw at  50 percent off na ang ham at baboy ... mag New Year kami.

                                            *****************

Girl 1: Please lang huwag ninyo akong KULITIN.

Girl 2: Bakit naman?

Girl 1: Kapag ako ay KINUKULIT ako ay NAGAGALIT.

Girl 2: E di magalit ka.

Girl 1: Gusto ko nang magbago ... New Year pangako ko yan.

                                            ******************

News Flash ... may magandang balita.

Twelve (12) months na lang 2026 na. Yong mga new year resolutions ninyo ... totohanin na.

Sabi Ko Na Nga Ba

 

My Book And Story On 2025

2024 is drawing to a CLOSE ... pero ang ating buhay at libro ... ay hindi pa TAPOS.

Wala pang nakasulat sa mga pahina ng 2025 ... kung ano mang kuwento ang gusto nating tahakin ... tayo lang ang nakaalam. Kung maganda ba ito o pangit ... yan ay depende na sa atin.

One Liner

 

New Years Resolution

Ano ba yan ... kung NEW YEAR ... ang wish ng lahat para sa iyo ay MAGBAGO ka.

Kapag BIRTHDAY mo naman ... bulong ng lahat  sa iyo ... sana huwag kang MAGBABAGO.

Ano ba ang sundin ko? Nagugulohan na ako sa inyo ... mga perpektong tao!

This New Years Eve

Kung sino man ang naka-isip ng pakulong ito ... hats off ako sa iyo.

Bring some little table manners and etiquette with you this New Year's Eve. Totoo naman eh ... kaunti lang naman niyan paano na lang ang ibang bisita?

Lalo na kung masarap ang pagkaluto ... baka hindi lang hanggang dalawa ang kaya mo?

Kung napasobra ka ... bawiin mo na lang by saying: "Masarap yong Shanghai ... pa-share naman ng recipe!"

Sa sinabi mong yon ... mapapangiti siya. At gaganda ang mood. Pinuri mo ba naman ang pagkaluto. Siguro masarap nga. 

Gusto ka pang tanongin ng "Talaga?" Solve na ang problem mo ... at guess ... baka alokin ka pa for more Shanghai.  Bahala na yong ibang guests. 

Kaibigan Nga Ba Sila?

May mga taong bulag, pipi at bingi sa mga lahat na mga mali na pinaggagawa mo. And with that said ... ito ang catchphrase of the day for you para tandaan mo: "Kung hindi ka ITINAMA ... may MALI!

If you think sila ang mga taong dapat pagkatiwalaan mo ... sila ang mga tao who cares fo you ...  sila ang mga taong who has your best interest at heart ... at sila ang mga taong who is into your well-being and general welfare in mind ... diyan ka nagkakamali ...  iho.

The mere fact na wala silang sinasabi sa iyo is tantamount to admission na wala silang pakialam sa iyo. Masakit man sabihin ... pero yan ang totoo. 

For one ... paano mo sila inisip na mga kaibigan mo ... eh di ba pinabayaan ka lang? They ignored you and they allowed you to suffer ... so how could you choose them ... over your family or friends? Kaibigan bang matawag ang mga  taong who perpetuate and tolerate your wrong choices and opinions? Kaibigan nga ba sila ... di ba hinayaan ka lang nilang mabulid sa kung anong impiyerno meron ka ngayon?

Kung merong tao na nagbibigay sa iyo ng advice ... payo ... at mungkahi para mapa-unlad ang buhay mo ... (kahit nabilaukan na ... at kusang iniluwa at sinusuka ng mataas mong PRIDE ang  mga sinasabi nila) pause for a moment and think.  Di ba dapat sila ang mga taong dapat mong isiping mga tunay na kaibigan?

Hindi lahat ng tao ay kayang ituwid ang mga baluktot mong paniwala. It takes guts and genuine concern ... para ang tao ay umastang konsiyensya mo. Only the brave ones have the heart to act as your mirror and show you the reflection of how bad you have messed up your life.  Only family or friends ... can muster enough courage to show you the way and say nasty things about you.

Kaya huwag kang pikon ... dahil matigas talaga ang ulo mo. Lunukin ang "fried chicken" at gawing New Year's resolution ang pagbabago mo.

New Year's Thoughts

This New Year ... MASARAP ang pakiramdam na sa isip mo ay may laman pala ang bulsa mo. Well ... not everybody.

It is not a surprise na pag-umpisa pa lang ng mga putukan at pagtunog ng mga sirena at paggawa ng ingay ang isang buong kapuloan ... marami na ang may MASAMANG pakiramdam. 

Hindi nila matanggap ang reyalidad na balik na naman ang buhay nila sa dati - "isang kahig ... isang tuka". Wala kasing preno kung magwaldas ... maikompara lang ang sarili sa ibang mayaman diyan na magarbo kung salubongin ang bagong taon. 

Tsk ... tsk! Hindi na natuto ...

Naisahan Ko Kayo ...

Todo and preparation ko this New Year. Taliwas man sa tradisyon at nag-biglang liko ako sa nakagawian ... but under the circumstances ... it was the most practical and complete list of round fruits there is. 

Nakakamura ka na ... nakakamura ka pa ... dahil nakakaiwas gitgitan ka pa sa market para mabuo ang lahat ng bilog fruits.

Kung nabudol ko kayo ... don't cry your hearts out ... may next year pa naman para magawa ninyo ang modus na ito.

Happy New Year everyone!

Much Ado About 123123

Some may consider the last day of 2023 as meaningless trivia, but nobody can deny the fact that today's event piques Pinoy's tendency to make mountains out of a molehill ... that in their assessment today's numerical sequence is something odd and remarkable it is comparable to Halley's comet in stature and importance. 

To the uninformed ... Halley's Comet is set to reach aphelion, its furthest point from the sun, last Dec 9 2023  as it makes its 76-year trip around our solar system, according to science website EarthSky. Halley's Comet was last visible from Earth in 1986. According to NASA, it is expected to make its next appearance in 2061. 

God forbid ... If Halley's comet were to hit the Earth, it would have catastrophic consequences for the human race and all life on this planet. The impact of a comet of that size would likely cause widespread destruction, including massive tsunamis, wildfires, and a significant impact on the Earth's climate.

In that context, this numerical sequence like this one is not something to be sneezed about. Whether it will bring good or bad ... it reverberates with colossal and cosmic proportions to some Pinoy psyche.

Some of them even think it might be lucky to celebrate New Year's Eve with a big bang ... and WISH something good might come out of it.

Remember this unique numerical hocus-pocus won't happen again in the next 100 years ... so try if you must and celebrate saying goodbye to 2023 ... and hope for a blessed and prosperous 2024 is in store for all of us.

Filipino traditions during New Year’s eve

New Year's Rituals

Pinoys around the world usually try to follow unorthodox and sometimes eccentric observances in New Year.

Some Pinoys believe that the best time to pay your debts is before New Year. So before the clock strikes twelve (ala Cinderella) you should be at least DEBT-FREE.

Failure to do ... would mean status quo which is Latin for your current existing state ... which means NO CHANGE. If you are drowned in debts last year... you will have the same financial status for the rest of the year.

Other Pinoys have the penchant to load their wallet with lots of money ... to the point that it is almost bursting at its seams. This practice allows good budgetary and financial vibes to flow in.

New Year's Ba;oney!

I am not trying to be negative here ... and I am not saying this with sarcasm ... pero kahit punuin mo ang fruit basket ng 20 rounds fruits ... kung ugali mo ay umasa lang sa iba ... at wala kang ginagawa para sa sarili mo ... paano darating ang magandang swerte ... aber?

Nasa tao ang GAWA ... nasa Diyos ang AWA. Ikaw nga hindi naaawa sa sarili mo ... ang nasa Itaas pa kaya?

Pancit at New Year?

Known as Changzhou mian, which means “long-life noodles,” these noodles are up to two feet long. According to Chinese tradition, the longer the noodle, the luckier you'll be. Just be careful not to accidentally break one while you're cooking—that's bad luck because it represents a life cut short. 

Pancit is a must because it symbolizes good health and a long life. Families also serve rice cakes or sticky rice. Filipinos eat sticky treats during the New Year's because they believe they will strengthen family ties.