If you’re a weird person like me, you’ll probably have a ranking of your most favorite years in the past decade. If not, you’ll still have an inkling, more or less, of the Year My Life Sucked The Most, or the Year My Life Took A Stupendous Turn. There are certain events in the past decade that are utterly unforgettable, and these events are of the type that attach themselves to a particular year. Sometimes, when the circumstances are too extreme, they attach themselves to a specific date.
2009 is one of the great years. Stepping out of the country for the first time, conquering my third local actuarial exam, resigning and moving to another company that provides better opportunities, and not having my love life as a primary personal concern– I don’t know how this year could have been any better. In fact, 2009 was awash with so many wonderful things that it has established itself as one of 3 best years this decade, right after 20021 and 20052.
Now, in the tradition of The Sunbaked King’s Yearend Series, here’s a blow-by-blow account of the events of the past year. I’ll keep it short, just to have the entire thing fit in a single post. (And since I’m spending $60 a year on this baby, might as well take advantage of it by incorporating some of the bells and whistles that come with the exorbitant price tag. Don’t forget to click the “i” on the upper right corner to see the note that’s attached with each photo!3)
2009 In Review
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_january_yearend.jpg]January 2009A question answered near the breaking of dawn. The 3 AM dismissal that would change the course of my career forever. A timely text message from a competitor. Witnessing the sunset up north.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/january_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
A question answered near the breaking of dawn. The 3 AM dismissal that would change the course of my career forever. A timely text message from a competitor. Witnessing the sunset up north.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_february_yearend.jpg]February 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_february_yearend.jpg]February 2009A devastating failure. Ending the first three and a half years of my professional life. The musical that would haunt my soul in more ways than one.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/february_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
A devastating failure. Ending the first three and a half years of my professional life. The musical that would haunt my soul in more ways than one.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_march_yearend.jpg]March 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_march_yearend.jpg]March 2009From 20+ to 7, and oh, what a mighty seven! A heartbreak near Rockwell. The Most Annoying Person Thus Far. Honesty is such a lonely word.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/march_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
From 20+ to 7, and oh, what a mighty seven! A heartbreak near Rockwell. The Most Annoying Person Thus Far. Honesty is such a lonely word.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_april_yearend.jpg]April 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_april_yearend.jpg]April 2009Fitness First: 145 lbs. A death by the diversion road. Getting the groove on in work and in life. A repetitive blast from the past, he who would not quit.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/april_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
Fitness First: 145 lbs. A death by the diversion road. Getting the groove on in work and in life. A repetitive blast from the past, he who would not quit.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_may_yearend.jpg]May 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_may_yearend.jpg]May 2009The first signs of insecurity at work. The first onset of a professional breakdown. Shunning the Internet to study for the next exam. Replacing the Samsung D900 for a Nokia E71. A trip to Tagaytay.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/may_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
The first signs of insecurity at work. The first onset of a professional breakdown. Shunning the Internet to study for the next exam. Replacing the Samsung D900 for a Nokia E71. A trip to Tagaytay.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_june_yearend.jpg]June 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_june_yearend.jpg]June 2009A writer of sorts. The next exam. Another excursion to Tagaytay to say goodbye to a loved one. The Sunbaked King turns one. An admission. The silence that followed.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/june_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
A writer of sorts. The next exam. Another excursion to Tagaytay to say goodbye to a loved one. The Sunbaked King turns one. An admission. The silence that followed.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_july_yearend.jpg]July 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_july_yearend.jpg]July 2009A wedding in Don Bosco, a reception in Manila Polo. The chaos of getting released from the bonds of scholarship. First trip abroad.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/july_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
A wedding in Don Bosco, a reception in Manila Polo. The chaos of getting released from the bonds of scholarship. First trip abroad.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_august_yearend.jpg]August 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_august_yearend.jpg]August 2009For each year for the past 25 years, the best month ever. Passing the second actuarial exam. A crazy-ass concert with Gaga. Regularization. Going on a wonderful Palawan excursion.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/august_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
For each year for the past 25 years, the best month ever. Passing the second actuarial exam. A crazy-ass concert with Gaga. Regularization. Going on a wonderful Palawan excursion.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_august_yearend2.jpg]More of August 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_august_yearend2.jpg]More of August 2009A very long weekend with friends in Anawangin. Meeting a no-holds-barred online friend. Celebrating the birth of the real dark-skinned king.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/august_yearend2.jpg){kind=link}
A very long weekend with friends in Anawangin. Meeting a no-holds-barred online friend. Celebrating the birth of the real dark-skinned king.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_september_yearend.jpg]September 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_september_yearend.jpg]September 2009Breaking the silence. Fast-wheeling and free falling in Clark.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/september_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
Breaking the silence. Fast-wheeling and free falling in Clark.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_september_yearend2.jpg]More of September 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_september_yearend2.jpg]More of September 2009The devastation of Ondoy. The devastation of a death that felt so close. Saving my best friend. Moving my kingdom to another world, an old friend if you will.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/september_yearend2.jpg){kind=link}
The devastation of Ondoy. The devastation of a death that felt so close. Saving my best friend. Moving my kingdom to another world, an old friend if you will.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_october_yearend.jpg]October 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_october_yearend.jpg]October 2009Ateneo reigns supreme. More heartaches on the local front. Spring Awakening. Getting fitted with some new awesome glasses.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/october_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
Ateneo reigns supreme. More heartaches on the local front. Spring Awakening. Getting fitted with some new awesome glasses.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_november_yearend.jpg]November 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_november_yearend.jpg]November 2009Watching the world through a different set... of cathode ray tubes. Fitness First: 125 lbs. First dip into the shores of Boracay. Zorbing! Banana boating! White beaching!](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/november_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
Watching the world through a different set... of cathode ray tubes. Fitness First: 125 lbs. First dip into the shores of Boracay. Zorbing! Banana boating! White beaching![img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_december_yearend.jpg]December 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_december_yearend.jpg]December 2009 The third actuarial exam. Making real amends. The "traditional humiliation in front of the entire company" thingie.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/december_yearend.jpg){kind=link}
The third actuarial exam. Making real amends. The "traditional humiliation in front of the entire company" thingie.[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_december_yearend2.jpg]More of December 2009
![[img src=http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/thumbs/thumbs_december_yearend2.jpg]More of December 2009Reunions, reunions, and more reunions. Going back home. Moving the kingdom once again. Coming full circle.](http://www.thesunbakedking.com/wp-content/flagallery/2009-in-review/december_yearend2.jpg){kind=link}
Reunions, reunions, and more reunions. Going back home. Moving the kingdom once again. Coming full circle.
- Seventeen Again? ↩
- The most peaceful and the most stable year I’ve had the entire decade. ↩
- Special thanks are extended to Apparel Ateneo for the October picture. ↩
“This is cool! Awesome!”
Hahaha. Have a great 2010, brother. :P
Hahaha. You are cool! You are awesome! :)
[...] with my brother’s tradition, I realized it would be fun to write my own series of posts about the year that was. It won’t [...]
I just noticed, who’s that guy holding the camera!?! Haha, kidding aside, I like the digital collage (makes me want to have one on my wall – bagay sa living room!).
What guy? What picture? :)
I like it, too. Know that particular type of collage that forms your face but when you inspect the picture closely, it’s composed of several little pictures of yourself? Hehe. That I’d like to hang on my wall. :)
Oh come on, don’t make me think of you any less. You know who I am talking about! Anyway, I was just kidding.
Knowing you so far, yeah. Despite the irony of seeing a form above the abstract such as a collage. Seriously, I like exactly the one there above. Haha
Then go make something like it! :)
And seriously, you think too highly of me, because I do not get the reference. Hahaha.
No, I’ll just find someone to do it for me nalang. Or I have a feeling that there’s a computer program out there that can do better than that. :)
And oh, I didn’t even say the word “high” to refer what I think about you. If I am not mistaken, I in fact mentioned the word less. :p Anyway, happy weekend to you man!
Oh, GBV. You are quite the commenter. Hehe.
Have a happy weekend to you, too!