On the eve of my birthday my mother told me she still had nothing to give to me on my birthday. I told her that the Triple Chocolate Roll we bought earlier is enough. I even remember a week ago that she asked what dish/food do I want for my natal day, I told her that we almost ate every food in town, we even tasted those in the metro, and for they are all the same. And I crave for nothing.
Tonight, I feared (fear talaga yung term) that I’ll have an unplanned year ahead of me. ‘Come what may’ is not a very good idea anymore. My enjoyment of life has long been overdue, though I know I haven’t been to too many places, I haven’t seen the rest of the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, nor never learn to dive or to ride a motorbike, or to hike or to ride the zip line, or to taste the Alamid Coffee, but I think it’s time to get serious with life. My father is nearing retirement age, in a couple of years, the family expense will be shouldered by me and my sister.
As of the moment, I already feel the burden, I am responsible for the utility bills and my sister is in charge of our house helper. Truly, the electricity bill is ballooning and 90% of the phone bill is for the rental fee of the machine. And to add, I have my bigger share of other financial responsibilities as well.
So how will I start my 33rd year of existence, I hope by this, I slowly get into the pace of planning and executing my plan. First, I need to zero out all my ‘financial responsibilities’, I’ll look for loans that offers less interests and good payment scheme. Since, I already opened another account with a local good standing bank, I’ll put a part of my salary in it, starting with the first salary after my birthday. Then, I need to budget all my expenses, from food and transportation (well, I hope the top management will approve the transportation allowance for us). And as much as possible, I’ll walk, that saves P8.00 of my transpo everyday.
Since, I am selling hams this year, I wish to save also what I have earned from that. I also have another talk in the provincial governor’s office this Nov, the money for that will also be save. Save up will be my motto this coming year. TODAY I’LL START TO SAVE!
On the other hand, I sensed few colleagues collecting small amount for a gift on my birthday. I brought up to a friend/colleague that I want that P1,200 peso Benro tripod. Since the company is giving a birthday gift certificate, worth P200, so that leaves me P1k to buy it. Photography is my hobby. Though I am not as good as local photographers, I think I have my own style. Anyway, having a tripod is already a good help to hone my hobby.
Another group of colleagues are doing the same. But I don’t know what their plans are.
Anyway, a few days before my birthday, I emailed some of my colleagues, that I don’t want a gift for my birthday. I told them that its better for me to receive nothing on my special day. Is it grudgeness (if there such word)? Or I’d rather focus more on my plans for the future rather than material things. And not only that, for every gift that they gave, I felt that I need to return a favor or it might be the pay for the favors that they asked from me from the previous year. Whatever way or reason it is, for the good or for returning the favor, I still don’t like it.
Just a thought, these are the gifts things do I would love to have on my birthday, (anyway this is in random order):
3D/2N stay in Singapore with free airfare, accommodations and allowance
A good sum of money (to zero out my financial responsibilities)
External Hard disk drive (500 GB to 1 Terrabyte)
Iphone (3G or 4G its fine)
A mountain bike
A wide angle lens
EOS 1100
Philippine and Korean Starbucks Planner
A promotion
A new fulfilling and good paying job somewhere
An all expense paid photography seminar at PCCI
To tour in ABS CBN
To go to Corregidor
A lifetime membership in Fitness First
To learn to ice skate
A room renovation
To loose weight
To have a wonderful bookshelf
National Bookstore GC worth 5000 pesos to buy all the books I want
More speaking engagements
I could not think of anything anymore.
But anyway, whether or not I’ll get these things, the best birthday is spending it with my family. Although my most love granny is with the Lord, I know she’ll be celebrating it with us muna. Ah eh, puwera takutan.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
