I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions. I usually make “new school year resolutions” though, but that’s not why I’m making this post.
Me in 2nd year high school
When I was in second year high school, a lot of my friends started making all these “lists” for what they wanted to accomplish by the next year. Being the little sabay sa panahon (roughly “goes along with the flow”) that I was (and still am, somehow) I asked one of my friends to suggest one for me. Back in those days, it was a “fad” to scribble your crush’s (or crushes’s, the latter being more applicable to my situation) name on the palm of your hand. I was no exception, so she told me, “How about you try not writing on your hand next year?” It’s been roughly 3 years now and I haven’t written on my palms since! (I’ve tried writing on my wrists a couple of times though, but never on the palms!)
For 2012, I have a specific goal to accomplish: to lose weight. I won’t deny the fact that it’s partly because I want to lose weight, but it’s mainly because I have to lose weight. I have scoliosis and I have been advised to watch my weight and to make sure that I don’t exceed 54 kg, going over that weight would put too much stress on my spine. I didn’t ask the doctor what would happen if I went over 54, but I’d probably experience back pains more often (I’m in the prime of my teenage years and I’m already experiencing all this, you’ve got to shed some tears at that thought lol) and my curvature would probably increase. I don’t want that. So I’m going to lose weight!
Summer before my Junior year of high school
If you’ve tried the “I’m going to lose weight” declaration before, you’d know what I mean when I say that it’s easier said than done. My skinny friends (that have vacuums for stomachs but never seem to gain any weight) would complain that gaining weight was harder, but I don’t know man, some people just have couch potato metabolisms. People like me. Hahaha! So, in order to spice things up, I’m going to do something I’ve already done before — The Banning.
What’s “The Banning?” When I was a sophomore in high school, I had this unhealthy (let me emphasize that, UNHEALTHYYYYYY) obsession for manga (Japanese comics.) I would spend hours trolling the internet scavenging for manga updates, oftentimes completely neglecting my schoolwork just because of it. It’d be interesting to note that my second year high school final grades were the lowest I’ve ever had in high school — actually, my whole academic life. It was the first and only year where I had a failing mark on an examination (and a final examination at that!) This did almost nothing to discourage me from relishing in all that was kawaii, but in the third quarter of my Junior year in high school, I decided to challenge myself. That challenge was — you guessed right — THE BANNING.
Me in Junior year, complete with my early Photoshop editing skills — AKA the crappy-excuse-of-an-edit phase of my life
The challenge was simple. If I didn’t become an honor student, then that’d mean no more manga and anime for me. Yeah, pretty simple if you weren’t a Kuroshitsuji-obsessed girl like I am. Tearing away from my beloved mangafox and onemanga tore my itty bitty heart into pieces, and hearing my otaku friends talking about manga updates were just… envy-inducing. It was hard in the beginning. *Insert tear stains here*
Senior year, after a hosting stint at school
When my third year of high school came to a close, I was just 1 point away from being a third honor student (and I’m not even joking) … so yes, the challenge continued until Senior year. In the summer I refrained from reading manga still, since I didn’t want to get a “relapse” or something hahaha! Luckily my efforts were remunerated because I graduated as the top 7th student of my batch. I went through almost 2 years without manga that I practically started wondering why I even liked it in the first place.
My Senior Prom
Most of you probably know of my tumblr. I follow a lot of Japanese fashion blogs, and sometimes they’d post illustrations by Japanese artists and on other instances they’d be spreading some anime love on my dash. On one particular day last Summer, I found caps from Ano Hana, so I watched it out of curiosity and cried a tissue box of tears afterwards. It didn’t re-ignite my love for anime and manga though. But mid-August this year I came across Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt… and well my life has changed since. Hahaha!
Shanghai, summer 2011
So this time, I’m going to start this challenge all over again. If I don’t weigh around 95-110 pounds (I weighed only 100 lbs during Senior year, so it’d be doable to shed all the flab I’ve put on since then) by December 2012, I’ll ban myself from anime/manga/manhwa/webcomics until I do end up in that weight bracket. This’ll be tough, but it has to be done! If I do end up succeeding in this endeavor, I will treat myself to some Christmas shopping — maybe grab a few art books or shop for some new clothes. The possibilities are endless lol! For penalties if I don’t end up losing weight, I’ll also ban myself from eating fast food until I lose the weight. To give up all of my french fries and imaginary boyfriends — this is serious, my friends.
Me (in long sleeved shirt) taken a few weeks ago. This was on the day I got a crash course on how to dance “clubbing style”
)
On another note, my hometown was just recently hit by tropical storm Washi 
Sendong photos courtesy of Keith Obed Ruiz
This is the first time I’ve heard of my city being hit by a typhoon! The aftermath is just heartbreaking. Just the idea of knowing that my fellow Kagay-anons will be living through Christmas without a home — or worse, without a certain family member or loved one — is just horrible! When I first read about the incoming storm, I thought it was just the usual strong winds and terrible rain sort of thing, but little did I know that it’d swirl up into this gut-wrenching tragedy. I’ve been itching to help out ever since Saturday! I’m only comforted by the fact that my family is safe and that my relatives survived as well. Most of my friends didn’t share the same fate though I hope everything will perk up real soon! Here’s hoping for all the best for Cagayan de Oro! Stay strong, Kagay-anons!
Lastly, on a totally out-of-topic note, I’ll be heading home this Saturday! I’m quite excited! Although my hometown is practically in ruin right now, that’s not stopping me from getting all giddy at the thought of being with the ones I love yet again! Actually, I think the results of the flood are also one of the reasons why I want to go home. I really want to help, even though just the idea of helping out is making me feel all emotional already. Tss!
Advanced Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!!
