1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Co-directed a 6 day long film festival! It was a lot of work, but I loved it. Asian American independent filmmaking reminds me why I want to make movies in the first place. It was a great collaboration between AAA Film Festival, Southeast Asian Graduation, and the Asian Pacific Islander Queer organizations. The different APIA orgs in Davis often appear to be doing their own separate things, but it was wonderful to use the film festival as a way to bring them all together. Hefty task, but so worth it. And we managed to get Amyn Kaderali and Jimmy Tsai to be our special guests. Sure, I've been meeting famous directors and writers here in film school, but the independent filmmakers that do the movies they want to do--the ones you don't know--are equally important sources of inspiration for me. And I'm grateful to have met them personally...and to be their Facebook friend :) Film Festival engulfed most of my senior year (well, socially), but I have no regrets. It was one of the best experiences of my life.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make resolutions. I suppose I should, but my outlook is pretty much the same every year. It's basically this--Cherish the moment, especially the ones that get to your core. Love (even if they don't love in return) and have fun.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two births towards the end of the year:
My cousin Anthony and his wife Gee had Baby Alaya in October
My cousin Jane and her husband Biren had Baby Amar just a few days ago on Dec 29th.
And my cousin Rutchelle and her husband, Allan are expecting in April 2010. My generation's starting to make babies. So happy to be a tita.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No one thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
Sadly I did not travel abroad this year. My 2008 summer trip to London took out too much money.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Visit another country. Somewhere in Europe, Asia or better yet--both. I definitely want to head back to the Philippines, especially since my Nanay's getting older, past 80, and well, you know....
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
AAA Film Festival!!! (May 5-8 and 12-15, 2009)
Graduation (June 13?, 2009)
These are pretty self-explanatory...
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A repeat of #7 along with getting into film school.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't really see things as failures.... I've made mistakes, of course. But labeling something as a "failure" just makes one's outlook on life so pessimistic and makes one's actions null and void.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious, just a cold.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My MacBook Pro.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
While I could put a famous person in here... I say
- Everyone in AAA, AAA Film Fest, SEAGrad, and APIQ (You guys worked so hard to bring the community together during film festival!)
- My FA family (It's great to see that you guys are keeping filmmaking alive in Davis, even after most of us have graduated. Way to wrangle up freshman!)
No one I know personally, and I'm sure you know the list of celebrities that are receiving hateration.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Living.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
AAA Film Festival, grad school, graduation. They're all tied. I'm repeating myself again...
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga was ALWAYS and still is on the radio. But her acoustic version that she performed on the Ellen show will always stand out. She did an amazing job, and that performance made me fall for the Gaga.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
happier, a tad thinner (thank you, film school), poorer (thank you, film school, but I'm happier and that's what matters)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
A bit more of my own film projects, but I did have a lot of fun helping other people on their own shoots. And I wish I took more art classes. Intro to Drawing with Bryce was fun, and I wish I took painting with him, or did a ceramics class.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Work (And I sadly need it or else I feel agitated. I'm like a Border Collie.)
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent time with the family and had a party with relatives. The highlight of the party was when my uncle offered me a shot of rum.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Not in a romantic sense, but I fell in love with people--the APIA community and the filmmaking community in UC Davis. Wish I did fall in love, even though I would've probably fallen out of it after graduation... I fell for my friends, which matters at the end.
22. How many one-night stands?
Zilch, and I'll try to keep it that way....hopefully. Probably.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
There's a good amount of shows I love, but I'm putting True Blood in here because I'm actually up to date on it.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
While there are a few who irritate me, I'm a lover, not a hater.
25. What was the best book you read?
Oh so many, both novels and graphic novels. But here are some honorable mentions:
Graphic novels:
- Luna Park
- Fables series
- Y: The Last Man
- The DMZ
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
- The Brief Life of Oscar Wao
- The Book Thief
- Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
- Fool
- Crooked Little Vein
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Asobi Seksu
and...
Wednesday Night Karaoke at Lucky Strikes
27. What did you want and get?
To graduate (a quarter early!) and get into film school.
28. What did you want and not get?
A romantic something--the mixedsignalsfromguyfriendsbutnoactionbecausewe'rebothidiotic led me to a state of romantic apathy towards the end of senior year which was unfortunate.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
There were a few good films this year, but Up was the one that was the most memorable to me.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
22! It was during Orientation week. Beth and Luke, two people who I just met during the week (but who are my besties now) gave me a cupcake and a balloon. It made my day and I got pretty emotional inside. I just met them at the time, but that small gesture made me so happy. I will never forget it.
There was also a mixer at the Lazy Dog Cafe with faculty and students. My friend, Ed (who I also just met that week) told the waiter it was my birthday, so of course the embarrassing singing and presentation of a cake occurred.
All these kind actions that were done to me made me realize--there's a family slowly but surely forming in Chapman--these are relationships that will last beyond school. I should cherish it.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
See #28. Oh, and more contemporary dance classes.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Lumberjack chic--my newfound obsession with flannel shirts.
33. What kept you sane?
My family, both by blood and by bond.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Robert Downey Jr. He made quite the comeback.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The massacre in Magindinao due to the elections there. While there has always been political corruption in the Philippines, this just brought it to a whole new level. The poverty there is a socio-political issue that will always stir me, but the growing hostility in the southern region due to the tension between the Muslim population and the mostly Catholic Filipino government and military adds a new layer to an already dire situation.
36. Who did you miss?
I miss my family and my Davis family when I'm in Orange. And I miss my Chapman family when I'm home. Oh the reversals...
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Can't narrow it down to one person so... My fellow Chapman film family!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
To not devalue myself and my abilities (thank you, McCrack)
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I can't think of a song that sums up everything, but this one does a good job.
"This Tornado Loves You" - Neko Case
My love I am the speed of sound.
I left them motherless, fatherless.
Their souls dangling inside out from there mouths.
But it's never enough.
I want you....
Carved your name across three counties.
Ground it in with bloody hides.
Their broken necks will line the ditch.
'Til you stop it.
Stop it. stop it. stop it.
Stop this madness.
I want you.....
I have waited with a glacier's patience.
Smashed every transformer with trailer.
'Til nothing was standing 65 miles wide.
Still you are nowhere.
Still you are nowhere.
Nowhere in sight.
Come out to meet me, run out to meet me.
Come into the light.
Climb the boxcars to the engine,
Through the smoke and to the sky.
Your rails have always outrun mine.
So I picked them up and crashed them down,
In a moment close to now.
'Cause i miss, i miss, i miss....
How you'd sigh yourself to sleep.
When I'd wrack the springtime across your sheets.
My love I am the speed of sound.
I left them motherless, fatherless.
There souls dangling insde out from there mouths,
But it's never enough.
My love I'm an owl on the sill in the evening.
But morning finds you,
Still warm and breathing.
This tornado loves you.....
What will make you believe me?
This tornado loves you....
What will make you believe me?
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