5 important lessons I learned in 2009

Yes, almost everyone I know have spoken: 2009 was a such big pain in the *ss. It’s rather uncanny though that everyone seems to feel the same way too. I am quick to blame the cosmos for this because, aside from the fact that I’m an eighth of a superstitious lady, there are just too many of us who wants to wish the year nothing but good riddance. There were just too many unfortunate events that seem to have happened and fallen on this year.

My own series of unfortunate events for this year, I have to admit, were all of my own doing though. Well, except for recession. Damn that recession. But anyway, somehow, in a general sense, 2009 didn’t feel all too great. I did have my fun the first few months, but the next number of months felt like a challenge and I had to struggle a bit more with every aspect spanning my life.

Well, it’s not like I brood over these things for days on end however. I am always fine, happy and dandy when it counts. Not saying I stop looking for resolutions when I feel okay. As a matter of fact, every time I tread on, I learn new lessons; some quick, some gradual, some ultimately cliché, some even funny but, most definitely, all very significant.

These are the most memorable lessons I’ve learned in 2009:

1. Listen to instructions. To the dot! If in doubt, freaking ask.

My friends, who were all residing in Manila, and I planned to meet up and spend our vacation in one of the beautiful islands in Palawan. One day, my closest friend among the 4 of them chatted with me and was telling me about the place and how we should meet up, etc. I did list down every thing he told me, most especially those which seemed unfamiliar to me… Or so I thought.

From Davao, I flew to Manila and got more details about the resort were staying in from my friend. They went to Palawan a day earlier because I booked a tad late and got a flight for the next day. So, indeed, the next day, I flew to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

I was very much excited when the plane landed on Puerto Princesa. My friends were even teasing me about how they’re having a fun and relaxing time on one of the beaches and how sad that I am nowhere to enjoy it. I was very much eager to see them that I cannot wait. So, as per instruction, I hailed a van and told the driver to bring me to a resort located in Coron.

The van screeched to a halt. He has no idea what I was talking about.

So we went around and asked tricycle drivers about this certain resort. We even asked the tourist desk located in the airport (which, by the way, should have internet installed). They have no clue to the resort I was speaking of.

At this point, I was panicking. I told the driver to drop me to the nearest internet cafe and wait for me there as well.

I checked. The resort was apparently located in Busuanga, Palawan.

You see, while I was talking with my friend then, he actually kept telling me we are supposed to head and meet in Busuanga, Palawan. Silly me kept thinking it was still around Puerto Princesa, and that Palawan only had one airport, which was in Puerto Princesa *headsmack*

When I told the driver about what I found out and asked how to head to Coron, Busuanga, he told me, “Ma’am, kailangan niyo pong maglakbay sa dulo ng islang ito ng anim na oras. Pagnakarating na po kayo, maghintay po kayo ng Sabado. Darating po ang ferry papuntang Coron.” (”Ma’am, you have to travel 6 hours to get to the tip of this island (we’re on). Then, you have to wait for Saturday to get to a ferry to get Coron.”)

As soon as he was done telling this, I didn’t move . I wasn’t able to move. I can’t believe what I was hearing. Also, I didn’t know if I was going to follow them there or decide to just *gulp* stay where I am.

See? This is how far Busuanga and Puerto Princesa is from each other!

In the end, I decided to stay. It was a Thursday. My friends were leaving on a Sunday. I didn’t want to waste my time just riding another van for 6 hours, wait for a ferry and then just meet and hang out with them for one day. Don’t get me wrong, I almost felt sick to the bone when the thought of me hanging out alone in the island sank in. But I had to get over it quick, because there’s really no choice left and it would be such a mortal sin not to enjoy the island as much as I can, which, I’ve heard and read, was really beautiful.

Which brings me to the next point…

2. Traveling alone is fun.

Because of the accidental-trip-switcheroo incident, I ended up traveling alone in Puerto Princesa. I had to start from scratch, with no itinerary at hand and no other people to physically run to. At that moment, I was oh so thankful for the internet. I sat down, searched and scanned for itineraries that was easy on the budget. I ended up with a collage of itineraries which ended up as really useful.

During my city tour, and while touring the Crocodile Park, I met some friendly Palawenya girls (Most of them are. And they want and choose to be, for tourism sake, at least.) who introduced themselves to me when they felt I was traveling alone. They were going around the city because they were also giving a city tour to a Manilenyo. I felt at ease with them and nothing looked suspicious about them. Besides, I couldn’t be more glad that someone else could finally take my picture, lol.

They invited me for dinner too.

One of these girls instructed me on how to get a cheap seat for the Honda Bay tour. With that, ended up meeting these people as we shared one boat, and ate fresh seafood lunch together.

While combing through one of the Honda Bay islands, met and thankfully had the spontaneity to talk to this guy.

Who invited me to dinner and who, after finding out that I am absolute that I will never be able to go to the Underground River because of my budget left, ended up inviting me to go with him to the tourist destination. All expense-paid.

All-in-all, my Puerto Princesa trip was my most unforgettable trip ever, for a whole lot more experiences and a whole lot more of people met than mentioned. And that day with that guy, one of my most unforgettable and magical moments in my life.

All because of an accident. But most especially, because I did something about it

3. Save!

So my domestic trips were a success in at least, albeit I still had to rely on my mom, sisters, aunt and cousins for help when I was short in cash, hehe. Anyway, I was still happy-happy-joy-joy after a few months when I arrived and while I was at home when a bad, unexpected news broke off: I’m going to get laid off.

It didn’t help that I had a squabble with another employer too.

So you guessed it, even with the two-weeks notice, I was dead broke. Because I got nothing saved in my account. Let alone anywhere.

Babies, it was tough. I had to battle depression and I was in no mood to look for a job. Eventually, I had to shake myself out of it because I need to. I had bills to pay.

I did find a job in the end, but it paid a fourth of what I used to earn. So now, it’s all back to basics with what I spend.

Thinking about it, with what I earned then, I could’ve started a business, bought a lot, or a car if I just saved and placed my savings in one or all of these items. Now, all these thoughts serve as a lesson. If I get lucky again next year, I will know what to do.

I’m so hoping to God I’m not just saying that!

4. You can count on family and true friends when you need them the most.

During my tough financial times, I have always my family to run to and rely on. But I never knew my friends wouldn’t hesitate to help me too. There was one moment this year when I just sat down and realized all my good friends lent a helping hand the best way they could. To think almost all of them are in the same platform as I am; same situation, same problems but still, when asked, they were always there for me.

And for that, I will always be grateful.

5. And no matter what, love is still a wonderful thing to have and to give.

This! Will take some time to finish. Trust me.

I will just leave it at that

And those are the 5 important lessons I learned for 2009.

All of us learned our own set of lessons this year, through tough challenges, painful trials and unforgettable experiences. Some of these even go beyond the personal and our loved ones. The way to these lessons could’ve been a drudgery or could’ve been trivial. Funny or painful. Serious or mundane. But, no matter how we have the learned these lessons, the main important thing is this: we’re still here to tell the tale.

So, what lessons did you learn this year?

Have A Wonderful 2010, Everybody!

Tags: 2009, advice, family, friends, life, life lessons, love, money, palawan, puerto princesa, travel

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.