It’s the 15th of January 2025. We’re only two weeks into the new year and yet, it feels like it has been a long time. Since January 2, there has been only 10 work days and two (2) weekends! But we’re back to the same routine, and the newness of 2025, it seems, is getting a bit fainter as time passes by.

At work, we already had several meetings/events in the DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy, three (3) of which I attended — one internal, and two with other stakeholders (a lecture forum on Philippine Studies organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Polytechnic University of the Philippines) and a Board Meeting of the Philippine Film Export Services Office). We have one tomorrow with a group to present their proposal on a film-related project.

We also sent many official communications (memos, letters, fax), replied to numerous emails, and responded to a lot of Viber messages on cultural diplomacy whilst being added to new group chats; renewed coordination with our stakeholders on both old and new projects and so on.

Personally, what happened these past few days? I started taking my vitamins regularly and did 5-10 minute morning exercises daily (but I think I had lapses for 3 days). I watched one movie alone (Green Bones is part of the MMFF offering). I also found time to meet people I wanted to meet (work colleagues, and our old neighbors in QC) just to see how they were doing and give a Christmas/New Year gifts. I also paid my real estate tax so that I won’t need to rush during the deadline. I continued reading three (3) of my books — “The Kindness of Birds” by Merlinda Bobis, “Yniga” by Glenn Diaz, and “Wing of the Locust” by Joel Donato Ching Jacob.

I also “unearthed” from my Paris shipment some books, which I haven’t continued reading for over three (3) years now. These are “Becoming” by Michelle Obama, a book on diplomacy by Henry Kissinger, and “Culture and History” by Nick Joaquin. I plan to continue reading them in the next few weeks.

Quo vadis, 2025? Hmmm…we planned a lot of cultural projects in our Office. Maybe, I’ll be off to my new foreign assignment by midyear. Probably, I’ll have a domestic flight in the first quarter of the year and at least one international travel. Maybe, I’ll meet my partner for life. (Haha! This last one is a random thought.)

Well, it’s getting late so let me wrap up. Make 2025 your year. Face challenges head on. Open yourself to possibilities. Meet people who make you feel happy and energized within. Believe in yourself and in God. Find time for things that nourish you mind, body, and soul. Find little things daily that give you a zest for life. Take good care.

And really, it’s not required all the time to plan months ahead. If in some moments you just want to think of and plan for the next day, that’s okay. Any way, it’s just January, right? There are many months ahead and there is enough time to do what you want to do this year. 🙂

Happy 2025. ❤