I remember starting this tradition in the year of 06- 07, a year after I had started blogging, being under the stairs where my first ever desktop sat peacefully. I was 16 back then and dial up internet was free from 2:00- 7:00 am and I never wanted to miss the first day of the year so I decided back then, to try to stay up for as long as I could every 1st of the year that came. In an attempt to keep myself busy, I eagerly searched the interwebs for a new year survey because 1. I was obsessed with surveys (as I still am) and 2. it was relevant. 11 years later, I no longer run to my laptop to entertain myself from trying to stay awake on the most festive of eves instead, I come home because this is where I feel safe, this is where I pour out my dreams; aspirations; accomplishments & failures and most of all because writing to you has become such a huge part of me.

If you are reading this, thank you for experiencing this with me. Here are the links to my previous yearly posts which you may laugh, cry, cringe and feel indifferent about- don’t worry, that’s ok, we share the same emotions. It’s interesting to see how different my answers change from year to year and I am happy to share these parts of me with all of you. Here they are:

2006-7| 2007-8| 2008-9|  2009- 10|  2010- 11| 2011- 12| 2012- 13|  2013- 14| 2014- 15| 2016- 17

And so it begins!

1. Will you be looking for a new job?

Last year I entered 2017 with very little expectations. I had no plans, no dreams- just the hope that something interesting would happen. I took 2017 as my year of figuring out what I really wanted to do because I never want to look back at a missed opportunity knowing that I never tried. Growing up I always said I wanted to be an actress so in 2017, I tried it out and was able to get a non speaking role for Adober’s original series, Unspoken Rules which has gathered over 3 million views on Facebook. I also auditioned for an indie movie, worked in a commercial (which I mistakenly thought was my first but was actually not)- I’ve explored the world and industry of film and acting and am confident to say that if the opportunity comes in 2018, I would willfully take it head on. I dream of writing something beautiful one day and working in production and what not- we’ll see.

I took on more blogging and vlogging projects last year, which I realized is my true passion. I have been lucky in this industry to have been given the opportunity to take on great projects and although I often deal with your everyday entitled, stuck up millennial, I have also been blessed with the abilities to choose the right people and detach myself from the asses so despite all the drama the world of “influencers” and their constant fight for popularity, I have remained sane and immune.

In all these endevours, plus working online, I was able to balance and have time to do more. I was still bored, I was craving for more creative outlets and this is how my podcast, IssaTalks started. It was a running idea which I jumped into head on and just a few months in, I was able to represent the Philippines’ (for the first time) during International Podcast day and it’s just been an awesome time since then.

But it still wasn’t enough. I still craved for more and this is how H&S Clothing came into play. H&S Clothing is not anything amazing, it’s simply me taking over our family business, the business that was able to put me and 2 other siblings through college while providing us with a good life and in 2018, I’m going to work extra hard to provide for my 1st family and eventually for my own.

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?

No, because we’re ENGAGED!

3. New house?

Looking and hoping while having severe separation anxiety from the thought of leaving our little haven. I love it here.

4. What will you do different in 18?

Definitely a huge change in lifestyle choices. It’s not just about me at this point, as weird as it is to say, it’s about our future children and trying to live as long as possible to see them grow up while living a full life with our future family.

omg. am I seriously saying these things??

5. New Years’ resolutions?

To stop smoking, to save money and to lose weight.

6. What will you not be doing in 2018?

Hopefully bankrupt.

7. Any trips planned?

Manila, anywhere we can CAMP/ GLAMP, hoping for Hong Kong/ Japan. Dreaming of going back to the motherland.

8. Wedding plans?

This is so weird but yes. A big fat YES!

9. Major thing on your calendar?

Wedding planning, living situation planning, baby planning, businesses and the one million things I intend to do with my life.

10. What can’t you wait for?

Honestly, I don’t know. As much as I enjoy the thought of being married to Paolo, it’s not necessarily something I absolutely cannot wait for simply because I want to enjoy being engaged, planning the wedding and the last few moments we have before trying to start our own family. But I am definitely excited to have human babies and fur babies and scaley babies.

11. What would you like to see happen differently?

2017 was the best because I came into it with very little expectations which I think was the best thing I ever did so I’d like to keep doing this, as much as possible from now on.

12. What about you will you be changing?

Can I please be skinny this year?

Oh, my work ethic.

13. What happened in 2017 that you didn’t think would ever happen?

Moving into our beautiful home with Paolo (twice), starting a podcast, taking over a business, being in various ads, getting engaged and making more friends despite saying that I no longer needed any.

14. Will you be nice to the people you care about?

Yes, absolutely!

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in 2017?

I cannot say.

16. Will you start or quit smoking?

Quit. It’s funny because on this survey you can trace the moments I decided to start followed by the many years I’ve decided to quit but PLEASE LET THIS BE THE YEAR. FOR OUR CHILDREN!

17. Will you better your relationship with your family?

I will be acquiring a new family soon and be starting our own. It’s always been about family and it will be about family.

18. Will you do charity work?

By all means, yes.

19. Will you go to bars?

Hopefully not as much but enough to preserve the youth.

20. Will you be nice to people you don’t know?

I have always.

21. Do you expect 2018 to be a good year for you?

Of course.

22. How much did you change from this time ‘til now?

A lot and hardly at all.

23. Do you plan have on having a child?

If not this year then definitely the next. We want furry children!!!

24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with?

Most likely. But I’ll be honest, I would really like to stop talking to a few people.

25. Major lifestyle changes?

Lots. And lots. and lots!

26. Will you be moving?

We’ve been looking for a forever home for about a year now but until it happens, we’re perfectly fine in our little home. It feels so big though.

27. What will you make sure doesn’t happen in 2018?

Bankruptcy and family feuds.

28. What are your New Year’us Eve plans?

Well spent with family. 🙂 All our families know now and nobody contested so I’m happy, Paolo is happy, the whole world is happy. We also stayed up til 3 and then passed out.

29. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?

Paolo. For the rest of my life.?

30. One wish for 2018?

For life to happen the way it was meant to happen. And also for things to not cost so much or for us to make more money to be able to afford them!

May you all have a wonderful 2018 and the years to follow. Thank you so much for all the love and support you have given me throughout the years. 13 long years of whoring myself on the internet- how would’ve thought?

It’s been awesome, fam!

To many more! <3