Anthony Nachor's Diary

To all my readers and followers of my blog,

I want to express my deepest gratitude for your following on my first blog, and it has been a fruitful 2009 for me, with all the successes and struggles I faced, triumphs and defeats I saw, and everything in between. I hope that your 2009, even though it was of economic hardship, was a reflective and spiritual one that allowed you and your family to open your eyes towards sharing, giving time for those in need, and living a more modest and simpler life.

This year has been quite a lot of twists and turns, from me getting accepted to UC Berkeley (but did not push through due to immense nd this Christmas is no different: what I got for Christmas were three things: an Insignia Digital Camera (purchased November), a Sony Combo Boombox Player (with radio, iPod dock, and CD player, purchased the 22nd), and Michael Buble’s latest CD, Crazy Love, in which I love the song that, coincidentally, is of the same name as the album — makes me fall in love with music even more! What I also liked this year was the fact that I got accepted to three schools, namely UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and San Francisco State University, but I turned down the final offer for UC Berkeley because the school wanted to charge me an astounding $16,000 (up to $21,000 in Spring 2010) for tuition alone: I declined that offer since it does not cover everything else related to school, including books, food, commute, and extras needed. Good thing this December that a second chance for me to go to San Francisco State came by, and now, I have promised myself not to turn away from that offer because I know that it is a cheaper, more viable option than UC Berkeley, and I will get the same course that I need in the first place, Urban Studies. Also, I have finished the Asian-American Studies essay I made for the class (if you remember “A Rolling Poll”); I received an A for that essay! For the essay entry, view the file, in full, here.

There have been rough times for me too this year, but, I want to put those in stride because if I mention each one of my struggles, it would be too painful for me to write (in full detail) those things, resulting in too much stress in an already-stressed out season. It’s not that I’m playing safe, but, if I iron out the details, many of those stories would be ugly — trust me.

I also want to wish the Philippines Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and hopefully those in power will use this season of gift-giving and spiritual renewal as a way to reconnect, not only with their families, but also to the communities around them. And hopefully, they will donate their share of wealth, not as a “show-of-face”, but out of compassion and openness to the needs of those in poverty. For the May 2010 Elections, I just want to say, vote wisely and choose your candidates carefully!

For all the great things and the more unfortunate incidents that happened this year, I thank God for all of them because I know those things happen for a reason, and I know that even in this economic and social hardship, I believe that Jesus Christ is still watching and guiding over us, and I believe that He is the reason for the season. With God in our hearts, I believe that we can share the true meanings of Christmas, which, in my opinion, are:

- Caring for the poor and sick, even with our busy lives
- Helping people achieve their educational goals
- Rising up to knowing the social value of the season
- Inspiring others to be who they want to be
- Sharing our haves with the have-nots in life
- Thanking the people we have been working with
- Managing our priorities and tasks for others, not just ourselves
- Appreciating others’ work through supporting them
- Spiritual renewal through understanding Christ’s presence in us

I wish each and everyone a Happy Christmas to you and your family, and may all of you have a blessed and meaningful Holiday season.

- Anthony

P.S. Brand new pictures released on my Photobucket — here’s a preview:

San Francisco Skyline, taken from the Golden Gate Ferry

San Francisco Skyline (Telegraph Hill and Fisherman's Wharf)

Downtown Oakland Skyline from I-880 NB

For more of these pictures, click on “My Photobucket Page” link on the Related Links to My Blog list, or click here.