I was able to save some money to buy Renz, Jiro and Jackie their most awaited christmas present. I bought them psp3001 which cost a lot from my own savings but it was worth it. My uncle came home and treated us for dinner in MOA Gerry's Grill around the 2nd week of January.

Aside from those happenings, I had a great college premed reunion with my batch in DLSU-D at Lucille's place in Bel-Air 1. It was fun. I even made some serious resolutions for this year. Everything was the way I wanted to happen except for one thing...

My Favorite Noodles...

One of my closest friends for 11 years died last January 18, 2010. She was battling cancer for almost 2 years. I made a blog about her a long time ago here. Noodles as I used to call her was one of my truest friends. She was more than a bestfriend. She was a sister, a twin and soulmate. We've been friends since premed years and after some major career changes plus a dozen of new friends from other places, we still managed to stay close.

I wasn't always there for her during her trying times but I wish I was. I always wanted to visit her during her chemo session but she wasn't keen about that idea. I always asked her to join me in my trips but she was always worried about her condition being a hindrance and all.

I always believed that she will get better. She was a fighter plus having her hubby and thea by her side would certainly make her fight for her life. I never considered the possibility of losing her someday. Never in my life did I think of her giving up from her battle. I didn't treat her differently after knowing she was sick. I wanted her to be just like the Noodles I once knew. The bubbly, feisty and sweet noodles that everyone loved.

She once told me that she wanted to have the "Sex and the City" friendship routine. You know...the Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha's breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner dates. She wanted all her closest friends to meet up once a week for a good chismisan moments even if we're all in our 30s or 40s. She wanted our kids to be friends as well too.

The most memorable thing she said to me was when she tried to explain why she didn't want me to be Thea's godmother. She said "akin ka lang eh, dapat attention mo nasa akin lang. Pagbinigay kita kay Thea baka di na ako unahin mo." She was that protected of our friendship. We had our moments when we lost contact with each other after I transferred from another school but we always managed to make up for the lost time.

We're not best of friends but we've been through a lot of good and bad moments. She told me things that she never mentioned to anyone else. She cried and opened up to me a couple times about some problems she went through. I never judged her in every decisions she made and vice versa. She once asked me after she told me some not-so-good-things she did in the past kung nagbago daw ba tingin ko sa kanya as a friend. I always assured her na hindi. She's my friend even if there were things na against ako. I will always be her friend and I know she will always be my friend as well - no matter kung anong mali ang gawin ko.

That was how we were in the span of 11 years.

When I found out that she died, I didn't want to believe it. I just came back from a great nightout and It was a news that I didn't expect to happen at all. I was dumbfounded. I didn't cry that night but I wasn't able to sleep. I messaged some old friends and texted my father about it. My papa considers Noodles as his own daughter as well. She was the only friend that my father trusts pagdating sa pagpapaalam, nightouts and sleepovers. He felt bad when I texted him that night. He kept telling me that I should visit her sa wake niya until sa funeral and I did.

When I first saw her in La Bien funeral homes, I was thankful that nobody was there aside from her hubby, her brother and her mom or else a lot of people would probably get curious kung sino yung umiyak na hindi naman relative. Seeing her in a coffin sleeping peacefully was heartbreaking. I didn't want to believe that she was gone. I cried because I couldn't accept it and hindi rin maprocess ng brain ko na wala na siya. She was too young to die. Too young to leave her daughter, her hubby and family. Pinaresearch niya pa ako ng mga beach resorts in South Luzon because she wanted to leave daw for a while and relax. I gave her 4 destinations na she said she would try to check. She wanted to stay in Tagaytay pa for a couple of days daw to unwind and I asked my Tita's friend who has a house in Tagaytay if that was possible. Tita Evy said it was okay for us to stay in her house noon. She wanted those things and I feel like she was robbed sa time para magawa lahat yon.

I even brought her the books of Bob Ong. She asked me before if I was a fan of him and I said yes. She wanted to read it daw during her chemo sessions or pagwalang magawa so I promised her na I would collect Bob Ong's good books. I did that last November 2009. I texted her and told her na nasa house na ng tita ko and she promised to get it but wasn't able to. I brought those books in her wake. I felt bad because it was too late.

Everything was too late...and that what made me cry.

Eventhough I know now na she is in God's hands already. I know there she's finally at peace and happy. A part of me would always wish na she is still here with us. It's not easy to lose someone especially someone like her. She is the perfect definition of a perfect friend. I'm definitely sure that as a sister, wife, mom, daughter, aunt, cousin, niece, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law and goddaughter through and through perfect pa rin siya makisama.

I will terribly miss her friendship.

But she will always be remembered and I will always love her.

Rest in Peace Maggie Magno-Padolina (1980-2010)