New Year goals

Albert wants to speak French, Hidilyn wants to finish college, Jaime wants to scuba dive, Louie O. wants

to make an album on vinyl, & Korina wants to create a video for Pepe & Pilar ‘for when they’re 50’

The clean slate the New Year gives galvanizes us to create wish lists, to-do lists and must-change lists as we live another day, another year. The new year isn’t just a time to celebrate, it’s really a time to plan, even if the plan is to do nothing — it’s still a plan.

It’s a time for so-called “bucket lists,” reportedly from “kick the bucket,” an idiom used for “to die.”  So “bucket list” has come to mean a “list of things to do before you die.” Online sources say the “bucket list” was used in 1999 by American and British screenwriter Justin Zackham in his screenplay for the 2007 film The Bucket List.

The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, follows two terminally-ill men on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they “kick the bucket.”

I would rather think of a “bucket list” as not the things I wish to do before I kick the proverbial bucket, but a list of wishes and plans to collect inside my bucket —like I was collecting water from a spring to water plants or splash on dirty feet using a tabo (dipper).  I would be putting in wishes and plans inside my bucket till it is full. But I would make sure the water and the dreams don’t stay stagnant inside the bucket.

So what’s on my bucket list?

1. To learn to swim in the deep, as I can only swim across a pool if I know my feet can touch the bottom of the pool at any time I choose to.

2. To bone up, physically, mentally and emotionally.

3. To write a book, or compile my best columns into a book.

4. To learn to speak a foreign language.

5. To take painting lessons or do cross-stitch as art.

I asked five celebrities from various galaxies the top five things on their “bucket list” or wish list.

Albert Andrada, designer

1. To see the Northern Lights.

2. Take an African safari.

3. To have a show in Paris, Milan and London.

4. To speak French.

5. To learn to cook French cuisine.

Hidilyn Diaz, Olympic Gold Medalist

1.  Support for Philippine athletes, especially those who are vying for the Paris 2024 Olympics. We shall do our very best to give honor to our country always.

2. Continued good and happy family life for Julius and myself, and more travels and triumphs for TeamHD.

3. A longer and fulfilled life for my Mamang and Papang, and more time to bond with them, my siblings and my pamangkins.

4. Success in our TeamNOEL family (especially the safe delivery of Ate Iza Calzado’s daughter, Kuya Ryan and Ate Juday Agoncillo’s success in acting again,

Kuya Atom Araullo’s happy love life, Kuya Arman Ferrer’s hit songs and concerts; Kuya Chris Tiu’s successful businesses and many, many more).

5.   My most-awaited graduation in the College of Staint Benilde, BS Business Management, this year.

Louie Ocampo, multi-awarded composer who is celebrating his 45th year in the industry with a concert at Solaire on Feb. 4 and 5.

1. Compose more songs, direct more concerts, explore new musical avenues and never run out of inspiration and drive to do what I’ve been doing for the past 45 years.

2. Create a new album before the end of the year. Maybe release it on vinyl and cassette, too. Hahaha!

3. Have a new TV show. Maybe co-host?

4. More travels and diving with family and friends.

5. Live, love, gain a little weight and stay healthy.

Korina Sanchez-Roxas, wife, mother and multi-media personality, now with three shows on three different networks:

1. Focus again on a consistent fitness regimen. I was much more fit at the start of the pandemic, until I got too busy with TV work. I have to gain back my loss of muscle mass. Swim again. Walk again. Weights again. Kaya ko yan!

2. Get my brothers to Europe. My eldest bro wants to see Normandy. My youngest has not even been anywhere in Europe. Bonding time. If not now in our forties and fifties, when? Now nah!

3. Work less, produce more.  I believe if I focus enough, I can achieve more while getting exhausted less. Planning, delegating, better deputies. Maybe I can finally become more active again rescuing and getting poor animals on the streets adopted. Maybe even activate and rejuvenate legislation about animal welfare if I organize myself better.  Definitely, more quality time with family. THIS is a MUST.

4. Life planning. Have to get down to starting those videos for my three-year-old kids (Pepe and Pilar) to watch when they’re 50. Yep. I’ll still have something to say when they’re my age, haha! Have to decide on family properties. Want to be worry-free on everything that needs decided on and left behind by end of year. Oprah recommends this should’ve been accomplished by 40. I’m way behind.

6. Do ME TIME again. I used to regularly. Travel alone. Spas. Regular time at the salon. Window shopping. Sounds alien to me right now with the pandemic and too much work. The greatest love of all is …

Jaime Ponce de Leon, art connoisseur and founder, Leon Gallery

1. Learn to scuba dive.

2. Find time to read the books in my library.

3. Visit my hometown at least once a month.

4. Reconnect with old friends.

5. Keep Sundays free from work.

So, what’s on your bucket list? *