We’re almost done with January 2026, and my last few weeks have been memorable to say the least. Notably, I went back to work and have been exploring new cafes during my free time. I have many other plans for this year, and I won’t tell them just yet. But I just hope I can make those plans happen sooner or later.
As the last few weeks went by, I almost forgot to finish my year-end post for 2025. I really hate forgetting that one because 2025 is my happiest year by far, and I want to honor that year with this post. So, now, I’m looking back at last year one more time, and I want to list some of the reasons that year was my happiest.
My Simple Prayer
First of all, I want to thank God for hearing my simple prayer this year. If it weren’t for Him and my simple prayer, maybe the other things on this list would have turned out differently or never would have happened at all. And looking back, I’m thankful for how things turned out.
What’s my prayer to God now, you might ask? It’s a line from one of my favorite Foo Fighters songs, “Walk”:
To keep alive, a moment at a time
Ever since I heard “Walk” in 2011, I listen to it whenever I feel down, and the song’s bridge sounds like a prayer to me. And I admit that there were days in my 2025 when my mind and heart felt so tired. During one of those days, I listened to the cathartic song again, and then I prayed one line to God more intently: to keep alive, a moment at a time. Slowly, I started feeling better. Slowly, I started moving forward through the good moments and the bad.
Honestly, praying that one line constantly was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made because slowly, I truly felt like God helped me keep alive, a moment at a time… and He also gave more than I asked for this year.
Thank you, God, for 2025. Thank you.
TokuSpirits
I’m thankful to TokuSpirits (a company that organizes events dedicated to tokusatsu fandom) for giving me my most memorable meet-and-greets with two icons of my childhood.
Tetsuo Kurata
First of all, I met Tetsuo Kurata (the actor who played the role of Kotaro Minami / Robert Akizuki / Kamen Rider BLACK and BLACK RX) at his restaurant, Steak House Kurata, at Parqal in Aseana City, Parañaque.
Kamen Rider BLACK is one of my childhood heroes, and even though this is not the first time I met him, the most recent meet-and-greet is the most memorable one by far. Why? I got to say a few words to him, and I really like how our photo turned out. I also like the food served that night (especially that wagyu beef cubes!) and the freebie I got (a peach-colored Kurata T-shirt).
I hope to visit Steak House Kurata again soon, whether there’s another meet-and-greet or not. (I won’t say no to meeting him again, though!)
Kanako Maeda
Second, also at Steak House Kurata, I met Kanako Maeda (the actress who played the role of Momoko / Mary Rose /Pink Mask from the hit Super Sentai series Hikari Sentai Maskman). Pink Mask is one of my childhood crushes, long before I even learned the word “crush.”
I already had a photo with the entire Maskman main cast a few years back (that’s another story!), but meeting her for a quick solo photo? Seven-year-old me would’ve freaked out when he learns about that one!
Foo Fighters
I’m thankful for experiencing my second and best Foo Fighters concert yet at the Singapore Grand Prix last October 4! My first Foos show was great (it also happened in Singapore, and it was a solo show), but I saw the legendary alternative/hard rock band from the benches, so I promised myself that I would watch them from the front row next time. And I did just that: I waited for six hours under the Singapore heat so I could see my favorite band for two full hours from the barricade, and it was so worth it!
I bounced and headbanged during the first song, “Enough Space”. I screamed along to my favorite song, “The Pretender”. I sang along angrily with tears on my face during “Walk” (the song I mentioned earlier). And then the show ended with one of the best love songs ever made, “Everlong”. 20 amazing songs, two hours, best concert ever. My voice became hoarse, and my body ached the next day, but like I said, it was worth it!
Also, I’d like to share my favorite photo of all time. Again.
To read my full 4,000-word essay on the Foo Fighters’ Singapore GP show, click here.
Leonard
I’m thankful for meeting a new friend during the Foo Fighters’ concert at the Singapore Grand Prix. His name is Leonard, a thrash metal/hard rock musician from India. We met at the barricade, and we secured our spots there. He’s a friendly guy like our hero Dave Grohl, and he has seen the Foos a few times already. (He saw the late and beloved Taylor Hawkins, as well as Josh Freese, drum live.)
One of my favorite moments from the Foos’ concert is during “No Son of Mine” (a song from the band’s tenth studio album Medicine at Midnight). The band performed the first few parts of “Ace of Spades” (one of my favorite Motörhead songs), then Leonard and I sang our hearts out just as the late Lemmy would’ve wanted! I will never, ever forget that moment.
And now that I look back, I don’t think we have a proper photo together. Ugh! But then again, that shows how much we enjoyed the Foos show. Maybe I’ll see him again at the next one. (I hope that happens sooner rather than later because the Foos rarely go to Asia.)
My Family’s Seoul Trip
Before the Foo Fighters announced a Singapore GP show last May, I didn’t plan on going to Singapore at all. Before 2025, our family already planned to go to Seoul. And we finally made that first trip to Seoul happen between October and November!
From shopping and eating street food in Myeongdong and riding Seoul’s ultra-efficient subway to exploring wonderful sights like Naksan Park, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Seoul Tower, we truly love our short stay in Seoul. Nami Island is also a breathtaking, picturesque sight, even if we only had a few hours to wander there.
But what’s the highlight of the trip for me? It has to be the DMZ tour. During the tour, I learned more about the still-going tensions between North and South Korea (how Korea’s divide started, the Korean War, the dispersed families, etc.). Plus, the Third Infiltration Tunnel literally tested everyone’s endurance and knees. (I remember breathing so heavily and my heart beating so fast after reaching the end of the tunnel.) While traveling to a new country, I think it’s good to learn more about its history, and I did just that at the DMZ tour.
Oh, and I’d like to talk about the tour guide…
AJ
I’m thankful for meeting AJ, the Korean tour guide who led the DMZ tour during my family’s trip to Seoul. Seriously, she’s one of the best tour guides I have ever met.
The way she shared trivia and stories about the DMZ was easy to understand, and she has photos of important figures for reference. She carries a yellow flag with her name on it, so whenever someone from the group is lost, they can look for that flag and then find our group.
AJ is friendly and caring to everyone during the tour, including my family and me. She can also be funny at times. For example, after I went through the Third Infiltration Tunnel, she asked me how I was feeling, and I said I was fine (even if I was breathing heavily and my heart was beating so fast). Then she asked me if I wanted to go back to the tunnel. Of course, I know she’s kidding, so I laughed while saying no!
And before the tour ended, I talked to her a bit more, and that’s when we became friends. I met my first Korean friend! Yay!
To know more about the DMZ tour, check this link here. And if you’d like a private tour, I recommend AJ as your tour guide. She’s the best!
Saya
I’m thankful for discovering the music of Saya, a Japanese singer-songwriter. I found her music during ToyCon week in June, and then I had the opportunity to meet her and see her perform live. Although I didn’t understand her lyrics at first, she performed with a kind of grace and excitement that I have never seen before. After ToyCon, I took time to listen to her songs on Spotify, and with the help of Google Translate, I started to understand the lyrics.
Sidebar: As of now, my favorite Saya songs are “Natsu Shigure”, “Gingerale”, and “Merry Bad End”. Please do check out her music!
I really thought I would see her perform again the following year, but nope. A few months after ToyCon, she announced she would return in November at the Philippine Game Show, and I was stunned! Because of that, I went all in and watched all of her main stage sets! (I missed out on a surprise set before Day 1 ended, but it’s all good.)
I also showed full support by picking up her merch, and we ended up taking more photos than I can count. Plus, since she celebrated her birthday last September 14, I gave a fan art as a gift.
During my first meeting with Saya, I told her the Tagalog meaning of her name, which is “happy” or “happiness.” She responded with, “Wow! Going to the Philippines must be destiny!” Since then, she has brought up the Tagalog meaning of her name during her sets, and I’m proud to be the one who told her that.
I’m looking forward to seeing her perform again this year, whether that happens again in Manila or somewhere in Japan. Fingers crossed!
You can check out Saya’s socials and music here and here.
My Birthday
Since my first birthday dinner with family and my closest friends in 2019, Cim (one of my friends I invited, and her name’s pronounced like “Kim”) hoped that the event would be the start of my happiest birthdays. That became true because, since then, my birthday dinners have been truly happy. If the rest of the year was disappointing, my birthday dinners weren’t.
But honestly, 2025 takes the (birthday) cake! Here are the reasons:
- I went to my favorite cafe, Satchmi, and when the baristas found out that it was my birthday, they sang “Happy Birthday” for me! Being a regular for so many years, that happening for the first time meant a lot to me. Thank you, Satchmi! You’ll always be my favorite cafe.
- I tried a different modern Filipino restaurant, Cochi, with my family and a few of my closest friends, Cim and Marc. The cochinillo (roasted suckling pig) was excellent, especially when dipped in three sauces. (If I’m not mistaken, those sauces are kamias marmalade, bell pepper sauce, and toum.) To my family and friends, thank you all for being there that night and for the gifts! Also, sayang, wala si Marvin Agustin sa resto nung gabing yon.
- I received so many birthday greetings that made me smile like Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. I also asked for Scott Steiner memes on my birthday, and many people granted my request! To everyone who greeted me and sent Steiner memes, thank you, and holla if ya hear me!
As for my birthday wish, to quote Doctor Strange somehow:
If I tell you what happens my wish, it won’t happen.
Making Changes
I’m thankful for making small yet significant changes in my life. I have made many mistakes, and I have been so tough on myself for many years. But in 2025, while I continued doing my best to change for the better, I started accepting what’s good in me that doesn’t need changing. I started forgiving myself and taking better care of myself.
The Physical
When it comes to my physical health, I started eating moderately and drinking more water. I did my best to breeze-walk and run often, and even if I failed at doing that, at least I started. (But honestly, I’d like to be more physically active this 2026, so I need to push myself more.)
Also, for the first time, I asked for someone’s help with skincare. In 2024, I suffered from facial acne, and before that, I was so proud of being acne-free, if I didn’t get a single pimple or two sometimes. Being the stubborn guy that I am, I continued my then-current skincare routine, but it only got worse. That’s when I finally went to the dermatologist, and the skincare products and routine she prescribed to me were amazing! Several months after following the routine, my face is either clear or at least I have one pimple. Having that kind of face again brought back my self-confidence, and when I feel confident, I feel like I can do anything.
Thank you, Dr. Claudine Yap Silva, for bringing back my self-confidence. That means a lot to me. And thank you, Jay, my younger brother, for recommending her to me.
Starting This Website
Another change I made was more symbolic: I started a new blog/website using my real name (with ianpasicolan.com as the matching domain name). With the slogan “To reclaim and reform myself,” this website is a symbol of my self-acceptance and a promise of self-improvement. Of all my past and present blogs/websites, I feel the happiest with this one. I’m glad I started this project, and I’d like to keep this website alive as long as I keep myself alive.
Sidebar: I mentioned in my first post that when it comes to schedules, “Bahala na si Batman.” Honestly, this 2026, I’d like to try posting here more often. If I could write two posts per week, that would be great. I also have other major plans for this website, though I’m not sure if I could pull them off yet. But here’s what I can really promise: to do the best I can.
Conclusion
And there you go! Those are some of the reasons 2025 is the happiest year for me.
Honestly, in recent years, I had only hoped each year would be fine. Not happy, not sad; fine, survivable. But in 2025, I feel truly blessed. Experiencing happy moments and meeting amazing people reminded me why keeping alive mattered. To God, my family, my friends (new and old), and my heroes, thank you for making my year so special. I hope that 2026 will be just as incredible as last year, if not better. (So far, January 2026 is going well for me.) But since bad moments are also unavoidable, with the help of God and all of my loved ones and heroes, I’ll keep carrying that very line from “Walk” and make it my own credo:
I hope to continue keeping alive, a (good or bad) moment at a time.
It may be late, but I’ll say it anyway: Happy New Year, everyone!
Kamen Rider BLACK photos courtesy of Heroes Wiki and Pinterest.
Pink Mask photos courtesy of NamuWiki and Tumblr.
Ian Pasicolan 