2025 Annual Review
- Mark Locsin Katigbak
- Dec 29, 2025
- 5 min read
In my annual review, I focus on answering three questions:
What went well this year?
What didn’t go so well this year?
What am I working toward?
✨ 1. What Went Well This Year
Alignment — Finding My Purpose Again
This is the year I found clarity. After years of chasing milestones, titles, and achievements, I finally returned to myself. I discovered my purpose, reconnected with my identity, and became clear about what I truly want to do: help people understand themselves so they can live their mark.
This alignment didn’t happen by accident; it came from pain, healing, and deep reflection. But it is the most important thing I’ve gained this year.
Book Launch — Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream
One of the biggest highlights of the year was launching my first book, “Live Your Mark”. What started as a question, "If time is limited, what kind of mark do I want to leave in this world?”, became a physical book that now lives in the hands of readers.
The book launch wasn’t just an event; it was the culmination of years of self-discovery, writing, and the courage to share my personal journey. Publishing a book has always been a dream, and this year, I turned that dream into reality.
Mental Health — From Collapse to Recovery
The year began with fear. My mental health reached a point where I felt like I was losing myself. I couldn’t think clearly. I felt stuck, scared, and overwhelmed.
But the beauty of this year is the recovery that followed. I slowly rebuilt my mind through rest, support, faith, and letting go. Today, I can think clearly again. My mental sharpness is returning, and I feel grounded. Being able to sleep well again is a blessing I no longer take for granted.
Healing became the foundation for everything else.
⚠️ 2. What Didn’t Go So Well
Finances — A Humbling Season
Financially, this year was tough.I didn’t earn much, my investments dropped, and it felt like my six years of savings in Singapore suddenly weren’t enough. This humbled me. It reminded me that stability isn’t guaranteed, and that I need to rebuild strategically and intentionally.
But even with these challenges, I’m grateful for this season. It created space for rest, clarity, and rediscovering my mission.
🎯 3. What I Am Working Toward
Impact — Reaching and Helping More People
My goal is to expand Live Your Mark and reach more people through:
content creation
visibility and storytelling
programs and courses
communities and talks
This is no longer just a side project, it’s a mission. I want to help more people understand themselves and live with intention.
Health — Strengthening My Body and Mind
Now that I’m mentally recovering, it’s time to strengthen my physical health. I want to become stronger, fitter, and healthier, not out of vanity, but because I want longevity.
I want to be that fit badass grandpa in my senior years who can compete with younger athletes.
Finances — Building Sustainable Income
This year taught me the importance of building financial stability.
Next year, I want to focus on:
income streams
consulting projects
creator opportunities
programs that provide value
smarter investments
I want to regain the financial confidence I once had, this time with deeper wisdom.
📍 2025 Year-in-Review Highlights
🌍 Travel & Life Experiences
Despite everything, this year was filled with movement and new experiences:
Jan 4 — Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Jan 11–14 — Phuket, Thailand
Jan 30 — Manila
Feb 20 — Singapore
Feb 27 — Manila
Apr 17–22 — Osaka, Japan
May 6–10 — Macau
Jun 1–5 — Singapore
Aug 7–10 — Bohol
Oct 18–20 — Cebu
Travel this year became both a breather and a reminder that life is bigger than work.
🙏 Speaking & Service (BCBP & CYP)
2025 was also a year of service — sharing my story, my message, and what I’ve learned:
Jul 26 — BCBP Calapan CLP Speaker: “Speech and Wrongdoing”
Aug 30 — CYP LiveHigh Speaker: “Encounter with Self”
Oct 26 — BCBP Lipa South CLP Speaker: “Speech and Wrongdoing”
Nov 22 — Live Your Mark Book Launch + CYP Coffeetalks (Taal–Lemery)
Nov 27 — Live Your Mark Book Launch + CYP Coffeetalks (BGC)
Sharing my story publicly was scary but fulfilling . It reminded me that my experiences can help others heal and discover themselves.
📚 Certifications & Learning
This year, I invested heavily in growth and learning:
Apr 3 — Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate
Jun 27–29 — Basic Peer Facilitation Training (ACY Manila & UST-CCC)
Jul 12–14 — Advanced Peer Facilitation Training (ACY Manila & UST-CCC)
Jul 24 — Planetshakers x Ignite Leadership Session (Neil Smith)
Oct 28–29 — Creator MBA (with Alec Cuenca and Co-Create)
Nov 4– 9th Annual GGAPP Forum
Nov 7–10 — Enneagram Basics
Each one expanded my worldview and sharpened my ability to lead, teach, and empathize.
🎮 Games (Peak Achievements)
(But also realized I don’t want to spend too much time playing)
Games are fun, but not my priority.
🌟 First-Time Experiences
2025 was also filled with many beautiful “firsts”:
Celebrated my 30th birthday treating my family in Bohol
Watched polo at Makati Polo Club with family
Gave the best man speech in my friend’s wedding
Join dad in his organizations (Rotary Club of Manila, GGAPP)
Use a coin counter machine and saved SGD 452.30 (PHP 18,000) worth of coins
Joined a Beyblade Tournament — 1st Runner-Up
Played Golf with my brother
Finished a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle
Watched TWICE in concert
Drove in the Philippines
Launched my book at the Filipino Author’s Summit
Joined JCI Lipa
Started Content Creation and just happy to document the things that have happened in my life. I know the numbers are small but hopefully it will grow more next year and that I am somehow able to leave a positive impact to you. If I can make a small request, I’d appreciate if you can follow my accounts. It would really make a big difference.
Tiktok — 40 followers, 454 likes
Facebook — 312 followers
Instagram — 617 followers, 70 posts
These moments reminded me that life is not only about the big breakthroughs but also the joyful little milestones.
💡 Biggest Lesson of the Year
Health is the true foundation of life.
This year taught me that without good health, nothing else matters. Not achievements, not money, not goals. When you have good health, you still have opportunities:
to rebuild your finances
to restore relationships
to reconnect with yourself
to deepen your spirituality
Besides, taking care of your health is taking care of what God gave you. Taking care of my health became my spiritual practice because healing my body healed my spirit too.
I’m grateful that today, I can sleep better, think clearer, and slowly return to the person I was, this time stronger, more grounded, and more intentional.
💛 Closing Reflection
2025 was not the year I expected, but it was the year I needed.It stripped me down but also rebuilt me.It humbled me but also aligned me.It challenged me but also transformed me.
And now, I’m stepping into the next year with clarity, purpose, and a deeper commitment to truly Live My Mark!
If you’re walking your own journey of growth and alignment, I’d love to walk it with you. Subscribe to my monthly newsletter (register at markkatigbak.com) starting January 2026, I’ll be writing on the first day of every month.
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