Letter from Sofia to her beloved family....

Dear All,
Thank you so much for all the heartfelt letters that you wrote to me. 
I can safely say that I was the most surprised person there, upon 
receiving a veritable novella during Catechism Retreat. But I felt, when I read 
them all, like the luckiest girl in the world. I have the most loving 
family, and only two more catechism classes. What more can a girl wish 
for? But I digress, you are all so special to me, and the fact that 
you all took time to write these messages of love really touched me.

Tita Edith and Tito Chuck --Thank you. Thank you for supporting me, for loving me, for always 
being there for me, and for not letting me fall out of the boat on the 
way to El Nido. Thank you for being -you-. You guys are amazing and 
inspirational. You've inspired me to write, and to live life to the 
fullest. This family wouldn't be the same without you guys.

Tita Pebbles  --Thank you for encouraging me to be myself. I always look forwards to 
the times you get to visit Singapore. When I was younger, I found 
myself wishing that I could be more like you. You're smart and funny, 
and an all-around awesome tita. To this day, I am proud and slightly 
embarrassed to admit that I go to Mango to try and get the same shorts 
you have. Thank you for being such an awesome rolemodel, and I know 
you'll be an amazing god-older-sister.

Ninang Carissa --You are an awesome Ninang. Thank you for teaching me that puto tastes 
sooooo much better with Imperial Cheese, that everyday presents an 
opportunity, and that everyone in Canada doesn't really say "eh". C is 
for Carissa; C is for the most -Chill- Syjuco. C is for caring; C is 
for composed and calm; C is for cool.

Tita Candy --Thank you for teaching me to respect others, to stop and think, and to 
always find time for God. You are an amazing lady, and I really admire 
you. Trips to Spain would be nothing without you. You've taught me to 
listen, how to arrange plants so that the baño is covered, how to have 
better table manners than those richy richies, and that anything 
(especially old coffee tables) can be restored with a little love.

Dadboy & Mamady --I love you guys. Thank you for being awesome grandparents, I'm so 
proud to be your granddaughter. Moving to Singapore, as upsetting and 
sudden as it was, did have some highlights. One of those was that I 
could be closer to you guys. The other was that the closer to Mamady I 
am, the closer I am to corn beef and pastillas de leche. Thank you for 
always being there for me, for letting me hide behind Dadboy whenever 
my mom tried to make me take a bath, and for being pillars of strength 
that I can always rely on.

Ninong Jos --I have such fond memories of hanging out with you in SF. You really 
taught me to appreciate all the small things in life. You're so much 
fun to be around, and I'm very lucky that I have a ninong like you.

Tito Jon --As much as I would have loved having you at my retreat, I am glad that 
you were safe in Manila. I'm not sure how well the church people would 
have taken to a song like that. But, it seems that I have to formulate 
a response of my own.

Oooh Tito Jon of mine
All your farts are oh so fine
Oh Tito Jon
Poot, Poot,
Oh Tito Jon

After announcing this song to my parental units, my mom suggested some 
changes, while loudly proclaiming "He wants to go there? Well, WE'RE 
the experts on this topic." As goes without saying, those 'additions' 
were omitted from this version.
Thank you for being an awesome uncle, one who I can always laugh at 
and with, who I know I can always turn to, and who will always eat my 
pies, no matter how yucky they are. I <3 you Tito the Bomb Jon!

Tita Tatat --My dad always tells me to be more like you. And every time that I get 
to see you, I find that I quite agree!  You always have a smile, a 
compliment for everybody, and are always the life of the party. Thank 
you for teaching me how to say, "How dare you have the audacity to 
insinuate that I tolerate..." My friends are very impressed!

Tito Marty & Tito Mike --We have had so many adventures together. I always look forward to 
seeing the both of you, because you always make me feel so loved. I 
look up to both of you, you're my inspiration and my heroes. You must 
have been very busy, and yet you took the time to write me a letter 
for my retreat. Thank you for always being there for me, occasionally 
letting me win at Wii Tennis (Even if you used a bowl of grapes as a 
distraction! :D ), and being the best guapo Titos a girl could ever 
ask for.

Bella & Xavi --How lucky can a girl be, to have two cousins like you guys? You've 
taught me so much about being a good Ate: Knowing the difference 
between Jango and Boba Fett, how to lose at Super Smash Bros. with 
grace, and how to turn any ordinary activity into something fun. I 
love you guys so much, and I look forwards to seeing you in New York. 
Boom, snap, clap!

Tita Cindy --You've always been someone who I've looked up to, whose example I've 
tried to follow. You always know the right thing to say, you're funny, 
and you're always so cheerful. Thank you for that, for showing me that 
life should be approached with a smile on your face, and a sharp mind 
to solve any problems you may encounter on the way. I'm so lucky to 
have you as my Tita.

Thank goodness for Microsoft Word, because if I'd drafted this on 
paper, it would have been completely soaked with tears and I probably 
would have lost it already. I love you all so much, and I'd just like 
to thank you all again for sending me those letters. They're the 
messages that you keep, that you take out to read during hard times. 
Thank you for these emotional anchors, that will always remind me 
that, no matter how bad things are, I have a family who loves me. 
These letters will go right up there on the mantlepiece, right beside 
my 'One Ring of Power'.

Love Always,
~ Sofi