a letter for me

you don't know how i was deeply moved by this email and how after all these years ive kept this letter way back feb 2005...

dear tinay (or "tin" now),

yes, i do remember how during our
elementary days, we used to write each other almost everyday. it was funny,
really. we could've just talked personally. but i guess, writing letters made us
feel more open, made us feel like we could write anything there, no matter
how personal, and it would make the other person understand us more as she reads
what we wrote. it made me want to know you more, and be your friend.

15 (yes, 15) years later... here we are. you've grown, i've
grown, albeit apart and with different sets of people whom we
call barkada, friends. but somehow we are still connected by a
"bond". i don't know about you, but i have always considered you one of the best
friends i have ever had..

i may not have seen you every step; i
may not have been there through every time you faced a trial, and
every time you conquered each one. but you know that although we
may be physically apart, i have always been rooting for you... to me,
"failure" is not one of the words that should be associated with
you. you may have your little blunders here and there, but who doesn't? i
never doubted that you will pick yourself up and brush yourself off and
give it another go. to me, that's you tin.. strong, smart, spirited. and
this next step in your life is just another laurel to add to the
many more that you already have.

so let me be the first to
give a toast to my friend... you deserve nothing less. i know how
much you've gone through, but all the bitter will now be replaced by
the sweet. success is yours, not just with your graduation now,
but also in passing the bar, i'm sure of it. as usual, you will always be in my
prayers.

meanwhile, i'll stay on the sidelines and root for you
still.

Monique

thanks niq.

hay, sarap nya basa-basahin especially now na "low" ako.