Dad's Retreat Letter: 7th Grade (1997)

September 29, 1997

Dearest Yvelle,

          I really thanked the Lord and also your school administration for making things happen - your retreat.  

          Retreat in essence is a time to examine one's self, a time to reflect on your acts and words, your deeds and outlook and your values and discretion if it were indeed in accordance with God's teaching, the dictate of our Christian faith and the training of your parents - our expectations from you. You will understand then why God or spiritual is the center of your activities and why is it away from the hustle of a busy city life and material world. 

          You need to have a break on your routine for you to have a "focus" on yourself. You have to realize that as a creature of God, as our daughter, as a sister, as a student and as a citizen of the community you have a role to play in what we call the real drama of life. In all these undertakings and relationship mentioned we want and expect you to be a good good girl simply because we really love you.

          My daughter, please take this opportunity to once again examine yourself honestly if you were indeed a good girl and if not then its time to resolve and commit to yourself to make this happen and we would be very very happy. Equally important is your openness to accept your shortcomings and deficiencies after all it is not late yet. In fact it is just the beginning and you are just starting to grow and now is the time to start.

          Honestly, I am very happy for you with the good showing and improvement you did in your academic ratings. I would be very happy however if you reach-out with your sisters -respect  to your elder and have affection, care and understanding to your younger ones.

          You have to open your heart and display warm regards to your Ate Yvette. You have to respect her as your elder and next to us in the same manner that we want you to be respected by Dodoy and Kakay. Try to be friendly to your Ate Yvette. Try to dialogue her and show some concern and great respect after all you are younger than her. Treat her as your mentor, your barkada and be amiable to her and I'm sure she would do the same and even to more because good things and love are contagious and the credit is on you because you started it all. Love begets love and conversely if you harbor hate and resentment it will reproduce and multiply more hate and trouble and harmony can never be attained in our family. Harmony in our family is my inspiration and motivation to work hard and earn more for all of you.

          Also, be understanding to the ways of Kakay and Dodoy for they are still young. We are around anyway to guide them and teach them little by little the way we did to you before. Show some affection and care for them because they love you too and will respect you wholeheartedly and will do more with your initiative.

          Be happy and love the things you do. Always smile especially with people around whom they are as a way of thinking the Lord and your parents for giving you - a beautiful life. You have to be friendly to all and improve your P.R (public relations and human dealings)

          Finally, we wish to let you know that we expect so much from you and out of your retreat a new Yvelle will come out. All of this simply, because we love you always.

Love

Daddy and Mommy