��������� Everyone who knew Illene in and out of school saw her as a quiet, shy, and reserved person. She did not have many close friends, basically because she had difficulty learning to trust people. At home, she is the grumpiest of the three siblings. Only once in a while would one ever see a true smile on her face. But yet, Illene has another side to her: a caring, tender, and very loving side. She does not say much about her feelings and she is not too expressive either. A hug from her is already a big surprise for me! However, she does show it in her own little way������.

��������� Illene would stay up late at night just to help me out with my homework or to teach me if I need help for tomorrow�s test. She would go out of her way to walk me to my class because someone is stalking me in school. And when we come home, she would make food for my mom and I before she does her never-ending homework. Not only that, come exam time, she would volunteer to wash the dishes and throw the garbage out so that I may study. Afterwards, she�d be the one to stay up all night to study for her exams. Of course, being that she is not the expressive type, she would not tell me directly that she missed me while she was off to college. Well, it wasn�t too hard to notice. It was her every day calls and her excitement coming home every Friday that showed it all.

��������� Furthermore, Illene is very patient with children. She was only 16 when she took up the responsibility of taking care of my baby brother who was just born. Illene spent all her time bathing him and feeding him. When he was old enough, Illene taught Wesley his alphabets and numbers. Far more amazing was the way she taught Wesley how to talk like a 4 year old. His baby language turned into a big boy talk. He is now able to express his excitement of getting a new Godzilla toy or his disappointment if we refuse to buy him a toy. She has sacrificed much for my brother. Even if she had much to do for school or if she was ill, her priority was still Wesley. As far as I am concerned, my sister has taught my brother everything he knows now all because of her patience and unconditional love for him.

��������� Among the rest of the reasons why I admire Illene so much, I also want to add that Illene is very selfless. She prioritizes everyone else before herself. While everyone is fussing over a sister borrowing a new sweater without permission, Illene would willingly insist for me to wear it if I needed an outfit for a party. Either that, she would take out her own money to buy me clothes I didn�t want to buy it for myself because of the costs. Surely enough, if there was a last piece of my favorite chicken, she would give it to me even if she hasn�t had a piece herself. What more can one ask for?

��������� Well�.??? I do ask for something more. I wish that I would be able to be with my sister again. Ever since we were little kids, Illene and I have never been separated from each other. Now that I�m in the Philippines and she in the States, I feel as if a part of me is missing. Illene is more than a sister to me. She is my bestfriend and my confidante. And I hope that one of these days, I would feel complete again just having her by my side. Nevertheless, though we are thousands of miles apart from each other, I still can feel her love. And I hope she knows that nothing can ever change my love for her. She has many special abilities and gifts given by the Creator and believe me, she is putting all of it to good use.