Children are a Blessing

Brent Graduation Ceremony BYUI

To my dear son, Brent Sy,

Today, as you cross this milestone—graduating from BYU–Idaho with your course in Virtual Design and Construction—I want you to know how deeply proud I am of you. You’ve built more than digital blueprints and virtual spaces; you’ve built perseverance, character, and a foundation of faith that will support the real construction of your life.

I’ve watched you navigate this journey—not just the lessons on screen, but the quiet struggles, the long nights, the moments when it felt easier to step back than push forward. But you pushed through. That takes more than intelligence; that takes heart.

I often think of the Savior as the master architect—not just of worlds, but of lives. And like Him, you're now stepping into a path where your designs can shape environments, communities, and futures. What you build, Brent, will stand on more than concrete and code. It’ll reflect the values you've honed: patience, integrity, faith, and creativity.

As your father, I’ve tried to be a steady presence, a voice of encouragement, and sometimes, a quiet cheerleader behind the scenes. But now, it’s your voice I want the world to hear. It’s your vision I trust to leave an imprint.

Go build boldly—but always check the spiritual blueprints. The best structures are those built with the Lord as your lead engineer.

I love you, son. And I believe in what you’re building, now and always.

Daddy J

Brent @ 27

The Birth Story of Brent Isaac Lim Sy

July 18, 1998

In November 1997, while living and working in Taiwan, I found out I was pregnant with my second child It was a mix of emotions—we were happy, but also worried, especially with the financial struggles we were facing at the time. Our plan was to have the baby delivered in Taiwan so we could continue working and supporting our small family.

But life changed unexpectedly.

On June 6, 1998, a tragic accident happened—my father (Lim Se Kay) was in a hit-and-run incident and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. In the midst of heartbreak and grief, we had to make a sudden decision. I flew back to the Philippines as a chance passenger with my brother (Anthony) and my firstborn son (Jayzon) to attend the funeral.

Because of everything that had happened, our original plans shifted. My husband and I decided it was best for me to stay in the Philippines and deliver our baby there. On July 18, 1998, our beautiful second son was born. His daddy Julian gave him the name ( Brent Isaac Lim Sy )

After just three months, I made the hard decision to return to Taiwan and process his legal papers so he could eventually join us there . It was painful leaving him behind, but I left him in the loving care of my mother (A-mah Remedios ).

It took longer than we had hoped. He was already three years old by the time I was able to come back and fetch him. I was nervous about how he would react—but when we finally reunited, my heart was full. He recognized me instantly and joyfully told everyone in the house, “My mom is here !” It was such a happy and emotional moment.

As we were traveling back to Taiwan, we had a stopover in Hong Kong. Suddenly, he refused to board the next plane—he wanted to go back and find his nanny ( Yaya Cha-Cha )! It took a flight attendant’s help to carry him onboard. Thankfully, his older brother calmed him down and explained why we had to continue the journey. He understood a bit of English but mostly spoke our local dialect ( Bisaya).

When he started attending school in Taiwan, it was a bit of a culture shock. He spoke to everyone in dialect—even his classmates! And for the first few days, he didn’t like the food at school and refused to eat lunch. But Brent adapt quickly. Within three months, he was speaking Mandarin and began enjoying the school food, even looking forward to it.

In 2003, we moved back to the Philippines for good. But now, he was the funny boy who only spoke Mandarin—even to people who couldn’t understand him! He had forgotten how to speak English or our local dialect ( Bisaya ).

Looking back, his journey was full of love, sacrifice, laughter, and growth. From a little boy who waited three years to be with us, to one who bravely adjusted to a whole new world, his story is one of resilience and joy. He truly brought so much color and life to our family.

Reese @ 22

The Story of Reese Birth

In November 2002, at the age of 37, I found out I was pregnant with our third child. It was a complete surprise — me and Daddy Julian were shocked, but we slowly embraced the joy of expecting again.

During my pregnancy in Taiwan, around my 7th month, my Taiwanese doctor advised me to take a special test to check if the baby might have Down syndrome, considering my age. That moment frightened us deeply. We weren't prepared for such news and didn’t expect to be asked to go through that test.

So I made a difficult decision — I traveled back to the Philippines alone to get a second opinion. When I arrived, I went straight to see my OB-Gyne. She gently told me that it was already too late for such tests at 7 months. She asked me, "What if the results don’t come out well? What would you do then?" Her words stayed with me. In that moment, we chose faith over fear. We decided to wait and meet our baby, just as she was meant to be.

On July 11, around 11:30 AM, I came back from my prenatal check-up when my water suddenly broke. Within a minute, I felt intense labor pains. Luckily, my brother (Angko Ben ) was home having lunch and quickly drove me to the hospital. On the way, I told him to skip the traffic lights and use the hazard lights — I couldn't hold on much longer!

At Chong Hua Hospital, I walked myself straight to the second floor and into the delivery room. At exactly 1:38 PM, our beautiful baby girl came into the world — healthy and perfect.

Anty ( Rose ) stayed by my side in the hospital until we are discharged, and Daddy Julian gave her the name she carries today. Now, 22 years later, she has grown into a truly amazing young woman — beautiful, wise, talented, and smart. She is a blessing to our family beyond words.

Happy birthday to our only daughter. We love you so much. Keep dreaming big, and we pray for your continued success in life and love. You are deeply cherished — always.

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Love Mommy and Daddy Julian