This is dedicated to the friends that I grew up with.

To the ones who I grown to love, have sometimes despised and eventually accepted as sisters and brothers. This article is for all of the "loves" of my life.

Growing up with you has been a sappy, dramatic, and emotional journey. This journey began roughly 11 or so years ago.

When we were little kids, some younger/older than others, we thought we could conquer the world. This was when we only we saw each other when our dads met every Friday or birthday parties. But, when we were together, man; it was nothing but complete excitement. Since we were really young, we would have to leave pretty early because of our bedtimes. But, we would never leave together and that was a huge problem for us because the last kid would be left all by themselves. Remember whenever one of us had to leave, we would all hide in the bathroom, hoping it would lead the parent to let them stay a bit longer? It only would work rarely.

There was this one time me and Chelsea would always be hiding buddies whenever I had to leave early.

Even though we were really young, there would be a little drama unfolding between us. By drama, it was usually a few accidents or misunderstandings.

There was this one time when our dads met at Melvy and Bryan's house because they had to make Lechon (a dish that is a roasted pig) for a party the next day. I remember I was the last to come and when I came through the front door, I saw you guys playing with gloves filled with water and Bryan was somewhere playing games on the computer. I sat down, totally confused was going on and decided to pick one glove up. As soon as I touched it, it exploded and the look on Hannah's face was hilarious (well thinking about it now it was). She refused to talk to me for an hour.

There was another time where we were all at the Filipino Festival that happens every year at Towson; we were all playing around this huge tree, throwing rocks for some weird reason. Clarisse threws this rock and it hit me on the head. My first reaction was confusion, her first reaction was regret. She runs to me telling me not to cry and kept apologizing, while Chelsea's fussing at her and threatening to tell on her.

Looking back at our little mishaps make me laugh every single time.

After a few years, we finally had a little bit more freedom and some of us were beginning middle school. At this point, we saw each other every Friday nights and started making social media accounts to stay in touch.

We were all so close to each other and wanted to be together all the time.

This was when we realized we considered each other to be best friends.

This was also when we met the three sisters and they later became part of our group.

I remember I used to be so sad because we all went to different schools. Since I lived on the city side, I spent all my elementary and middle school years at Woodhome. You all went to Villa Cresta and Parkville.

I mean, the three sisters lived on the city side too, but they went to Hampden.

At some points of my life, I used to get jealous because you would all be able to talk about teachers or events that happened and I never really could understand what was happening.

Like when Melvy and Hannah kept asking the twins (Clarisse and Chelsea) about certain teachers and students, I would just sit there, fuming.

But, hey, I couldn't really change anything about it and got over it.

We all stuck together, especially at big parties because we hated being near "The Teenagers". We used make elaborate plans just to avoid them and we always had to be with each other if one wanted to get another plate of food or had to use the bathroom. We would even stay outside for the longest time just to avoid being near one of them.

Remember I used to have the most beef with some of them? They would throw so much shade at me and I would be petty back. There was even a time when I was going to fight one of them because of Emil. Oh my god, thinking about it just makes me cringe.

Now, we just grew out of it. We're friends with some of them and we eventually became "The Teenagers".

Now, we just talk to some of them and actually get along with them.

Seriously, Friday and Saturday nights have been (and still are) my favorite type of nights. It's not because everyone else goes out and parties, because cm'on, have we actually gone to a real party before? It's because we all just hanged out and talked. We would play volleyball or walk down to Royal Farms. Or sometimes we just watched horror movies after horror movies to just be paranoid together.

Remember we all slept over for the first time after a Christmas party and watched 'Signs'? The one about aliens? And, we all couldn't leave the living room after the credits? Man, it was so crazy, we were only little kids.

Sometimes it would be group gatherings or parties for the holidays and we all took crazy amount of pictures with the aunties and the drunk uncles. We even would made fun at our dads because they were so drunk.

Growing up, I realized we all changed. Not by a whole lot, but not by a little either.

Our appearances changed a little due to puberty, but I think some of us wished puberty did a better job. Hannah used to be the littlest out of all of us, now she's probably the same height as Bryan. I can finally tell the difference between Clarisse and Chelsea (it took me until middle school to figure it out). The only ones who still look the same because of their baby faces are the three sisters, Melvy, Emil and Bryan.

Our personalities, interests and styles have also changed.

We traded in our dolls and games for Netflix, Snapchat and Twitter, all-nighters, AP work and college life. Instead of watching Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, we now binge on "The Walking Dead", "OITNB", horror movies, "Finding Dory" and romantic movies that make us shed uncontrollable tears at 3 in the morning. We no longer get embarrassed by our parents speaking in Tagalog/Ilocano around others, we embrace it and our culture.

We spent going through high school going out together and having endless sleepovers. We began making last minute plans and surprises for each other. Every time we wanted to do a movie night or hanged out at Hannah's, we all made sure to bring food or money just in case we wanted to order pizza or Chinese food.

Throughout the years, we became one big family. We looked out for one another and held each other when we were on the brink of tears. We supported each other like no other. We were always there.

I knew I could always go to any one of you guys for help, moral support or just for a good laugh.

I also looked at you guys as role models (especially Teresa and Bryan) and I still do; even though some of you are my age or younger by a couple years. I trust all of you because you guys know what's best for me.

I see you as my own siblings, even though I'm an only child. You've been there for me and cared for me. You stayed with me even at my toughest moments and helped me out whenever you could. Like that one time I had my SAT practice book and couldn't solve a simple math problem; you all crouched around me and tried to figure it out.

Even though now we've all kind of separated and went our own ways, you're all still special to me. You all hold a special place in my heart.

And, even though there have been differences between us, I will still support and care for every single one of you. It doesn't matter what happened or may happen, I can't just abandon you guys like that. You're still family to me and nothing can ever change that.

With this, I just want to thank you all for the support and the memories. As we begin our careers, college, and finishing high school by ourselves, I know some things aren't going to be the same. But, I know I'll always be there, even if some of you don't want me to.

I will always cherish the memories we've all made together and the ones we'll soon make. We've been through a lot of ups and downs, drama and shocking situations that I'll cherish, too. Why? Because that's how I know our love for each other was real. You can fake friendships that last through so much stuff.

So, with a heavy heart, I understand that some stuff aren't the same anymore. But, that doesn't change my love for you. I will always see all of you as my family. Growing up with you has been an amazing and crazy ride.

I hope you all succeed in what you desire to do and that I wish you all the best. Stay safe!

Mahal kita, kapamilya.