Avia Sahara Zunic did not know she had a sister until she was 16.
The budding swimmer from Colegio de San Juan de Letran shared on "Rise Up Stronger: NCAA Season 96" that she visited Singapore in August of 2017 with no idea of what would happen next.
She received a letter from her half-sister, Matilda, who at the time was only nine years old but had the courage and guts to reach out to her.
"It was fun. I was kind of nervous. What if she doesn't like me?" Avia, who is now a third year psychology student, recalled.
"Then they came here to Manila all the way from Singapore just to meet me and they stayed with us for the weekend."
Avia had always thought about what it would be like to have a sibling and to discover that she has one is something that the NCAA star is feeling blessed about.
In fact, they have the same interest as Matilda is also an athlete and is developing her skills in gymnastics and swimming.
"I gave her this matchy teddy bear that I also have and a San Beda varsity jacket. We would stay up all night watching movies and sleep together," Avia said.
"I have been to one of her competitions so from my observation, the thing that we have in common is we're concentrated and such positive thinkers."
Matilda also said that she did not have any idea that she has an older sister and thanks to Facebook, they were able to cross paths.
"Actually, I had no idea that I have an older sister," Matilda told host Sophia Senoron.
"My mom found my sister on Facebook and we flew there. I met her when I was nine years old."
—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA News
