Dannyka Manangan

Dani and Leon Barretto pay tribute to their late uncle Mito: 'You will always live in our hearts'

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Marjorie Barretto’s children, Dani Barretto-Panlilio and Leon Barretto, took to social media to pay tribute to their uncle, Mito Barretto, who recently passed away.</p><p> Dani expressed her grief by recalling how Mito became the family’s “rock” after the death of the Barretto clan patriarch, Miguel Barretto.</p><p> “Tito Mito, I can’t believe I’m writing this. My heart is so heavy. Thank you for being our rock after Pikey passed, for keeping us together, for never missing a single milestone, birthdays, weddings. You were always the first to arrive, the last to go home, and no matter what it was, you showed up for us, always,” Dani first wrote, which also referred to her grandfather Miguel.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DO76tLLgq39/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A914409.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="722" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div> </div><p>She also shared fond memories of a trip to New York with her uncle, remembering how he took photos of her, joined them for beers, and bonded with them at Times Square, saying: “That memory is etched in my heart, Tito Mits. I will hold onto it forever.”</p><p> Dani also thanked Mito for being “the best Tito” and “the best Kuya” to her mom Marjorie.</p><p> “Thank you for being the best Tito to us, and the best Kuya to Mom. Thank you for loving her, protecting her, and defending her the way only you could. Mom loves you so deeply, and so do we,” she expressed. “We will hold each other up, just as you always held us.”</p><p> “Rest now, Tito Mits. You and Pikey are together again. Please watch over us, our family’s pillars and strength. We are heartbroken, but we will carry your love and your memories with us, always &amp; forever. I love you! I love youuu Tito Mits!!!”</p><div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:560px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17587640311061758764014055.jpeg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Image Credit danibarretto IG</span></span></span></div><p> Meanwhile, Leon expressed his gratitude to Mito who became one of the male-figures in their family whom he looked up to.</p><p> “When my lolo passed, a huge part of the Barretto family’s heart was lost. but my tito mito, the eldest brother among my mom’s siblings, stepped up to become the main man of our family. he was the most family-oriented person i’ve ever known,” Leon wrote.</p><p>“The way he prioritized spending time with family was unmatched. the way he loved his grandchildren as if they were his own was unmatched. the way he supported all of his nephews and nieces was unmatched. the way he showed up at every birthday, holiday, and milestone was unmatched. and the way his eyes lit up with genuine pride at the accomplishments of his grandchildren, siblings, nephews, nieces, and children—that was unmatched too.”</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DO7uJ3YkpTb/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A914468.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="603" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div> </div><p>Leon also praised Mito for protecting his mother Marjorie, adding, “most importantly, he loved and protected my mom when no one else could. he was the best big brother she could have ever asked for.”</p><p> Promising to continue his uncle’s legacy, Leon wrote, “this is a major loss for our family, but i know we must carry on and continue the legacy you built. thank you for everything, Tito. I promise to be there for your grandchildren, to help take care of tita connie, and to support your two amazing sons who have also helped raise me. rest in paradise, Tito. you will always live in our hearts.”</p><div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:560px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17587639840061758763966573.jpeg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Image Credit theleonbarretto IG</span></span></span></div><p> On September 23, Marjorie confirmed her brother’s passing alongside her message bidding her farewell to Mito. </p><p>“My eldest brother, Mito, passed away so suddenly. So full of life. No warning, we are not prepared for this. I can’t imagine life without you—you were always present for every important occasion,” Marjorie wrote.</p><p> She added, “When Dad passed, you stepped in and took his place in the family. You were our rock, and you were the best. You loved my children so much and they are so heartbroken. The pain of losing you is unbearable, Mito. I didn’t know a life without you… and now I must learn to.”</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8CtK-jxON/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A914487.8999999911%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/9/23/claudine-and-marjorie-barretto-mourn-the-passing-of-their-brother-mito-you-were-our-rock-2317"><strong>READ: Claudine and Marjorie Barretto mourn the passing of their brother Mito: ’You were our rock&#x27;</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>Their sister, Claudine Barretto, also mourned their loss by sharing a reel of photos with Mito.</p><p> “I can&#x27;t believe you left us this soon.my 💔 &amp; soul is broken. rest in Paradise where there is no pain. I luv u always had forever will,” Caludine said. “I thank God &amp; Mark for fixing us before leaving bcoz i might&#x27;ve never [forgiven] myself if we weren&#x27;t ok.my Kuya. help me🙏i can&#x27;t.really i can&#x27;t.”</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO8dG_2D8bO/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A916375.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div> </div><p>In another post, Claudine expressed gratitude that she and Mito were able to patch things up before his death.</p><p> “Mito I&#x27;m so so sorry again. i swear to take care of Connie, Mark &amp; John especially our apos. It was a privilege to have had u as my kuya. forgive me again &amp; i luv u so much 💔💔💔,” she also said in another post.</p>