Patricia Lourdes Viray - The Philippine Star
November 6, 2014 | 4:12pm
MANILA, Philippines - One of the thousands who paid tribute to former senator and Health Secretary Juan Flavier left a touching note for his family.
James Flavier, the former senator's son, posted a photo on Facebook of the said note which was written at the back of the guest book during the late senator's wake.
"Dad is a person who touched the lives of many. They quietly arrive at Dad's wake, spend a few moments by his side and, just as quietly, leave. One of them left this note in the guest book." James said on the photo's caption.
The letter read:
To the family and loved ones of Dr. Flavier,
I apologize for writing at the back of this
guest list, but this is the only way I can think
of to convey my gratitude to your family and to
Dr. Flavier. My life was changed by his Oplan Sagip
Mata program almost twenty years ago, and thanks to
this great man I was able to live differently despite
being born cross-eyed and poor. Without him, I
could not have achieved the honors I have achieved,
and his health programs have helped me reach
places I never thought I would. I even graduated
summa cum laude from this university, and this is
all thanks to your great father/grandfather/loved
one.
Thank you, and my deepest condolences.
Sincerely,
Sandra Magalang, UP Diliman 2010, 2014
The note was from Sandra Magalang, the 2014 Salutatorian of University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, as UP Law professor JJ Disini confirmed on the photo's comment thread.
"Sandra Magalang is the Salutatorian of UP Law, 2014. She just finished taking the Bar Exams," Disini said.
James Flavier posted a photo of a scribbled note from a beneficiary of his father's Oplan Sagip Mata
In 1993, Flavier launched "Oplan Sagip Mata" which provides free operations and services to address the increasing rate of blindness in the country. Other programs that the former health secretary introduced are "Yosi Kadiri," "Pusong Pinoy," "Oplan Alis Disease" and "Doctor to the Barrio".
