Don Julio O. Sy Sr., one of the finest business magnates in our country, passed away on August 11. He died quietly in his sleep, so characteristic of him who was soft-spoken and gentle-mannered in life.
On August 28, 2015, he was conferred a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, by Silliman University. The conferment was a highlight of the 114th founding anniversary celebration of the university. During the conferment ceremony, Julio’s acceptance speech touched hearts. He said, “I have been waiting for more than 60 years to say this: ‘Papa, Mama, I finally have a degree from Silliman University. It’s not just any degree… It’s a doctorate degree.’”
He could have told his parents too that he was a member of the Silliman Board of Trustees and of the Silliman University Foundation, Inc.
Julio then continued reading his message. He said he never graduated from college. In his second year at Silliman, he and his brother Susano had to stop schooling due to a financial crisis in the family. His father’s small hardware business building went up in flames, forcing Julio to find ways and means to help the family get by.
Julio was no stranger to rough times. He said during the Japanese occupation when he was 11 years old, “We were so poor we could not afford to buy rice. Eating my favorite rice puto meant the world to me. I would wait along the sidewalk for cargo trucks loaded with rice to pass by. Back then rice was packed in jute bags and often grains would spill out from their gaping holes. I would sweep the dirt from the streets and patiently separate the grains from the dirt and gave them to Mama for her to cook my rice puto.”
“Who would have imagined my life would lead me to be in business dealing with food commodities I hungered for as a child: rice, corn, sugar and vegetable oil?”
Julio Sy is described as having the “Midas touch.” Whatever he chose to engage in became a success. He was into sugar milling (primarily Busco Sugar Milling Co. Inc., the second, if not the biggest, sugar milling company in the country), oil milling, shipping, real estate, banking, trading, and hostelry, among others.
He said, “No matter what circumstances you are born with, you should never stop dreaming. As I reflect, I am thankful I have achieved something in life. Entrepreneurship has been my calling. I have been blessed to use this talent to contribute to society and nation-building.”
He credited two persons for having propelled him to make his dreams come true – his mother, an exceptional entrepreneur making food items to sell and keeping the children well behaved and business focused, and his wife, Anicia, a dynamic and gracious lady.
Among Dr. Sy’s awards are the Outstanding Sillimanian in Business Award, Outstanding National Citizen Award of the Philippines, Philippine National Red Cross Award and the National YMCA Award.
Dr. Sy cited three key virtues in his journey to success:
First, integrity. “Integrity is probably the biggest hallmark I have as a person. Success comes and goes, but integrity is forever. It means doing the right thing at all times, no matter the circumstances. It means keeping your word and fulfilling your promises.”
Second, hard work. “To succeed in life, there are no shortcuts. We must be willing to accept challenges and make extraordinary sacrifices to do great work.”
Third, love and respect for people. “Treat everyone with equal respect no matter what their status in life is. As people have helped me when I was little, I have always tried to help as many as I could without any conditions.”
Don Julio left behind – bereft but extremely proud to be inheritors of Don Julio’s fine qualities – his ever loyal and caring wife Aning and his living children Jeanne Sy Krebs, Representative Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong and her husband Lawrence Limkaichong; Julio Sy Jr., and wife Ma. Paz Francisco Sy, and Jonathan D. Sy and wife Anna Lisa G. Sy.
His grandchildren will miss him a lot: Lyle Sy Krebs, Lawrence Sy Limkaichong III, Jermaine G. Sy Alcalde and husband Joseph Alcalde, Luke G. Sy Limkaichong, Louie G. Sy, Karina Sy Krebs, Jay Paolo F. Sy, Leonard Sy Limkaichong, Justin Sy Limkaichong, Sebastian F. Sy, Ma. Ela F. Sy and Ma. Julia G. Sy.
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My daughter-in-law Joabi Caluag, a medical transcriptionist, told me, “Since I’ve been working from home for years, my day to day has pretty much remained the same. I’d say it’s more my perspective that has changed. One such change for me is being more mindful of not wasting any food and making do with whatever is already at hand. Grocery shopping these days has evolved from a simple errand to being a production number where Doy (her husband, my son) has to go never been cleaner or more organized!”
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Email: dominitorrevillas@gmail.com