My classmate, my idol

ever did I imagine I would have the privilege and honor to have a classmate who surpassed the expectations of not just myself but the University of the Philippines as well.

- RAYMUND W. LO, MD, FPSP

I have known Francisco Sy since our pre-med days as an affable, mildmannered scholarly type. We went on to become classmates again in the UP College of Medicine. Francis was known forhis lecture notes as he had nice handwriting so many in the class would ask him to lend his notes to photocopy.

We formed a well-knit group with myself, Ruffy Co, Francis and Ricky Gallaga with the moniker LoCo Sy Gallaga since Ricky was the comedian of the group. After graduation, we went off to train in our respective field. Francis chose to go into public health, teaching in the UP Institute of Hygiene, now the College of Public Health. He then went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Tropical Public Health at Harvard University, and on to the Johns Hopkins University for his Doctor of Public Health in Immunology and Infectious Diseases.