How Juan Flavier helped 'cross-eyed and poor' girl become UP summa cum laude

Thousands of people paid tribute to the late Juan Flavier last week, with hundreds more visiting his wake at the Church of the Risen Lord inside the University of the Philippines Diliman campus this past weekend — a proof of just how many lives the former senator and Health Secretary touched.

 

His mourners were rich and poor, educated and uneducated, young and old, men and women. While not all of them were able to say everything they wanted to him or his family, one young woman tried mightily by scribbling her gratitude on the back of the guest list.

 

Flavier's youngest son James uploaded a photo of the letter from one Sandra Magalang on his Facebook page on November 3.

 

 

 

“Dad is a person who touched the lives of many. They quietly arrived at Dad's wake, spent a few moments by his side and, just as quietly, left. One of them left this note in the guest book,” went the accompanying 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 almost 20 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

 

UP Law Professor JJ Disini later confirmed Magalang's identity in a comment on the post. “Sandra Magalang is the Salutatorian of UP Law, 2014. She just finished taking the Bar Exams.” — Vida Cruz/JST, GMA News