Good evening! We are all gathered tonight because of the passing of our dear colleague, Dr. Thelma E. Tupasi-Ramos!
I first met Thelma sometime in the seventies during an Infectious Disease convention in the US. She was introduced to me by her Infectious Disease Chief in the University of Washington in Seattle, Dr. Kirby. Subsequently, I met her again in another ID Convention. Thereafter, I see her whenever I would attend meetings of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases during my Philippine visits. In 1985, when she was the Director at the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), I mentioned to her my interest in finding out whether HIV/AIDS was present in the Philippines. She immediately invited me to join RITM and stated that she would provide space for a laboratory and a medical technologist to assist me whereupon I started my investigations on HIV in the Philippines, the first such work in this country.
During the next months, Thelma became a close colleague, and very supportive, for my investigative activities. I found her to be very quick thinking, incisive in her deliberations, and action oriented. A combination rarely seen in a Philippine government institution. For instance, a couple of weeks or so, after I started my work at RITM, I met a Microbiology Department employee who congratulated me on becoming the Head of the Microbiology Department, a position I was not aware of! Apparently, the position was available and instead of looking for somebody to fill the position, she decided that I was available which resulted in my having to visit the Immigration Department yearly to extend my stay here!
It was unfortunate for RITM that she moved her work to Makati Medical Center in 1986 as RITM developed a good solid research base, and was starting to gather renown for Infectious Disease activities during her tenure!
With Dr. Thelma Tupasi's death, we have lost a brilliant physician and researcher, and a warm, honest and deeply religious individual. I extend my sympathy to her Family: Husband Dr. Claver Ramos, children and their families!
Thank you.