Thank you for everything Dra. Tupasi.....
I remember Dr.Tupasi as our foremost mentor in TB , particularly on DRTB. As the NTP Program Manager then,our direction was on Basic DOTS; but Mam already had that vision on drug resistance and was already addressing this at that time. As a budding program manager, I have minimal know how on DRTB but Mam was there to mentor and to coach me; responding to all my questions and advising me on this difficult topic. She welcomed every question I have and endlessly shared her expertise to all. Her intellect on TB was inspiring and the richness of her knowledge paved our ways, for me and my colleagues, as to where we are right now.....Many may not have known that Dra. Tupasi and I have a common connection. My uncle/godfather was one of her peers during her medical years at UP-College of Medicine. They spent their years in med school throughout. While in the US for their respective studies/practices, they still manage to communicate with each other once in a while. Every time Mam and I have light moments, she never missed to ask me, "Kamusta na si Tito mo?" ..... and this would start our exchange of chats that eventually deepened our Friendship.....
As Mam is in heaven now, she left us many, many gains that we, in the NTP, would try to enrich and sustain such, as our way of valuing what Mam did to us and to the entire TB Program....
To our Creator, we thank You for your wonderful creation, for a blessing, in the person of Dra. Tupasi.....And to the Family, Dr. Ramos and Children, we thank you for sharing her life, your blessing to us....
Maraming Salamat po!