THROUGH UNTRUE
Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa OP
Unknown to many, the late Jaime Cardinal Sin had a younger brother who was his constant companion, confidant, and personal physician. He was Dr. Ramon L. Sin, who shied away from the limelight, preferring not to bask in his brother's popularity. He died last Wednesday at the age of 93.
I was introduced to this soft-spoken physician when I became the rector of the University of Santo Tomas in the 90’s. Impressed by his excellent record as a teacher and medical practitioner, I thought of offering him the deanship of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. But I hesitated. What would people say if they learned that the medical school of the Royal, Pontifical, and Catholic University of the Philippines was headed by a man whose family name was SIN?
But my hesitation vanished when I opened the Bible and read this passage: “Where sin reigns, grace the more abounds” (Romans 5:20-21). God seemed to verify this insight because Dr. Sin chose as his assistant dean, another excellent physician, Dr. Garayblas whose nickname was “Grace.”
It was difficult to catch up with Dr. Sin. He was always on the move. He did not procrastinate on important decisions. The upside to this was, he produced immediate results. The downside: He tended to require the same attitude from others. For instance, when a potential donor for UST’s scholarship program visited him, he welcomed her with a big smile, then asked: “Did you already bring the check?” Dr. Sin was not only an action man. He was also a “segurista.”
Dr. Sin remained single all his life. He immolated himself on the altar of his medical profession. He jokingly told me that he was the “virgen verdadero de la Universidad de Santo Tomás.” In medical terms he described himself as “untouched, un-palpated, un-percussed, and un-oscultated.”
His vigorous affirmations regarding his celibate life would shame many of us priests who consider our being unmarried as a problem. Being celibate was a choice that he made. Whenever I am reminded of his dedication to his profession and to his brother’s health and welfare, I would make an act of contrition for those times when I felt lukewarm in fulfilling the demands of my vocation.
Dr. Sin was a credible unifier. I remember the first time I attended the UST Medical Alumni reunion in the United States in 1993. I saw how he was able to persuade alumni from various states to gather in one place. He effortlessly convinced them to establish a foundation that would raise funds for the needs of the UST College of Medicine. When the discussion about who would manage the funds caused a heated debate, Dr. Sin stood up and gently said: “I understand your differences. But let us not forget the main purpose for which the foundation is established — to help our alma mater. I hope our discussions will focus more on serving UST than our interests.” Immediately, the debate ended.
Dr. Sin had great respect for authority regardless of who held it. When I started my rectorship at the young age of 37, Dr. Sin showed me complete trust and confidence, and never treated me condescendingly. Looking back, my most memorable moments were St. John Paul II’s papal visit to UST and the International Youth Forum in 1995, both of which he facilitated wonderfully, and the visits of alumni, heads of State, luminaries in various professions, and presidents of foreign educational institutions.
Dr. Sin was an excellent teacher, administrator, and physician. But he remained deeply human as manifested by his various eccentricities which all of us have learned to love.
By the way, almost everything that I mentioned above about Dr. Sin was contained in my speech during the testimonial dinner held in his honor in 2001. I am glad that I was able to sing praise to him while he could still hear it. May he rest in peace!