Remembering an icon

HONOLULU—In her lifetime, Dr. Perla Santos Ocampo, or “PDO” as she was popularly called, was an icon in all possible dimensions that the term could mean.

In death her priceless legacy of talent, achievement, institution-building, character, spirit and humanism will live on in the history of our nation particularly in the field of medicine and science.

I was part of a team that wrote and edited a commemorative book, “For Love of Children: Perla Santos Ocampo as Scientist and Humanist” (2009), celebrating her life and career as a scientist, scholar, professor, advocate, academic leader and internationalist. Subsequently, an Endowed Professorial Chair was established in her honor at the University of the Philippines Manila, which she once served as chancellor and longtime faculty and department chair at the College of Medicine. Under her leadership as chancellor (1993-1999), UP Manila experienced a “golden age” of unprecedented expansion and growth, significantly enhancing UP Manila’s role in national development, especially in the field of health sciences.

What I found hardest to put together in a limited number of pages in the book was the Appendix listing her books, research papers, scientific articles, monographs, lectures, speeches and other publications. It was simply overwhelming. Her intellectual energy was nothing short of amazing. Despite a continuous and demanding career as chancellor, professor, researcher, department chair, faculty regent, president of the International Association of Pediatrics, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology, president of the

She was a passionate advocate for children’s welfare and rights in the broader context of total human development

Philippine Medical Association and many more such positions, she found time to create more institutions and programs that would not only benefit academia but Philippine society at large. She was forever doing something for the good of some constituency in the community. She had a first-rate intellect and a heart of gold. She would lobby all by herself in Congress for causes intended to enrich the scientific community, advance research and learning, and support the applied sciences. Her skills set primarily included vision, planning, commitment, organization and action—the hallmarks of a true leader.

But nothing matches her reservoir of human skills of kindness, compassion, nurturing and caring for one and all. Josefina G. Tayag, former vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at UP Manila, who interviewed PDO at length for the lead chapter in the book, summarizes the essence of PDO as “a brilliant visionary, an inspiring people-developer and mobilizer, a dynamic institution-builder, a dedicated scientist and researcher, a prolific writer, an outstanding pediatrician and international health advocate, an exemplary citizen, a devoted wife and loving mother, and a caring friend.” PDO’s career as a pediatrician reached its high point when she was elected president of the International Association of Pediatrics, the first woman to be elected to this prestigious position.

She was a passionate advocate for children’s welfare and rights in the broader context of total human development. In one of her lectures, she alluded to the need for “nutrition (of children), health care, protection, affection, interaction, stimulation, security, allowing exploration and discovery, as well as for a supportive environment, as defined in different cultures.”

The Endowed Professorial Chair in her honor at UP Manila has been established in perpetuity. This will serve the purpose of perpetuating the enduring legacy of this remarkable woman whose long and extraordinary career in Philippine academia and society is the stuff of legend. Belinda Aquino, former UP vice president for Public Affairs, is professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she served as professor of Political Science and Asian Studies and founding director of the Center for Philippine Studies.