When Alex “Chin Kok” Sy departed on Nov. 30, 2021, most people who learned of the sad news found it hard to express their feelings. It is never easy to find the words to express what we feel when there are no words that can fully capture the depth of what it is we feel in times of deep sorrow.
How can one put into words the depth of communal sorrow, among those whose countless lives Chin Kok personally touched?
At the outset, we express our deepest condolence to his wife Rosalinda; his children Sarah Rose Sy, Misael Tan, Dean Stephen Sy, Kristine Lopingco, Amy Lane Sy, and Imran Khalili and their spouses; grandchildren, his siblings and cousins, nieces and nephews, and more importantly, the members of the Sy clan.
Let the beautiful memories of Chin Kok’s legacy live on as a gentle, playful, persistent entrepreneur, and loving family man.
As a man who passed on embodying God’s grace until his last breath, may we take comfort in the belief that when Chin Kok arrived in paradise, he must have heard the words, “Well done, you good and faithful servant!”
One could easily underestimate Chin Kok, and most people agree that he liked it that way. It made him pursue his goals as an extraordinary entrepreneur as a member of the New Bian Yek business group.
The word ‘entrepreneur’ comes from the French word referring to “one who undertakes”.
And how Chin Kok undertook! Everything he did, he did with his whole heart, living each day by looking to the future with much hope. His whole persona exuded a deep sense of gratefulness and generosity.
Realizing that he faced unusual adversity at an early age, being born during the World War II years and its aftermath, surviving the Martial Law years and living through the economic difficulties along the way, it is amazing that Chin Kok came out of it always exuding positivity.
He remained loyal beyond words to his family, relatives, friends, and business associates. And for those who were his classmates at the Silliman University High School Class 1958, they all agree they had the good fortune of having Chin Kok as their classmate who was always supportive in all their class projects, the latest of which is the SUHS Meditation Chapel.
His classmates of SUHS ‘58 recall that while they were pre-occupied with juvenile pursuits during their high school years, Chin Kok was busy helping in the family business: he would either be absent from class or late in coming to school as he still had to accomplish his assigned chores in their thriving family business managed by his elder brothers, Julio and Susano.
His classmates at Silliman High remember with fondness how they have been witness to Chin Kok’s life in his youth: always working hard, always encouraging about honesty, and how he made friends in his shy and humble ways.
One classmate recalled how Chin Kok decided not to attend their high school graduation because he chose to do his assigned task to travel in their truck to deliver goods to customers.
Eighty-one years ago, the wonderful gift of life was given to Alex “Chin Kok” Sy. Now he returns that life to God, and in losing his human life, he gains eternal life.
Chin Kok, may perpetual light shine upon you, and may your soul rest in eternal peace.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
