Doctor who died of COVID-19 served his patients until the very end

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has claimed the life of another Filipino doctor who fulfilled his oath until the very end.

Dr. Hilario Mangoba, a pediatrician of various hospitals in Quezon City, passed away on Tuesday after a month of battling the virus.

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on "24 Oras," Doc Larry kept his condition a secret even to his loved ones so they would not worry about him.

"Si Larry 'yung type of person that is very jolly and would make everything so light," said Dr. Hermie Maglaya-ang, one of his friends. "Pag may problema, gagaan 'yun at masosolusyonan 'yun kasi he is a type of person who would think always positive and will inspire other people."

Another friend, Dr. Jess Acantilado, shared that Doc Larry told him he was still doing home service despite the threat of the virus.

"'Bata pa naman ako, I think matatakot sa 'kin si COVID.' Ganyan ang joke niya parati. So ganun siya ka-dedicated e," he said.

In June, Doc Larry posted his clinic schedule on his Facebook account and made his contact details available to his patients.

"Lahat ng pasyenteng magte-text, sasagutin niya as if walang nangyayari. In that one week period, nag-ta-try siya mag communicate," Maglaya-ang said. "Nakakapag-video call siya, nakaka-text siya, emoji. Tas mga sweet words lagi sasabihin niya."

His sister Jeanette said their family could not contain their grief with his passing, calling him a "perfect brother."

"Lahat kaya niya ibigay sa amin," she said. "Kahit 'yung mga pamangkin niya pinapag-aral niya, pag umaalis siya sa ibang bansa, lahat ng secretary niya, co-doctors niya, colleagues niya, kahit maliliit na bagay naalala niya lahat at binibigay niya po sa amin." —MGP, GMA News