SOFRONIO Y. MENDOZA - signs his canvases plainly as SYM. He was born in Cebu City, March 11. 1934. He attended the colleges of Fine Arts of the University of Santo Tomas and the University of the East.
He had won several awards and citations in the field of painting as follows:

1961 - second place: Castro Scholarship Award, U.P.

1955 - First prize: Portraiture, University of the East

1965 - Third prize: U.E. Fine Arts Students Competition

1967 - First prize Shell National Art Competition (On the Spot category).

One of the most significant awards Sym received was The Golden Heart Award which was recognized by the Philippine Day Confederation & the Philippine Centennial Movement in 1998.