96. 18 NOTABLE KAPAMPANGAN DOCTORS BORN BEFORE 1900, part II

DR. LIBORIO P. GOMEZ, Sto. Tomas

(b. 23 Jul. 1887/ d.1958 )

Born to Magdaleno and Catalina Pineda, the future pathologist, medical educator, and scientist has an impressive background. As a pensionado in 1903, he was sent to the U.S. to study at Pomona College, University of Missouri,  From there, he earned a doctorate degree of Philosophy in  Pathology and Physiology at the University of Chicago, and a medical degree from the Rush Medical College. At the Bureau of Science, he studied Bacteriology for 7 years, and his expertise enabled him to become the Head of the Department of Pathology and Bacteriology of the said bureau. In 1953,  he was coaced from retirement to help establish the Dept. of Pathology and Microbiology of the newly-organized medical school,  FEU-Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation.  Dr. Gomez headed this department as its chairman and professor until his death.

DR. JULIAN D. DYCAICO, Angeles

(b. 17 Oct. 1888/ d. 11 Mar. 1965 )

The noted physician-surgeon of Angeles was the son of Jose and Rufina Dayrit. He studied at the Philippine Normal School (1906-09), and at the UP College of Liberal Arts ( 1909-11). He went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine degree at the U.P. College of Medicine and Surgery in 1914. After his internship at the Philippine general Hospital, he went into private practice in 1915. Dr. Dycaico was elected councilor of Angeles, and was  connected with the beginnings of Holy Angel Academy in 1933,as its first school physician and comptroller.

DR. RUFINO ABRIOL, Arayat

(b. 7 Apr. 1890/ d. 19? )

Dr. Abriol holds the distinction of being elected President of the Philippine Islands Medical Association (1935-36) and Chairman of the Board of Examiners, in his time. The U.P.-educated doctor also became a Fellow of the American Medical Society, as well as a member of both Manila and Pampanga Medical Association. Dr. Abriol garnered the highest rating for the Medical Board Examination in 19 13. He went to Johns Hopkins University for further studies in Public Health. Dr. Abriol, married to Rosa Reyes, was also a member of the faculty of Medicine, University of the Philippines.

DR. BASILIO J.VALDES, Floridablanca

(b. 10 July 1892/d. 26 Jan. 1970)

Though he resided mostly in Manila, Basilio José Segundo Pica Valdés was born in the Floridablanca hacienda of his father, Dr. Benito Salvador Valdes, who was married to Filomena Pica. Influenced by his father, he took up Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas and graduated with honors in 1916. Immediately, he plunged headlong into medical service, treating all his patients with respect and fairness, and adapting a personal motto—“Audaces Fortuna Juvat”—Fortune helps the brave. He joined the French Army as a medical volunteer, followed by a stint at the U.S. Army as a surgeon from 1917-1919. When he returned to the Philippines, he became a medical inspector for the Philippine Constabulary for 8 years (1926-1934). Pres. Manuel L. Quezon appointed him as Chief of Staff of the Philippine Constabulary and Philippine Army in 1939, elevating his rank to a general (he would rise to become a Brigadier General). Two years later, Basilio was appointed as Secretary of National Defense. During the Japanese period, he served under Pres. Jose P. Laurel as Secretary of Public Works. In the 1950s, he headed the family’s Hacienda del Carmen in Floridablanca, Pampanga, which is now known as barrio Valdes.

DR. WENCESLAO B. VITUG, Lubao

(b. 28 Sep. 1892/d. 7 Jan. 1986)

The son of Esteban and Juana Beltran, thefutur doctor went to local schools in Lubao and San Fernando, and finished at Pampanga High School. He earned his medical degree from the University of the Philippines in 1918, where he also taught after. He became a visiting physician of the Philippine General Hospital, where his expertise and skill became very much known. This was how the doctor met his future wife, Juanita Arrastia, Miss Pampanga of 1926, who accompanied her mother to PGH for her check-up, and who happened to be Dr. Vitug’s patient. The couple settled in Lubao, had 5 children, and became hacenderos. The Vitugs eventually moved to Manila.

DR. DALMACIO SONGCO, Guagua

(B.24 Sep. 1895/ d.19 ?)

Dr. Songco spent 4 years at the Escuela de Bellas Artes, then moved to the University of Santo Tomas for his medical degree which he finished in 1926. His education was paid for by Bulaqueño philanthropist, Dr. Felix de Leon. The artist-doctor made news when his exhibits at the Pampanga pavilion during the 1920 Manila Carnival were seized by the police. His framed artworks—which showed paintings of Philippine paper currency from one pesos to 500 pesos—were deemed as counterfeit.  Through the intercession of Gov. Honorio Ventura and Don Pablo Angeles David, all charges were dropped against Dr. Songco. During the great Philippine cholera epidemic of 1926, he volunteered to help at the San Lazaro Hospital. He also had a stint at the San Juan de Dios Hospital., eventually serving as president of the Sanitary Divisions of Cebu and Bataan. Dr. Songco married Julia Sanchez of Porac in 1917.

DR. RAFAEL L.  TEOPACO, San Fernando

(b. 24 Oct. 1896/d. ?)

The son of Jose and Albina Limjuco, the distinguished doctor began his early studies at the San Fernando Elementary School, then enrolled at the National University and the University of the Philippines. He took his internship at the Loyola University, training at the St. Mar Hospital, Chicago. From there, he visited the leading clinics of Europe. He placed 3^rd at the medical board exams ( 86% ) in 1928, and also placed 3^rd in the exams for Senior Surgeons (83%). Dr. Teopaco served at the Bontoc Provincial Hospital (1928), Baguio Hospital (1929), and as Director of the Pampanga Provincial Hospital in 1931. He is married to Demetria Genuino.

DR. CASTOR T. SURLA, Angeles

(b. 26 Mar. 1897/ d. ?)

Betis-born Surla, whose parents were Castor Sr. and Paula Tizon, relocated to Angeles for his schooling and stayed there permanently. He finished medicine at the University of Sto. Tomas in 1918, and took his residency at the San Juan de Dios Hospital. He likewise taught at the Escuela de Enfermeras in 1919 and headed the Ntra. Sra. Del Pilar Hospital in Zamboanga until 1920. In 1921, he became a longtime instructor at his alma mater, UST, teaching abdominal surgery and genito-urinary diseases.

DR. EMIGDIO C. CRUZ, Arayat

(b. 5 Aug. 1898-d. 1978)

Emigdio was born from the union of Jacinto Cruz, a Malabon rice trader and Andrea Castor, a Portuguese-Filipina from Candaba. His father, an ‘herbolario’ in Arayat, encouraged his children to take up science courses.  Indeed, 3 sons (Emigdio, Vicente and Cecilio) would become doctors. Emigdio himself, went to U.P., finishing Medicine only in 1929, at a rather late age of 31. After becoming one of the board topnotchers, he practiced in Arayat where he would meet his wife, Restituta Roque. Dr. Cruz is credited as the founder of Arayat General Hospital which he would serve as its medical director from 1935-38. He joined the Army and became a Captain of the Medical Corps in 1939.  As a result, he became Pres. Quezon's personal physician, whom he joined in exile in the U.S., until the president’s death. In 1946, he returned to the country with the Quezon family. Dr. Cruz is the recipient of the Philippine Congressional Medal of Valor and Distinguished Service Cross for his valiant WWII underground work.

95. 18 NOTABLE KAPAMPANGAN DOCTORS BORN BEFORE 1900, part I

The list of Kapampangan doctors of distinction is long, so we cover first those born at the turn of the 19^th century. Their legacies of service to humankind through their medical expertise,  skills,  involvement in community and national affairs plus their personal qualities, are still remembered by a grateful province today. Here are the first 9: 

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DR. FRANCISCO T. LIONGSON, Bacolor

(b. 3 Dec. 1869/d. 20 Feb. 1919)

The doctor who would go on to become a Pampanga governor and the first Kapampangan senator was born to Emigdio Liongson and Eulalia Tongio. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from Letran, he sailed to Spain in 1889 to study medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid,. There, he obtained his degree in Medicine and Surgery 1894, and his doctorate the next year. He further trained in different Paris hospitals like the renowned Pasteur Institute. Exposed to Filipino propagandists in Spain, he began to take interest in the country’s current state and future. He returned to the Philippines with his Spanish wife, Ma. Doloroes Alonso in late 1895.  When the Revolution broke, Dr. Liongson  joined the Katipunan as a doctor with the rank of a captain. With the coming of Americans, he continued his fight for the country, becoming one of the founding fathers of the Nacionalista Party. In 1912, he ran for the governorship of Pampanga and won. His term was marked with peace and prosperity. The highlight of his political career was his election as the first Kapampangan senator in 1916.

DR. GREGORIO T.  SIÑGIAN, San Fernando

(b. 9 May 1872/d. 29 Jan. 1937 )

Born to Cristino and Angela Torres, the young Gregorio went to a private school in San Fernando, then finished high school at Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He took up Medicine at the University of Sto. Tomas in March 1896. In 1907, Dr. Singian was appointed as the first Filipino associate professor of surgery in the Philippine Medical School, which later became the U.P. College of Medicine. He gained renown as a surgeon, so much so that he was known as “mago de bisturi” (wizard of the scalpel), earning him the title of “Father of Philippine Surgery”.  He became the Director of the San Juan de Dios Hospital in 1920 and founded the Philippine College of Surgeons in 1936.

DR. VICENTE H. PANLILIO, Mexico

(b. 19 Jul. 1872/d.19 ?)

The Letran graduate, son of Antonio and Luisa Hizon, proceeded to the University of Sto. Tomas to pursue Medicine which he finished in 1895. The next year,  he went to Barcelona, Spain for advanced studies. He finished his doctorate in Medicine in 1901. Returning to the Philippines in 1902, he put up a private practice in Mexico where he became the town’s ‘doctor de sanidad’.  Dr. Panlilio moved to San Fernando permanently in 1906, and became a physician for the Manila Railroad Co. until 1925. He also forayed into business and politics, becoming a director of PASUDECO as well as a  2-term councilor of the capital town. He married the patriot Nicolas Dayrit.

DR. JACOBO P. FAJARDO, Bacolor

(b. 25 July 1876/d. 23 July 1941)

This distinguished physician, surgeon and public health pioneer was born to Justino and Andrea Puno of Bacolor. After the Revolution where he served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, he went to the University of Santo Tomas where he finished a degree in medicine in 1905.  While still in school, he married Antonio Jacinto in 1900. He served as president of the Municipal Board of Health of Arayat, Pampanga, then assigned to assigned to Negros Oriental, Pangasinan and Mindanao as district health officer. As deputy in the Philippine Assembly (1909-12),  he authored the Fajardo Bill in 1912, that was the basis for the organization and efficient administration of public health services in the country. Dr. Fajardo was appointed Director of Bureau of Health (now DOH) in 1924. He was the first Filipino doctor to receive a Rockefeller grant that allowed him to travel to the USA and Europe, as part of his public health research.

DR. FELINO D. SIMPAO, Guagua

(b. 1 Jun. 1880/ d. 1954)

Born to Serapio and Epifania del Rosario, Dr. Simpao was schooled in Letran in 1896, and proceeded to the U.P., and then to Asilo de Huerfanos in Malabon in 1898. During the Revolution, he served as 1^st lieutenant of Gen. Tomas Mascardo.  After the war, he enrolled at UST for his medical licentiate in 1909. As a doctor, he joined the Bureau of Sanitation, and appointed medico provincial of La Union, Pangasinan, Leyte (where he founded its provincial hospital), Cavite and Sorsogon. He also worked as a volunteer doctor at the San Lazaro Hospital during the cholera epidemic in Manila. The multi-facetted physician, who was also a poet-playwright,  wrote for several papers like “E Mangabiran”, “Ing Balen”, “Ing Catimawan”, “El Ideal” and “El Renacimiento”. From 1910-12, Dr. Simpao served as the Mayor of Guagua. During his term, the school central, the market, and the Pampanga Pavilion for the 1909 Manila Carnival were all built under his supervision. He was one of the founders of Pampanga’s Nacionalista Party. Dr. Simpao  ran for the governorship of Pampanga but was beaten by another doctor--Francisco Liongson.

DR. CLEMENTE N. PUNO, Bacolor

(b. 23 Nov. 1881/ d.19? )

The child of Eugenio and Patricia Nuqui, he went to Colegio de Letran for his high school years (1895-98), and then to the University of Sto. Tomas (1901-05) for his medical course. Dr. Puno had his own private practice in Candaba and Guagua, and became the president of the Sanitary Division of Guagua, Bacolor and Sta. Rita. Married to Beatriz Concepcion, Dr. Puno was a member of the Colegio Medico Farmaceutico de Filipinas and the Pampanga Medical Association.

DR. FERNANDO S, GONZALEZ, Apalit

(b. 6 Nov. 1884/d. 19? )

This medico cirujano from Apalit, born to Joaquin and Florencia Sioco, attended Letran before enrolling at the Colegio de Farmacia y Medicina, of the UST from 1901-07. He taught English, Physiology and Hygiene at the Instituto de Burgos in 1907. He then practiced in Candaba until 1914, before joining the government service beginning in 1914 to 1928.  During this period, he became the district health officer of San Luis, Candaba, Arayat, Apalit and San Simon. He was also assigned in La Union, the  Rizal, Cavite and Bataan. Dr. Gonzalez then returned to serve Pampanga from 1919-1927.  He is also an active member of several associations of scientific history in America and the Philippines.

DR. GERVACIO SANTOS CUYUGAN, San Fernando

(b. 19 June 1886/ d. 1 Jun. 1968)

Dr. Gervacio Santos-Cuyugan, born to Florencio and Juana Cuyugan, became a U.S. government scholar after his studies at Liceo de Manila. As a pensionado, he and hs contemporary, Jose Abad Santos, was sent to the University of Illinois to take up Medicine from 1905-1910. Upon his return, he started as a Junior Health Inspector at the Bureau of health in 1911, and worked his way up to become a Senior Surgeon at the Philippine General Hospital. In 1913, he taught Surgery at the University of the Philippines. In 1918, Dr. Santos-Cuyugan became a Major and Adjutant of the Surgeon General of the National Guard. The next year, he went into private practice after his marriage to Jacinta Belza. He was later appointed Director of the Tayabas General Hospital. His daughter is  the opera singer, Fides Cuyugan.

DR. ABELARDO O. LANSANG, Sta. Rita

(b. 9 Jul. 1887/ d. 19? )

The young Abelardo was sent to the Ateneo de Manila by his parents, Arcadio and Manuela Ocampo, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1901.  He finished Medicine at the University of Sto. Tomas in 1914, went into private practice, then became a resident physician at SanJuan de Dios Hospital from 1921-25. Dr. Lansang dabbled in politics and was elected as a town councilor. His wife, Efigenia Lansang, bore him 5 children.

SOURCES:
NINU'T NINU QNG CAPAMPANGAN, 1934, Fajardo & Kabigting
www.viewsfromthpampang.blogspot.com