A Guardian Named Guerra

Son of Paquito Guerra and Norma Zagala was born on January 6,1954 in Guinayangan Quezon. He completed his early education from the Guinayangan Elementary and Guinayangan Academy, 1966 and 1970 respectively. He is a graduate of BS Economics in the Luzonian University in 1975 and completed Advance ROTC in the same year. He joined the Philippine army on May 16. 1976, commissioned 2Lt. 09 Aug, 1976, promoted 1Lt. 06 Nov.1979, CPT 06 1983, Maj. 01 July 1991 and Lt.Col. 01 April 2000. He is with the Army Special Forces Regiment. Now a full Colonel, Col. Darwin Z. Guerra is PA for more than 30 years.

Considered as one of the Army Officer who is a multi-combat military awardee, a recipient of “Gold Cross Medal” in 1994, and seven “Bronze Cross Medal” in succeeding years plus other distinguished military medals for leadership, gallantry in action, courage and bravery.

Adding to his credit are the awards and decorations, he is also a recipient of more than 50 commendations and honors (1978-1998) awarded by GO and NGO authorities.
For his Military Schooling, he has completed numerous courses that has given him knowledge and skills as an officer.

He was also featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer: Balance News Fearless Views (68 pages 4 section Vol.10 No.266 p7)

“A Guardian Name Guerra”
Zamboanga City-If ever residents of Western Mindanao, particularly Zamboanga City, are having a good night sleep these days, credit goes to the presence here of the Army’s 9th Special Forces under the command of Maj.Darwin Gurra. Guerra's men, who are among the most highly trained combatants in the Philippine Army's Elite Special Forces Corps, are manning critical areas surrounding Zamboanga City to keep criminal elements out of the city.
A veteran field officer who has promoted who has mastered the art of public relations to hilt, Guerra is friend and companion to most city officials and members of the local media.
Joining the Army’s Special Forces in November 2, 1977, Guerra who was promoted to the rank of Major on May 1991, was an instructor in the Special Forces School in Ft. Magsaysay for three years after taking up schooling operations at the Land Warfare Center in Queensland, Australia in 1990.
A graduate to Special Command Course at Ft. Magsaysay where he topped the class with Sen. Gringo Honasan as one of his instructors, Guerra has been practically assigned in almost all places in the country.
A recipient of the Outstanding Soldier Award in Negros in 1986, Darwin, who is married to a Zamboanguena, has Brig.Gen Victor Mayo as his regimental commander.
To most Zamboanguenos, security is a guardian named Guerra.

-by Rolly San Juan, PDI Mindanao Bureau



Official Philippine Army Press Release
Press Release Number: 02-025 Date Released: 23 Jan 2008

6 families held as hostages by MILF Lost Command

Six families were held as hostages after being robbed by suspected seven heavily armed Moro Islamic Liberation Front members at Sitio San Isidro, Upper Bunguiao, Zamboanga City at 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 21.

Reports reaching this headquarters disclosed that the armed men were members of the lost command of the MILF under alias Karaw, operating in the Sibuco, Zamboanga Del Norte.

The suspects arrived in the area, assembled the residents in one place, and started divesting them of their valuables. A certain Josebiao Diabordo Yke Ramirez, 42, one of the victims was divested of his cash money worth P30,000 and more or less 50 grams of gold dust.

After taking the valuable properties and items of the families, the suspects left the area, leaving all their hostages unharmed.

The same day, troops from Task Force Zamboanga led by Col. Darwin Z. Guerra, one platoon of 15th Division Reconnaissance Company led by 1Lt. Baduya and the Zamboanga City PNP immediately proceeded in the area to track down the fleeing bandits.


from the book"Guinayangan Noon at Ngayon" by Alodia F. Molines
from the http://www.army.mil.ph

M.D., M.M., F.A.C.C., F.C.C.P.

Born in the forested hills of Guinayangan during Japanese Occupation to Chinese immigrant Chan Fu, merchant and copra dealer who raised his children adapting the Filipino ways and custom. After finishing elementary grades in 1956, Tony left Guinayangan for Mapua High School, and persuaded his college education in UST, where he graduated with honors as Most Outstanding Medical Intern in 1968.

He then left for Baltimore, USA where he was a Rotating Intern of Union Memorial Hospital and John Hopkins University Graduate Program, 1968-1969.

From 1969 to 1971, he was Resident in Internal Medicine, Michael Reese Medical , University of Chicago, Illinois, where he trained under Dr.Alfred Pick & Richard Langendorf in Clinical Electro physiology, becoming a Fellow in Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute of the same institution. He then stayed in Chicago from 1969 to 1991 as Cardiologist.

In 1992, he moved to San Jose, California after founding Chanwell Clinics and joined Stanford University Hospital as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine in Cardiology.
As Chairman of Chanwell Clinics, he sees about 15,000 patients a year, many of which are from Northern California, Philippines and Southeast Asia. A substantial number of his patients are from China, Taiwan, and Hongkong, plus high ranking government officials and religious leaders of the Philippines. Dr. Chan and his team has provided much needed healthcare to the elderly minorities and poor immigrants, rendering free healthcare services particularly to Filipinos, where his clinics are open for them six days a week.

From time to time, he travels to Manila to assist the Philippine Heart Center improve its healthcare services through Congressional leadership. To help young Cardiologist in the Philippines upgrade their knowledge and skills, he also established the Chan Visiting Fellow at the Stanford University where he is currently working at the cardiovascular division in health care delivery strategy and teaching of cardiology fellows.

With Dr. John Cooke of same university, they founded the Cooke Pharma that is involved in the research and development of medical foods that prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. He has imitated the Chan Scholar Program which has funded a Diocesan Priest (UST graduate) for a 4 year Doctorate in Theology in Rome. He and his wife Estrelita , a pediatrician finds time to act as leaders and volunteers of San Jose Filipino Cursillo, and is a Eucharistic Minister, Lector of the Catholic Church of San Jose.
In the summer of 1998, Dr. Chan traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby White House and the US Congress regarding the passage of Veterans Equity Bill for Filipino-American soldiers that fought in World War II.

For his outstanding performance, he has been receiving several Awards and Citations, from different entities such as:

• United States Congressional Award in 1994 for “Outstanding Contribution to Education and Community Medicine”.
• “Physician of the Year Award”, 1994 from the National Filipino Media Association of America
• “Most Outstanding Alumni Award”, 1994-UST Alumna Association of America
• “Dr. Martin Luther King Good Neighbor Award”, 1999-Dr. Martin Luther King Association

and citations as:

• Who’s who in American Medicine
• Who’s who in America
• Who’s Who in Internal Medicine

all from Cambridge, England.

Author and co-author of scientific publications in leading medical journals such as Circulation, American Heart Journal.
He speaks fluent Filipino, Cantonese, Mandarine, Fukienese and English.
He says he never forget his father’s last words to him upon his graduation in the college of Medicine which is “Treat all sick persons regardless of status, race, age and sex, but most particularly the penniless ones” thus for this virtue he always manifest, it is not surprising that he was selected for the “Good Neighbor Award” by the Dr. Martin Luther King Association.

from the book "Guinayangan Noon At Ngayon" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines

Obstetrician and Gynecologist

Born in Guinayangan, Quezon in 1922, to Dr. Benjamin S. Enverga and Ana Lagdameo. She is a talented grand daughter of Sr. Victoriano Lagdameo, the first Presidente Municipal of Guinayangan. She completed her elementary studies within three and a half years only instead of six years. She graduated as valedictorian in high school at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 1939 and Preparatory Medicine in 1940. In 1938-1940, she studied for her Associate in Arts and Doctor of Medicine from 1940 to 1945 as a full academic scholar and graduated magna cum laude in 1945. She placed second in the examinations administered by the Philippine Board of Medical Examiners in 1946.

She took a post-graduate study in Gynecology at the Brookline Free Hospital for Women in Brooklilne, Massachusetts after she completed her residency at the Ob-Gyn Department of the UST Hospital. She completed her residency in Obstetrics at St. Anne Hospital in Chicago, under the Loyola Medical School in 1950-1951.

Carmen Enverga Santos is an instructor and professor in medicine and surgery who has history of excellent academic life.

Santos held significant positions in UST- assistant instructor and instructor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology; instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, then full professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 1973, she was became the chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the first woman to occupy this post after more than one century of its existence.

She is a member of the Philippine Infertility and Sterility Society , and a fellow of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and the Philippine College of Surgeons. She is a member of both Asian and International Federation of Obstettrics and Gynecology, and a life member of the Philippine Medical Women's Association. She has published many scientific papers on her research interests, namely, ovarian malignancies, vulvo-vaginitis among Filipino women, and hydatidiform mole and prophylactic methotroxate.


For her numerous achievments she won distinctions, honors and awards such as:

• Most Outstanding Alumna in the Field of Medecine (UST High School)
• “Karangalan Award” of Quezon Province in the Field of Medicine and Human Endeavour
• Golden Achievement Award 1981, UST Alumni Association
• UST Medical Alumni Association, Conrado Bauzon Award for Leadership (1980)
• Ramon Lopez Memorial Award, 1982, by the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
• Congress Executive of the Year for the Philippines, 1982 (for the successful 18th MWIA Congress)


ref. Wikipilipinas
ref. "Guinayangan Noon at Ngayon" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines

Ang Makata Ng Guinayangan

Matindi ang pag-ibig ni Sixto C. Maghirang sa kanilang musa . Ito marahil ang sanhi kung bakit hindi na niya pinag-ukulan pansin ang iba pang sangay ng panitikan. Siya ngayon ay siyento-porsyentong makata na ang kadakilaan ay inaangkin ng Guinayangan, ang bayan ng kanyang kabiyak at ng Lungsod ng San Pablo na kanyang sinalangan.

Labing anim na taon pa lamang siya’y sumusulat na ng tula. Bago magkadigma, napabilang na ang mga tulang nilikha sa Liwayway at ibang popular na babasahin. Nang matapos ang digmaan, saka pa lamang nakilala ang kanyang pangalan sa daigdig ng Panulaang Tagalog. Ipanakikilala siya ng kaniyang tulang “O Tuwa” sa noong hari ng balagtasan at pangalawang patnugot ng Bulaklak na si Emilio Mar Antonio.

May mga tula rin siyang napabilang sa Talaang Bughaw ng makata at kritikong Alejandro J. Abadilla . Ang tula niyang “Bubog” ay nanalo sa timpalak ng Surian ng Wikang Pambansa noong 1964 at si SCM (ang kanyang daglat), ay kabilang sa labinlimang manunulat na pinangaralan ng Surian sa bulwagan ng Philippine Normal College noong April 2, 1965.

Marami ng nasulat si Sixto C. Maghirang at maari na siyang makapaglimbag ng “aklat-katipunan” ng mga ito. Samantala’y patuloy pa rin ang pagsusunog niya ng kanyang musa at mababasa pa rin sa dahon ng Liwayway at ibang magasin ang kanyang mga magagandang tulang liriko.


O, Tuwa….!
by Sixto Maghirang

Nakalagak ngayon sa dilim ng hapis ang lasog na puso
na labi na lamang ng unsiyaming nais.
Namamatay-daing sa yutang pasakit at pagkasiphayo
na naging hantungan ng aking pagtangis

Sa pagkagupiling ng sawi kong palad, mandi’y naglalamay
Sa gabi ng lungkot at saganang hirap….
(binathalang tuwa na aking pangarap ay hindi man lamang
magtapon ng kahit malamlam na sinag)

Habang naninikis ang tuwa kong pita, dini sa damdamin
Lalong nagnananaw ang pangungulila…..
(palad ko na yatang sa mundo ng dusa tangisa’t yakapin
sa luksang karimlan ang bigong pag-asa!)

Maanong ikaw nga’y ngumiti sa akin tuwang iniibig.
na hinihinta-hintay sa laot-tiisin,
Pagkat ang sinag mong batis ng tulain sa nagluksang langit
niring kapalara’y ilaw ng paggiliw…….

O, Tuwa…..huwag kang madamot sumilay sa lugaming puso
na sabik sa iyong sinag na makulay
Tanglawan mo sana sa pagkasing tunay, nang hindi maglaho
sa sungit ng dusa ang ningas ng buhay….!



from the book "Guinayangan Noon at Ngayon" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines

The Outstanding Filipinos Abroad
2008 Awardee

Dr. Francis Talangbayan was born on January 6,1944 in Guinayangan, Quezon, Philippines. In May 1969, he married Cristina Estrada from Davao City, Philippines, and together they moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They now resides in Penn
Valley, Pennsylvania they have three children, Kristine, Leizle & April.
He is the President of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America 2008-2009.

Education:
Doctor of Medicine University of the East, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines, Graduated 1st in Class.
Residency in Internal Medicine Manila Sanitarium and Hospital, Pasay City.
Internship & Residency in Internal Medicine Mercy Catholic Medical Center, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fellow in Cardiology Philadelphia General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine

Awards And Citation:
Belman Scholar, Most Outstanding Performance by a 1st year medical student.
College Scholar, Most Outstanding Performance by a 2nd year medical student.
Alpha Fraternity Scholar, Most Outstanding Performance by a 3rd year medical student.
Mosby Book Awardee, Most Outstanding Performance from 1st through 4th year in medical school.
Top 68, University of the East, top graduate of the School of Medicine for 1968.
Outstanding Community Service, Awarded by the City of Philadelphia.
Banaag Presidential Awardee, Republic of the Philippines. The highest honor that a Filipino living and working abroad can receive from the President of the Philippines.
Apolinario Mabini Award from the Association of Philippine Physicians in America
Dangal Nang Lahi Award for Healthcare awarded by the Naffaa Region 1.
Leadership Award in the Medical Profession awarded by the Pan-American Concerned Citizens Action League (PACCAL)

Description of Contribution:
Over 30 years of voluntary and free medical Care (1970 to present) Better health of the poor and the underprivileged citizens of Philadelphia from Filipino and the other Asian American communities.
Organized Dream Weavers Actual presentation of a documentary film and
fashion show of the T’boli Tribe in Mindanao.
Organized a Memorial Mass during the visit of Pres. Gloria Arroyo in NY (Nov. 2001)Prayed for souls of the Victims of the World
Trade Center Bombings (2001)
Founder of “Computer Literacy Program: Free Library of Philadelphia” (2000) Citizens of and visitors to Philadelphia
Editor & Publisher of a Compendium of Medical/ Surgical Missions to the Philippines. A guidebook in doing Medical Missions to the
Philippines.
Asst, Professor of Medicine Hahnemann Medical College (1973-1996) Taught various medical courses to students from different states and races.
Conducted a study on “Influenza Vaccine”among the elderly (2001) Evaluated immunological system of the elderly in Philadelphia
Presented a paper, “The Status of Filipino Foreign Medical Graduates” at the National Federation of Filipino Associations in America Convention (2002). Informed Filipino and Filipino-American medical graduates on their job status in the medical field of work in the US.
Initiated “Asian Health & Fitness Day” thru Health lectures and Instruction (2000) Parishioners of the Olde St. Augustine Church of
Philadelphia
Erected a monument (2002) Bataan Death March Memorial Monument at the Memorial Grove, Cooper River Park, NJ to honor the heroes during the Death March in World War II.
Raised and donated funds to Philippine National Red Cross thru Justice Ines Luciano (2001) Rescued Mayon Volcano victims
Sponsored Wings of Songs (2000) Performance of professional Filipino Singers and musicians, showcasing the history of the Philippines.
Sponsored the Advent Philomels (1999) Performance of the Choral Group of Mountain
View College of Malaybalay Bukidnon. Proceeds were used to rebuild the College’s Library.
Raised & donated funds to Northeast USA Thru “MARE,” a program of former First Lady Loi Ejercito (2000). Rescued victims of Payatas tragedy

Served as panelist, Symposium on Effective delivery of Medical/ Surgical Missions to the Philippines at the Naffaa International Convention In Hawaii. (2006) & in Denver, Colorado (2007).

-source Filipino Image Magazine

Scientist And Botanist

Born in Guinayangan on February 22, 1904, he spent his early schooling in his hometown. At the UP College of Forestry, he obtained his Rangers diploma as a Government Pensionado and Medallist, after which he pursued his studies, earning his Bachelors in Science in Forestry diploma in the same institution. Possessing Civil Service Eligibility’s as a Ranger, Forestry and Scientist on Plant Taxonomy, he served in the government as Ranger (1928-1941) as well as Instruction in Botany and Dendrology of the UP.

When war broke out in1941, was called to active duty, being a reserve officer of the Philippine Army, and fought the Japanese invaders under the joint forces of the USAFFE. Surviving the infamous “Death March” to Capas, Tarlac, he returned to his duty as a Ranger after his release from prison camp in 1943. Later, he was the Assistant Scientist in Botany in the Bureau of Science, Botanist of the National Museum where he successively became the Acting Director and Officer in Charge from 1958-1962. He was also the Acting Chief and Chief of the Division of Botany from 1956 to 1969.

Pursuing his graduate studies after the war in UST, he obtained his Masters of Science Degree in Botany, Meritissimus, in 1952. Concurrently he was an Instructor Assistant Professor of Biology and Botany, Professor in Forestry at The Araneta University and University of the Philippines. His numerous scientific and field explorations and botanical collection has enabled him to write a number of papers on the study of Philippine plants and trees such as Philippine Herbarium Manual and Philippine Aquatic Flowering Plants and Ferns. In 1990 Major Demetrio R. Mendoza, World War II veteran and Botanist passed away and meet his Creator at the ripe age of 86 years, survived by wife, Angelica Sagcal and six children.

Some of his published papers are:
Fruit and Seed Key to Important Leguminous Trees in the Philippines
Philippine Journal of Forestry, 2; 161-172, 1939
Survey of Plants in the Makiling National Park Bearing Edible Fruits
Philippine Journal of Forestry 3; 115-134 1940
Lagikway-a Hitherto Unreported Philippine Plant
Philippine Journal, Sc. 88; 257-261, 1959
Balete: Monarch of the Forest
Philippine International, 31 Feb.9, 1959
Narra
Philippine International, 3 (April): 37: 1959
Philippine Herbarium Manual Museum
Pub.No.2s. 1967
Exploration of the Sierra Madre
Opportunities and their suggestions for Botanical and Exploration Work in the Sierra Madre Mountains, published at Leiden, May 1969

-from the book "Guinayangan Noon at Ngayon" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines

Insular Treasurer of the Philippines
January 1, 1927-February 29, 1936

Born February 16,1881 to Gabino Lagdameo and Concepcion Mondragon. Sr. Salvador Lagdameo or Tio Badoy to his kinsfolk is a real self-made man. Graduating in 1896 as “Maestro Superior de Instruccion Primaria” from the defunct “Escuela Normal Superior de Maestros de Manila”, (equivalent to BSE). He was immediately appointed teacher of the Model School, the “Esquela Superior de Maestros”, from 1898 to 1904. He conducted a private school of his own and was the principal teacher of the public school in Lopez Quezon. Census Enumerator and Bookkeeper in a commercial firm.

He also held a CPA Certificate, and was appointed Municipal Secretary of Guinayangan in 1904. In 1906, he was appointed Municipal Secretary of Guinayangan in 1904. In 1906, he was Treasurer and Post Master, and Notary Republic of the adapted town where his father Gabino Lagdameo had migrated in the late 1800’s. From here, he was successively promoted to the positions of travelling Deputy Provincial Treasurer, and Bookkeeper in the Provincial Treasury of Tayabas then Chief Clerk of Sorsogon and Camarines .

In 1915, he was concurrently appointed Treasurer, Assessor, Councilor, Registrar of Deeds for the City of Baguio, then, Deputy Provincial Treasurer for the Sub-Province of Benguet in Mountain Province. From those positions he rose to the Bureau of Treasury as Bank and Insurance Examiner, later as a Cashier. On June 1919, he became the Assistant Insular Treasurer, then Insular Treasurer of the Philippines, appointed by the Board of Accountancy.

Here are gems of thoughts from a self-made man:
“To amount to something in this world, follow some ideals......ideals that would inspire you to willingness to work and much study”.

A public servant of proven integrity, Treasurer Lagdameo was a living example of one who does and dares who acts and succeeds.
Finding himself early in youth left in the race of life without knowing English, he studied hard and read much. “Study much and digest what you know” and quote. By so doing, he rose from a mere, teacher and bookkeeper to dignified position as Insular Treasurer of the Philippines.

Salvador Lagdameo was the head of the Bureau in January 1, 1927 until February 29, 1936. It 1929 they saw the new government arm, The Bureau of Banking, which assumes the supervision of the country’s banks from the Bureau of the Treasury. It was also during his time that the Bonding Law was passed as a provision of the Administrative Code in 1917.

-from the book "Guinayangan Noon At Ngayon" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines