Clarence Paul Oaminal
The road beside what is commonly known as the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BAEX) Building northeast of the main Capitol Building, where the Department of Education Provincial Office and the Post Office, passing through the Department of Public Works and Highways, starting at the corner of "Dr. Nicolas G. Escario Street" going up traversing the hills behind the Capitol, the OPRA Village and Camp Marina of the Girl Scouts and ending at the entrance to the Capitol Hills Boy Scouts Camp is officially called "Dr. Augusto P. Villalon Drive."
Dr. Villalon was born on May 8, 1886. He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and later in 1910, he graduated from the old Philippine Medical School, now the College of Medicine and Surgery of the University of the Philippines. After which, he joined the government service as intern in the old American Civil Hospital in Manila, which was converted into the Philippine General Hospital on September 10, 1910 when it moved to its present site at Taft Avenue, Manila.
Dr. Villalon, from 1911 to 1913, worked at the St. Luke's Hospital and, in collaboration with Dr. Arlington Pond, planned in the selection of the site and acquisition of the Southern Islands Hospital (now the Vicente Y. Sotto Memorial Medical Center). The envisioned hospital became operational in 1913. Dr. Villalon then served from 1913 to 1916 as President of the Sanitary Division of Cebu and concurrently headed the Department of Gynecology and Surgery of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. He was later promoted as Assistant Chief of Hospital.
Dr. Villalon, from 1917 to 1935, became the First Director of the School of Nursing and at the same time Chief of the Southern Islands Hospital. He was promoted as Executive Officer of the Philippine General Hospital, later appointed as Superintendent of the then biggest hospital in the country when its Director, Dr. Fernando Calderon retired in 1937.
Dr. Villalon was also President of the Cebu Medical Society. He married "Genoveva Chong Veloso Singson," who was then President of the "Club de la Mujer," which was responsible for the construction of the "Cebu Maternity House".
The famous doctor died on May 6, 1962, and 25 years later, the Cebu City Council, to honor his memory and distinguished service in the field of medicine to Cebu and the country, enacted Ordinance No. 1237 on January 26, 1987 naming a road in his honor.
- Latest
