| Rodolfo M. Lontok, M.D. Cleveland, Ohio A Dedicated Behind-the-Scene Filipino Community Leader |
Pursuing his goal to be a physician immediately after the Second
World War serving in the Philippine Guerilla Movement as a First
Lieutenant in Mindoro, Rodolfo M. Lontoc, fondly called by friends
as "Rudy" diligently finished his Doctor of Medicine from Manila
Central University. In 1956, when most of the Filipino doctors
were just dreaming of coming to the United States either to study
or to work, Rudy was already completing his Residency in
Radiology at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Finishing his studies in 1960, he continued to pursue further
education and earned the coveted Fellowship in Radiology under
the late Dr. Robert B. Jeffrey of Jefferson Medical School.
In the early 60's, Rudy spearheaded, encouraged and cooperated
in formulating Filipino organizations in areas where he either
studied or worked. In Pennsylvania, Rudy encouraged aggressive
community leaders to form a unified front and to merge with
mainstream America. He was always around to offer his expertise
and wisdom to those desiring to form association or club in order
to combat the loneliness of being away from the Philippines. At the
same time, Rudy encouraged his fellow physicians to mingle and
actively join professional organizations in order to comprehend the
mechanics of forming and running an organization.
World War serving in the Philippine Guerilla Movement as a First
Lieutenant in Mindoro, Rodolfo M. Lontoc, fondly called by friends
as "Rudy" diligently finished his Doctor of Medicine from Manila
Central University. In 1956, when most of the Filipino doctors
were just dreaming of coming to the United States either to study
or to work, Rudy was already completing his Residency in
Radiology at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Finishing his studies in 1960, he continued to pursue further
education and earned the coveted Fellowship in Radiology under
the late Dr. Robert B. Jeffrey of Jefferson Medical School.
In the early 60's, Rudy spearheaded, encouraged and cooperated
in formulating Filipino organizations in areas where he either
studied or worked. In Pennsylvania, Rudy encouraged aggressive
community leaders to form a unified front and to merge with
mainstream America. He was always around to offer his expertise
and wisdom to those desiring to form association or club in order
to combat the loneliness of being away from the Philippines. At the
same time, Rudy encouraged his fellow physicians to mingle and
actively join professional organizations in order to comprehend the
mechanics of forming and running an organization.
Convinced by fellow Filipino physicians to stay abroad instead of going back to the Philippines, Rudy decided
to move to Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba in Canada, immediately after acquiring his advance educational
training in medicines in the United States. "I decided to live abroad because of the opportunities offered. I
figured that I could be more of help to the Philippines and the Filipinos by remitting our earned dollars abroad
and send them through the Philippine Central Bank. We could also send to the Philippines the latest
textbooks modern and advance medical techniques as well as medicines which are less expensive and
readily available abroad."
In Canada, while working as Assistant Radiologist at Grace Hospital and Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Rudy was actively involved with the Filipino-American Association of Winnipeg. He was
instrumental in providing guidance to the younger and aggressive leaderships of Filipino organizations which
were then sprouting all over Canada because of the great influx of Filipino immigrants. He reported the major
activities of the Filipinos in Manitoba in the Filipino newspapers in the United States and major daily
newspapers in Manila. He spearheaded public presentations and introduced to the Canadians Philippine
culture and traditions.
After his advance medical training in Manitoba was completed, Rudy joined the hospital staff of Swift Current
Union Hospital in Saskatchewan, Alberta as Associate Radiologist. In 1965, less than a year later, Rudy
relocated to the United States. "After more than four years of severe cold weather in Canada, I decided to
accept the offer to become Associate Radiologist with Metropolitan General Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio,"
narrated Rudy. "Most of my fellow Filipino physicians in Canada transferred to Ohio. So when the Cleveland
offer came, I decided to accept it."
After five years with the Metropolitan General Hospital, Rudy's long-awaited opportunity came when Lutheran
Medical Center of Cleveland asked Dr. Rodolfo M. Lontoc to join its staff as Radiologist. "Ever since 1970, I
have remained in the same position where my educational and on-the-job training are being utilized to the
fullest with this prestigious institution as one of the staff members," explained Rudy.
The moment Rudy arrived in the United States, he immersed himself with the different professional
organizations in the medical field as well as the Filipino community organizations in the vast Ohio Valley. He
joined, among others, the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland, the Cleveland Radiological Society, the Ohio
State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and as a Fellow of the prestigious American
College of International Physicians. Rudy also made sure that Filipino-American professionals are duly
recognized and given proper respect. His desire of highlighting positive image for the Filipinos were being
realized by his active participation with the mainstream American organizations. He participated in major
events of these organizations and making sure that the mainstream America gain respect towards the
Filipinos, not only on the professional level standing, but as a people.
Rudy's love for journalism is very much evident in his participation with all the organizations he is affiliated.
Ever since his high school days, Rudy was involved one way or another in the journalistic field. He was the
past Editor of the newsletter of the Association of Philippine Physicians of Ohio (APPO) as well as the
Editor-in-Chief of the PASO Newsletter of the Philippine-American Society of Ohio. Currently, Rudy is the
Public Relations Officer of APPO.
"Rudy Lontoc is known to play a low-key role whenever he can possibly do so," explained Dr. Nelin B. Retizos,
one of Rudy's good friends in Cleveland. "He likes to serve all the time and not be served. One can always
count on his expertise and support."
When Rudy was President of the Association of Philippine Physicians in Ohio (APPO), he made sure that the
Filipino physicians in the Ohio Valley get involved and be interested in participating with PASO's major
activities. He personally spearheaded various fundraising projects beneficial to the Filipinos in the
Philippines and was responsible in disseminating positive information of the activities of the Filipinos in Ohio
Valley both to the U.S. and Filipino media.
When the Filipino community of Ohio Valley persuaded him to take the helm of leadership, Rudy was hesitant
but was convinced by his family and close friends to take the job. So as president of the Philippine-American
Society of Ohio representing the Filipinos in the Ohio Valley and its vicinity, Rudy and his wife, Dr. Malaya
Celedonio Villaroman Lontoc, spent so much of their own time and funds in propagating and promoting
Philippine culture and traditions. Various events such as the Philippine Independence Day, were sponsored
by PASO inviting the general public. Philippine delicacies, folk dances, songs and other things-Philippines
were consistently introduced to the general community of Ohio. Commented one of the old-timers of PASO:
"Rudy made a big difference. His unique leadership motivated a lot of non-interested Filipinos to join the club
and have fun."
Nonoy Mendoza, editor and publisher of Fil-Am Image, a good friend of Rudy from way back in Manitoba in the
early '60s when Mendoza was the Pacific Northwest Bureau Chief of the MANILA CHRONICLE, a major daily
newspaper in Manila, summed it up: "Rudy is always around helping the Philippines. In the Mt. Pinatubo and
in every natural disasters I can recall hitting the Philippines, one will always see Rudy rolling his sleeve
loading boxes of medicines and other relief goods for the Filipinos. He does everything- from starting
fundraising projects for the victims to shipping the much needed relief."
Rudy is licensed to practice medicine is the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Vermont. He is also allowed to
practice medicine in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia as well as
other Commonwealth countries in the world.
A devout and religious person, Rudy is active with the Philippine-American Ministry in Cleveland. He is the
first Editor-in-Chief of the GENESIS, the Ministry's newsletter. And as stated previously, Rudy's first love is
journalism. Thus, it is not surprising that he is a contributing Editor of the APPA NEWS, the
Philippine-American Bulletin, the Philippine News, the Filipino Reporter, The Cleveland Physician, and, of
course, the Fil-Am Image Magazine.
We're proud to include Dr. Rodolfo M. Lontoc.as one of the 1992 awardees of the Twenty Outstanding
Filipino-Americans in the United States, a man whose desire to play the lowest of low-key roles always
thrusts him to the forefront of leadership in promoting positive image for the Filipino-Americans.
to move to Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba in Canada, immediately after acquiring his advance educational
training in medicines in the United States. "I decided to live abroad because of the opportunities offered. I
figured that I could be more of help to the Philippines and the Filipinos by remitting our earned dollars abroad
and send them through the Philippine Central Bank. We could also send to the Philippines the latest
textbooks modern and advance medical techniques as well as medicines which are less expensive and
readily available abroad."
In Canada, while working as Assistant Radiologist at Grace Hospital and Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Rudy was actively involved with the Filipino-American Association of Winnipeg. He was
instrumental in providing guidance to the younger and aggressive leaderships of Filipino organizations which
were then sprouting all over Canada because of the great influx of Filipino immigrants. He reported the major
activities of the Filipinos in Manitoba in the Filipino newspapers in the United States and major daily
newspapers in Manila. He spearheaded public presentations and introduced to the Canadians Philippine
culture and traditions.
After his advance medical training in Manitoba was completed, Rudy joined the hospital staff of Swift Current
Union Hospital in Saskatchewan, Alberta as Associate Radiologist. In 1965, less than a year later, Rudy
relocated to the United States. "After more than four years of severe cold weather in Canada, I decided to
accept the offer to become Associate Radiologist with Metropolitan General Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio,"
narrated Rudy. "Most of my fellow Filipino physicians in Canada transferred to Ohio. So when the Cleveland
offer came, I decided to accept it."
After five years with the Metropolitan General Hospital, Rudy's long-awaited opportunity came when Lutheran
Medical Center of Cleveland asked Dr. Rodolfo M. Lontoc to join its staff as Radiologist. "Ever since 1970, I
have remained in the same position where my educational and on-the-job training are being utilized to the
fullest with this prestigious institution as one of the staff members," explained Rudy.
The moment Rudy arrived in the United States, he immersed himself with the different professional
organizations in the medical field as well as the Filipino community organizations in the vast Ohio Valley. He
joined, among others, the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland, the Cleveland Radiological Society, the Ohio
State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and as a Fellow of the prestigious American
College of International Physicians. Rudy also made sure that Filipino-American professionals are duly
recognized and given proper respect. His desire of highlighting positive image for the Filipinos were being
realized by his active participation with the mainstream American organizations. He participated in major
events of these organizations and making sure that the mainstream America gain respect towards the
Filipinos, not only on the professional level standing, but as a people.
Rudy's love for journalism is very much evident in his participation with all the organizations he is affiliated.
Ever since his high school days, Rudy was involved one way or another in the journalistic field. He was the
past Editor of the newsletter of the Association of Philippine Physicians of Ohio (APPO) as well as the
Editor-in-Chief of the PASO Newsletter of the Philippine-American Society of Ohio. Currently, Rudy is the
Public Relations Officer of APPO.
"Rudy Lontoc is known to play a low-key role whenever he can possibly do so," explained Dr. Nelin B. Retizos,
one of Rudy's good friends in Cleveland. "He likes to serve all the time and not be served. One can always
count on his expertise and support."
When Rudy was President of the Association of Philippine Physicians in Ohio (APPO), he made sure that the
Filipino physicians in the Ohio Valley get involved and be interested in participating with PASO's major
activities. He personally spearheaded various fundraising projects beneficial to the Filipinos in the
Philippines and was responsible in disseminating positive information of the activities of the Filipinos in Ohio
Valley both to the U.S. and Filipino media.
When the Filipino community of Ohio Valley persuaded him to take the helm of leadership, Rudy was hesitant
but was convinced by his family and close friends to take the job. So as president of the Philippine-American
Society of Ohio representing the Filipinos in the Ohio Valley and its vicinity, Rudy and his wife, Dr. Malaya
Celedonio Villaroman Lontoc, spent so much of their own time and funds in propagating and promoting
Philippine culture and traditions. Various events such as the Philippine Independence Day, were sponsored
by PASO inviting the general public. Philippine delicacies, folk dances, songs and other things-Philippines
were consistently introduced to the general community of Ohio. Commented one of the old-timers of PASO:
"Rudy made a big difference. His unique leadership motivated a lot of non-interested Filipinos to join the club
and have fun."
Nonoy Mendoza, editor and publisher of Fil-Am Image, a good friend of Rudy from way back in Manitoba in the
early '60s when Mendoza was the Pacific Northwest Bureau Chief of the MANILA CHRONICLE, a major daily
newspaper in Manila, summed it up: "Rudy is always around helping the Philippines. In the Mt. Pinatubo and
in every natural disasters I can recall hitting the Philippines, one will always see Rudy rolling his sleeve
loading boxes of medicines and other relief goods for the Filipinos. He does everything- from starting
fundraising projects for the victims to shipping the much needed relief."
Rudy is licensed to practice medicine is the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Vermont. He is also allowed to
practice medicine in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia as well as
other Commonwealth countries in the world.
A devout and religious person, Rudy is active with the Philippine-American Ministry in Cleveland. He is the
first Editor-in-Chief of the GENESIS, the Ministry's newsletter. And as stated previously, Rudy's first love is
journalism. Thus, it is not surprising that he is a contributing Editor of the APPA NEWS, the
Philippine-American Bulletin, the Philippine News, the Filipino Reporter, The Cleveland Physician, and, of
course, the Fil-Am Image Magazine.
We're proud to include Dr. Rodolfo M. Lontoc.as one of the 1992 awardees of the Twenty Outstanding
Filipino-Americans in the United States, a man whose desire to play the lowest of low-key roles always
thrusts him to the forefront of leadership in promoting positive image for the Filipino-Americans.
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
| Copyright© 2006 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Advertise | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |