| Ruben F. Ballesteros Phoenix, Maryland A National Leader With Great Dignity |
A dear friend, Dr. Ben Oteyza of Bel Air, Maryland, a 1993 T.O.F.A.
awardee, excitedly wrote: "Ruben Ballesteros is an outstanding
person in whatever he gets involved in. I recommend him to be
one of the 1996 awardees of the Twenty Outstanding
Filipino-Americans in the United States and Canada project. Ben
is a serious player who will not get dragged in unless he believes
in the cause. He is from Bicol. A U.P. grad who is a plastic
surgeon. He is deeply involved in almost all Fil-Am Associations
in Maryland and could have been easily elected as President -- he
is that popular and well-liked. He served mostly up to the
vice-presidency and then let somebody else take over as
president."
Ruben F. Ballesteros, fondly called by friends simply as Ben, a
typical role model and inspiration to the Filipinos not only in
Baltimore but across the nation as well. Known for his desire to
be among the "low profile" group, his presence is very much
evident in the various civic, social, political, religious and cultural
groups he that belongs. But unless he has to, Ben often opted to
awardee, excitedly wrote: "Ruben Ballesteros is an outstanding
person in whatever he gets involved in. I recommend him to be
one of the 1996 awardees of the Twenty Outstanding
Filipino-Americans in the United States and Canada project. Ben
is a serious player who will not get dragged in unless he believes
in the cause. He is from Bicol. A U.P. grad who is a plastic
surgeon. He is deeply involved in almost all Fil-Am Associations
in Maryland and could have been easily elected as President -- he
is that popular and well-liked. He served mostly up to the
vice-presidency and then let somebody else take over as
president."
Ruben F. Ballesteros, fondly called by friends simply as Ben, a
typical role model and inspiration to the Filipinos not only in
Baltimore but across the nation as well. Known for his desire to
be among the "low profile" group, his presence is very much
evident in the various civic, social, political, religious and cultural
groups he that belongs. But unless he has to, Ben often opted to
be second in command, but always willing and able to grapple responsibilities as the top honcho when
the circumstances call for his leadership. He is neither incapable of serving as president nor intimidated of
being "numero uno" of an organization. Rather, his rationale is give everyone else a chance to lead, but
assuring others of his loyalty and undivided support to either a project or the association. Undoubtedly, Ben
is a proven leader par excellence. In 1984, he served as state president of the John Staige Davis Society of
Plastic Surgeons, a Maryland based prestigious and elite group of physicians in the practice of reconstructive
surgery. His non-Filipino members raved of his administration and the many facets of improvement he had
introduced to the Society. Again serving for a term as president in 1990 of the national organization of the
Philippine Association of Plastic Surgeons in America composed of prominent Filipino-American physicians
in the exclusive, and now very lucrative field of reconstructive surgery, Ben stirred the component society to
prominence and won recognition nationally. He served as National Chairman of the Board with the University
of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA). He is generous and supports causes for
the benefit of the Philippines and the Catholic Church, probably the reason he chose to be the Grand
Knight of the Santo Nino Council #9462 of the Knights of Columbus.
Admired by the social "elites" of Baltimore, Ben supports many humanitarian projects. He generously
supports the Foundation for Aid to the Philippines, Inc., (FAPI) having served at one time as its vice
president and various other elected positions. Currently vice president of the Baltimore County Medical
Association, he has a good chance to be elected as President-Elect of an association whose Filipino
membership is limited.
Ben is a regular participant in annual medical missions sponsored by the Filipino physicians to go to the
interior provinces in the Philippines and provide free medical attention and medicines to the unfortunate
Filipinos who can not afford proper medical treatment, much more "stateside" physicians and medicines. At
his own personal expense amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, considering he has to leave his
lucrative private practice for at least two weeks, Ben provides cleft palate reconstructions pro bono including
providing free medicines.
After completion of his hospital experience at the Philippine General Hospital, Ben journeyed to the United
States in June 1965 with the sole purpose of pursuing to further his medical education. He took up Internship
at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. for two years. In 1966, he joined Wayne State University
Hospital to complete General Surgery Residency. In 1969, he completed a 3-year Plastic Surgery
Residency at L.S.U. Medical Center. Completing the highest medical education he could garner, Ben took
and passed with flying colors, not only one but two, State Examinations, both in one year and just three
months apart. First, he hurdled in March 1973 the State of New York Medical Licensing, and in June, whizzed
through the Maryland State Medical Licensing. Attaining the two medical licenses he was aiming for, Ben
furthered his stature in his chosen profession. In May 1974, he was bestowed one of the pinnacles of his
profession: Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery. The following year, he capped another lifetime
honor: Fellow, American College of Surgeons.
Ben is the son of Roque Ballesteros of Sorsogon, Sorsogon, and the former Esther Francisco of Binan,
Laguna. A graduate of the U.P. College of Medicine, where he was a member of UPSCA Basketball Team,
Ben now favors golf and tennis. He is married to the former Aida de Guzman of San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
The Ballesteros have three children: Ruben, Jr., 28; Maria and Michael, both 23. They reside in fashionable
Stone Eagle Road in Phoenix, Maryland. (NM)
the circumstances call for his leadership. He is neither incapable of serving as president nor intimidated of
being "numero uno" of an organization. Rather, his rationale is give everyone else a chance to lead, but
assuring others of his loyalty and undivided support to either a project or the association. Undoubtedly, Ben
is a proven leader par excellence. In 1984, he served as state president of the John Staige Davis Society of
Plastic Surgeons, a Maryland based prestigious and elite group of physicians in the practice of reconstructive
surgery. His non-Filipino members raved of his administration and the many facets of improvement he had
introduced to the Society. Again serving for a term as president in 1990 of the national organization of the
Philippine Association of Plastic Surgeons in America composed of prominent Filipino-American physicians
in the exclusive, and now very lucrative field of reconstructive surgery, Ben stirred the component society to
prominence and won recognition nationally. He served as National Chairman of the Board with the University
of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA). He is generous and supports causes for
the benefit of the Philippines and the Catholic Church, probably the reason he chose to be the Grand
Knight of the Santo Nino Council #9462 of the Knights of Columbus.
Admired by the social "elites" of Baltimore, Ben supports many humanitarian projects. He generously
supports the Foundation for Aid to the Philippines, Inc., (FAPI) having served at one time as its vice
president and various other elected positions. Currently vice president of the Baltimore County Medical
Association, he has a good chance to be elected as President-Elect of an association whose Filipino
membership is limited.
Ben is a regular participant in annual medical missions sponsored by the Filipino physicians to go to the
interior provinces in the Philippines and provide free medical attention and medicines to the unfortunate
Filipinos who can not afford proper medical treatment, much more "stateside" physicians and medicines. At
his own personal expense amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, considering he has to leave his
lucrative private practice for at least two weeks, Ben provides cleft palate reconstructions pro bono including
providing free medicines.
After completion of his hospital experience at the Philippine General Hospital, Ben journeyed to the United
States in June 1965 with the sole purpose of pursuing to further his medical education. He took up Internship
at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. for two years. In 1966, he joined Wayne State University
Hospital to complete General Surgery Residency. In 1969, he completed a 3-year Plastic Surgery
Residency at L.S.U. Medical Center. Completing the highest medical education he could garner, Ben took
and passed with flying colors, not only one but two, State Examinations, both in one year and just three
months apart. First, he hurdled in March 1973 the State of New York Medical Licensing, and in June, whizzed
through the Maryland State Medical Licensing. Attaining the two medical licenses he was aiming for, Ben
furthered his stature in his chosen profession. In May 1974, he was bestowed one of the pinnacles of his
profession: Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery. The following year, he capped another lifetime
honor: Fellow, American College of Surgeons.
Ben is the son of Roque Ballesteros of Sorsogon, Sorsogon, and the former Esther Francisco of Binan,
Laguna. A graduate of the U.P. College of Medicine, where he was a member of UPSCA Basketball Team,
Ben now favors golf and tennis. He is married to the former Aida de Guzman of San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
The Ballesteros have three children: Ruben, Jr., 28; Maria and Michael, both 23. They reside in fashionable
Stone Eagle Road in Phoenix, Maryland. (NM)
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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