| Rizal V. Pangilinan Wheeling, West Virginia An International Community Leader With Great Compasion |
He learned his first prayers from his mother at the age of five
when his father was missing in action during the Japanese
invasion of the Philippines. He had his first confession and
received his first communion in high school at the Ateneo de
manila. He was never an altar Server. He never had any theology
studies. And yet, Rizal V. Pangilinan, MD has the distinct honor of
being the first Filipino to become the International President of
Serra International.
Serra International is a Catholic Organization that has been
designated by Pope John Paul II as the Layman's Vocation Arm of
the Church. It has more than 20 thousand members in 32
countries. He has visited most of the countries where there are
Serra Conventions in Brazil, Philippines, Italy. Great Britain,
Mexico, and the United States.
During his term as International President of Serra International
(1988-89), Dr. Pangilinan had four audiences with the Holy Father,
Pope John Paul II. It was during his presidency that Fr. Junipero
Serra, the Patron of Serra International, was beautified by the Holy
Father. During his audiences with the Holy Father, the Pope used
the word "Mabuhay" to greet Dr. Pangilinan, and his wife Nelly.
when his father was missing in action during the Japanese
invasion of the Philippines. He had his first confession and
received his first communion in high school at the Ateneo de
manila. He was never an altar Server. He never had any theology
studies. And yet, Rizal V. Pangilinan, MD has the distinct honor of
being the first Filipino to become the International President of
Serra International.
Serra International is a Catholic Organization that has been
designated by Pope John Paul II as the Layman's Vocation Arm of
the Church. It has more than 20 thousand members in 32
countries. He has visited most of the countries where there are
Serra Conventions in Brazil, Philippines, Italy. Great Britain,
Mexico, and the United States.
During his term as International President of Serra International
(1988-89), Dr. Pangilinan had four audiences with the Holy Father,
Pope John Paul II. It was during his presidency that Fr. Junipero
Serra, the Patron of Serra International, was beautified by the Holy
Father. During his audiences with the Holy Father, the Pope used
the word "Mabuhay" to greet Dr. Pangilinan, and his wife Nelly.
In his installation as International President in Sydney, Australia, on August 1, 1988, almost a hundred
Serrans from the Philippines attended the crowded Hilton Ballroom. They were so proud of him that they
distributed a thousand Filipino Flags to decorate the center pieces of the dinner tables.
Dr. Pangilinan is the Chairman of the Wheeling Eye Institute, the largest Eye Clinic in the Upper Ohio Valley
Area, with specialists in Retinal Diseases, Glaucoma, Oculoplastic Surgery, Cataracts and Intraocular
Implants, and Cornea and External Diseases.
He is also the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Ohio Valley Medical Center, internationally
known as the first hospital in West Virginia to acquire the Phaco-emulsification Machine for Cataract surgery.
Many patients from the Philippines and other countries have been traveled to Ohio Valley Medical Center to
have their Cataract Surgeries done there. The international patients included many professionals, including
the President of a well-known University in the Philippines.
Dr. Pangilinan is a Full Clinical Professor at West Virginia University Department of Ophthalmology. Because
of his many years of involvement in the medical missions in foreign countries, the West Virginia University
Department of Ophthalmology named their Annual International Lecture the "PANGILINAN LECTURE," in
which a well-known ophthalmologist is invited to be the "Pangilinan Lecturer."
He is the Pat President of the Association of Philippine Ophthalmologists in America. He is also
vice-president (president-elect) of the West Virginia Academy of Ophthalmology. He was the former
Vice-President of the Philippine Optometric Association of Illinois. He has given numerous lectures on Laser
and Cataract surgery in the United States and in other countries.
He has had the distinction of giving the Tanchoco Memorial Lecture of the Manila Central University. His
lecture was so well-received that he was invited to be the Commencement Speaker for the hundreds of
graduating students that year. His subjects on "Family Values" and "Self Worth" were enthusiastically
received by the graduates and faculty members.
He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a Fellow of the American College of
Surgeons. He is one of the more than 200 Ophthalmologists who is board certified in Cataract Surgery and
Intra-Ocular Implantation by the American Board Eye Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the American College of
International Physicians.
He has written several articles on Lay Spirituality and Christian Leadership. His writing abilities had gained
him the positions of being Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Optometric Yearly, a professional Journal for
Ophthalmologists, Editor of the Philippine Medical Association of Chicago Bulletin, and Editor in several
college magazines in the Philippines.
Dr. Pangilinan believes in sharing his time and talents with religious and civic organizations. He is a
member of the Board of Directors of the Wheeling Jesuit University where NASA Technology Transfer Center
and the Classroom of Tomorrow is located. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the only Female
Catholic School in West Virginia, the Mount de Chantal Academy.
His interests in charitable endeavors is reflected in his involvement with the Ohio Valley Community
Foundation where he is a member of the Board of Directors. His membership in the Board of Regents of St.
Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, keeps him in contract with his religious activities where he shares his ideas
with many Bishops, priests and Religious men and women. He is a Task-Force Chairman of Vision 2000, a
group that has been working on the Strategic Planning of Serra International. He has been chairman of Serra
International's Spirituality Committee, Program Committee, and the Committee that created the model for the
USA-Canada Council.
Dr. Pangilinan is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Wheeling Clinic where he serves as the
Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Marketing Committee. In addition, he is also a member of the
Board of Directors of the WesBank Bank of Wheeling; and a past Executive Committee member and director
of Security Bank (Bank One) of Wheeling. He is Past- President of the Tri-State Filipino- American
Association(WV-Ohio-PA).
Among his friends, "Rizal," as he is called by them, is well known for being a man whose priorities are
well-defined. His human identity is prioritized in the following manner (in order of importance): (1) Husband
of Nelly Pangilinan, (2) Father of Joe, Rey and Nina and grandfather of Maricris, (3)
Ophthalmologist-Physician, (4) Friend, (5) and others as previously mentioned. Dr. Pangilinan's priorities are
so well-known to his friends and co-workers that they know every Thursday is "Nelly's Day." He dates his wife
every Thursday! When the kids were small, he dated one of them on Saturdays, and Sundays are always
"Family Day".
His wife is the former Nelly Hilario Torres, a graduate of Torres High School and Bachelor of Science in
Home Economics at the University of the Philippines. She was a member of the faculty of Torres High School
and taught Home Economics for more than seven years.
Their three children all graduated from Notre Dame University. Joe, also finished his Bachelor of Science in
Chemistry at the Wheeling Jesuit University. He is currently a Pharmaceutical Consultant with Smith Kline
and Beecham. He is married to Carol Seangio and has one daughter, Maria Christine. Rey, is currently a
Fellow and Assistant Clinical Instructor at the Doheny Eye Institute ( University of California), and Corneals
specialist at the Los Angeles County Hospital. He graduated Medicine at West Virginia University, and
finished his four-year Ophthalmology Residency at the West Virginia University Department of
Ophthalmology. He also spent a year and a half as Resident in Internal Medicine at the Allegheny General
Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Nina, is a Computer Consultant with Anderson Consulting, a Division of Arthur Anderson where she
supervises the creation of computer programs for different companies who are clients of Andersen
Consulting. After her graduation from Notre Dame, she was immediately hired by Anderson because of her
previous experience with them as an intern during her junior year in college.
On the spiritual side, many of Dr. Pangilinan's friends and acquaintances also know that he considers
himself a Child of God first and foremost; even ahead of his human identities as mentioned previously.
Being aware that he is the child of God, he consequently acknowledges that he is also the brother of Jesus,
and the temple of the Holy Spirit.
His favorite quotation is: " Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness, and everything else will
follow." Prayer is an integral part of his life. He schedules his prayer-time the way he scheduled his
appointment with his doctor or his lawyer.
His nearly involvement with medical missions is a consequence of his insights during his prayer times. He
says that we are all made for a purpose. That purpose is: "To share our life with God and with others."
Their three children all graduated from Notre Dame University. Joe, also finished his Bachelor of Science in
Chemistry.
Serrans from the Philippines attended the crowded Hilton Ballroom. They were so proud of him that they
distributed a thousand Filipino Flags to decorate the center pieces of the dinner tables.
Dr. Pangilinan is the Chairman of the Wheeling Eye Institute, the largest Eye Clinic in the Upper Ohio Valley
Area, with specialists in Retinal Diseases, Glaucoma, Oculoplastic Surgery, Cataracts and Intraocular
Implants, and Cornea and External Diseases.
He is also the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Ohio Valley Medical Center, internationally
known as the first hospital in West Virginia to acquire the Phaco-emulsification Machine for Cataract surgery.
Many patients from the Philippines and other countries have been traveled to Ohio Valley Medical Center to
have their Cataract Surgeries done there. The international patients included many professionals, including
the President of a well-known University in the Philippines.
Dr. Pangilinan is a Full Clinical Professor at West Virginia University Department of Ophthalmology. Because
of his many years of involvement in the medical missions in foreign countries, the West Virginia University
Department of Ophthalmology named their Annual International Lecture the "PANGILINAN LECTURE," in
which a well-known ophthalmologist is invited to be the "Pangilinan Lecturer."
He is the Pat President of the Association of Philippine Ophthalmologists in America. He is also
vice-president (president-elect) of the West Virginia Academy of Ophthalmology. He was the former
Vice-President of the Philippine Optometric Association of Illinois. He has given numerous lectures on Laser
and Cataract surgery in the United States and in other countries.
He has had the distinction of giving the Tanchoco Memorial Lecture of the Manila Central University. His
lecture was so well-received that he was invited to be the Commencement Speaker for the hundreds of
graduating students that year. His subjects on "Family Values" and "Self Worth" were enthusiastically
received by the graduates and faculty members.
He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a Fellow of the American College of
Surgeons. He is one of the more than 200 Ophthalmologists who is board certified in Cataract Surgery and
Intra-Ocular Implantation by the American Board Eye Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the American College of
International Physicians.
He has written several articles on Lay Spirituality and Christian Leadership. His writing abilities had gained
him the positions of being Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Optometric Yearly, a professional Journal for
Ophthalmologists, Editor of the Philippine Medical Association of Chicago Bulletin, and Editor in several
college magazines in the Philippines.
Dr. Pangilinan believes in sharing his time and talents with religious and civic organizations. He is a
member of the Board of Directors of the Wheeling Jesuit University where NASA Technology Transfer Center
and the Classroom of Tomorrow is located. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the only Female
Catholic School in West Virginia, the Mount de Chantal Academy.
His interests in charitable endeavors is reflected in his involvement with the Ohio Valley Community
Foundation where he is a member of the Board of Directors. His membership in the Board of Regents of St.
Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, keeps him in contract with his religious activities where he shares his ideas
with many Bishops, priests and Religious men and women. He is a Task-Force Chairman of Vision 2000, a
group that has been working on the Strategic Planning of Serra International. He has been chairman of Serra
International's Spirituality Committee, Program Committee, and the Committee that created the model for the
USA-Canada Council.
Dr. Pangilinan is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Wheeling Clinic where he serves as the
Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Marketing Committee. In addition, he is also a member of the
Board of Directors of the WesBank Bank of Wheeling; and a past Executive Committee member and director
of Security Bank (Bank One) of Wheeling. He is Past- President of the Tri-State Filipino- American
Association(WV-Ohio-PA).
Among his friends, "Rizal," as he is called by them, is well known for being a man whose priorities are
well-defined. His human identity is prioritized in the following manner (in order of importance): (1) Husband
of Nelly Pangilinan, (2) Father of Joe, Rey and Nina and grandfather of Maricris, (3)
Ophthalmologist-Physician, (4) Friend, (5) and others as previously mentioned. Dr. Pangilinan's priorities are
so well-known to his friends and co-workers that they know every Thursday is "Nelly's Day." He dates his wife
every Thursday! When the kids were small, he dated one of them on Saturdays, and Sundays are always
"Family Day".
His wife is the former Nelly Hilario Torres, a graduate of Torres High School and Bachelor of Science in
Home Economics at the University of the Philippines. She was a member of the faculty of Torres High School
and taught Home Economics for more than seven years.
Their three children all graduated from Notre Dame University. Joe, also finished his Bachelor of Science in
Chemistry at the Wheeling Jesuit University. He is currently a Pharmaceutical Consultant with Smith Kline
and Beecham. He is married to Carol Seangio and has one daughter, Maria Christine. Rey, is currently a
Fellow and Assistant Clinical Instructor at the Doheny Eye Institute ( University of California), and Corneals
specialist at the Los Angeles County Hospital. He graduated Medicine at West Virginia University, and
finished his four-year Ophthalmology Residency at the West Virginia University Department of
Ophthalmology. He also spent a year and a half as Resident in Internal Medicine at the Allegheny General
Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Nina, is a Computer Consultant with Anderson Consulting, a Division of Arthur Anderson where she
supervises the creation of computer programs for different companies who are clients of Andersen
Consulting. After her graduation from Notre Dame, she was immediately hired by Anderson because of her
previous experience with them as an intern during her junior year in college.
On the spiritual side, many of Dr. Pangilinan's friends and acquaintances also know that he considers
himself a Child of God first and foremost; even ahead of his human identities as mentioned previously.
Being aware that he is the child of God, he consequently acknowledges that he is also the brother of Jesus,
and the temple of the Holy Spirit.
His favorite quotation is: " Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness, and everything else will
follow." Prayer is an integral part of his life. He schedules his prayer-time the way he scheduled his
appointment with his doctor or his lawyer.
His nearly involvement with medical missions is a consequence of his insights during his prayer times. He
says that we are all made for a purpose. That purpose is: "To share our life with God and with others."
Their three children all graduated from Notre Dame University. Joe, also finished his Bachelor of Science in
Chemistry.
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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