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| ADs of Basilio Bautista |
| Basilio Nery Bautista, M.D. Wyoming, Delaware A 21st Century Renaissance Man A New Breed of Filipino Community National Leadership |
Dr. Basilio N. Bautista, is the son of the late Governor Basilio B.
Bautista, Sr. and Nazaria Robel Nery of Camarines Norte. While
growing up in his hometown in Labo, he was full of youthful
dreams. He wanted to become a priest, a photojournalist, a
composer and he wanted to be like his father - a lawyer politician.
By nature, he was a shy, young fellow. He never sought to be a
leader but his classmates always looked up to him for leadership.
He never buried his face in the books, but always topped his
class, such that when he graduated from Labo Elementary
School, he was the valedictorian. While in high school in
Camarines Norte Institute he was listed in the National Honor
Roll of High School Scholars. He transferred to UST High School
Department where he continued to be consistently in the Honor
Roll. He was a member of the editorial staff of The Aquinian as
religion editor and was also a regular contributor of poetry and
short stories in the literary section. He also wrote his first song
when he added music to his poem. When he started writing
poetry about love, he knew he was not going to become a priest.
At the same time he was getting more focused on becoming a
journalist. Dr. Bautista's school counselor advised him that it
would be best to have a more stable profession, and he could still
be a writer, a composer, or whatever he wanted to be.
Bautista, Sr. and Nazaria Robel Nery of Camarines Norte. While
growing up in his hometown in Labo, he was full of youthful
dreams. He wanted to become a priest, a photojournalist, a
composer and he wanted to be like his father - a lawyer politician.
By nature, he was a shy, young fellow. He never sought to be a
leader but his classmates always looked up to him for leadership.
He never buried his face in the books, but always topped his
class, such that when he graduated from Labo Elementary
School, he was the valedictorian. While in high school in
Camarines Norte Institute he was listed in the National Honor
Roll of High School Scholars. He transferred to UST High School
Department where he continued to be consistently in the Honor
Roll. He was a member of the editorial staff of The Aquinian as
religion editor and was also a regular contributor of poetry and
short stories in the literary section. He also wrote his first song
when he added music to his poem. When he started writing
poetry about love, he knew he was not going to become a priest.
At the same time he was getting more focused on becoming a
journalist. Dr. Bautista's school counselor advised him that it
would be best to have a more stable profession, and he could still
be a writer, a composer, or whatever he wanted to be.
So he thought of becoming a lawyer and consequently a politician like his father. But when he told his mother
of his decision, to his disappointment, he was told that it was his father's wish that none of his children
become lawyers and politicians because of his fateful and tragic experience. His father, then governor when
World War II broke out refused to serve as governor during the Japanese occupation and instead joined the
guerilla forces. His political enemies were instrumental in his capture, imprisonment and later execution by
the Japanese shortly before the liberation.
The young Basilio Bautista, Jr. decided then to pursue the medical profession. He graduated from the
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in March 1960. He took the board of examinations
in the same year and left for the USA in 1961. He interned at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. He took
up residency training in General Surgery at Hahneman University Medical Center in Philadelphia. He
transferred to Boston and continued his residency training in General Surgery at Malden Medical Center
where he served as chief resident. He later went to Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York for
training in surgical oncology. He pursued further specification in Plastic & Reconstructive and Hand Surgery
at the University of Manitoba Medical Center - Winnipeg General and Children's Hospital in Canada. While
chief resident, he wrote several papers which were all published in leading surgical journals including an
award-winning paper entitled "Truck Tire Rim Injury - a New Trauma Entity." He spent another year at the
University as a Teaching Fellow in Anatomy and Research Fellow in Plastic Surgery. He has also taken post-
graduate studies at Harvard Medical School, Yale University School of Medicine, Columbia University College
of Physicians and Surgeons, New York Medical College and Eastern Virginia Medical School.
After completion of his training, he decided to come back to the United States and settled in Dover, Delaware
in 1972. Dr. Bautista's practice took off no time, and in 1982, he acquired a surgical laser and he was the first
plastic surgeon in Delaware to have used the state-of-the-art technology in his practice. In 1987, he founded
the Laser and Plastic Surgery Center of Delaware, the first non-hospital based day-surgery center in
Delaware. His reputation grew such that he was able to attract patients not only in Delaware, and other states
but from countries, as well.
Although he was busy with his training while in Canada and his new practice in USA, he had always found
time to participate actively with various professional and community organizations. He has served as the
President of the Philippine Association of Plastic Surgeons of America (PAPSA). He is the co-founder and
currently its Executive Director. He was President of the Association of the UST Medical Alumni Association of
America, Tri-State Chapter (USTMAATS) DE, NJ, PA. He was President of the Association of Philippine-
American Physicians of Delaware (APAPD) and currently the Executive Director. He was the President of the
American Cancer Society, Kent County Chapter. He served as the Regent of the International College of
Surgeons. He was President of Kayumanggi (The Filipino-Canadian Association of Manitoba); Vice-
President of the Citizenship Council of Manitoba, and is one of the founders of the International Center of
Winnipeg. Currently, he is the President of the UST Medicine Class of 1960, USA Chapter.
In the field of journalism, while in Winnipeg, he has served as Director, Canada (Ethnic) Press Club. He was
Associate Editor of International Journal of Laser Surgery and Medicine, Associate Editor of The Philippine
Surgeon, Editorial Board Member of Delaware Medical Journal; Editor, Plastikos/Papyrus; Editor, the UST
Medical Times; Editor, the Tri-State Thomasian; Editor, The Gazette (the PMSD News).
In the field of arts, he is an accomplished and award-winning photographer, a song writer, a poet, an artist
and a composer. Most probably he is the only plastic surgeon in the world who has commercially produced a
CD of his original compositions "All My Love". His Piano Concerto in A Minor was performed by the Dover
Symphony Orchestra, and one of his compositions "Bernadette's Lullaby" was adapted for ballet by the Ballet
Theatre of Dover. He is the founder and director of the then Galeria de Artes Internaconales. He has served
as a member of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Regional Ballet Company and currently a member of
the Board of Directors of the Schwartz Center for the Arts.
He is the recipient of the Robert J. Sims Award for Excellence in Black and White photography having won the
First and Second prizes; and the Third prize in color photography in a national photo competition held in
Princeton University, New Jersey in 1979. The winning B &W photograph "Winter in Delaware" was published
in Popular Photography magazine.
With Dr. Bautista's very busy life, he still finds time for humanitarian work, by conducting free skin cancer
screening clinics in Dover biannually and by joining the "Operation Smile" surgical mission work in the
Philippines. With the hundreds of clef lips that he has repaired among the less fortunate children in the
Philippines, Dr. Bautista swears, there is nothing more rewarding than to see smiling faces among these
otherwise deformed children. When this happened "I thank God for making me an instrument to help make
these unfortunate children whole again," he confessed.
Dr. Bautista was the recipient of the several awards, among noted are: Philippine Centennial Recognition
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Plastic Surgery, awarded by the Filipino Executive Council of Greater
Philadelphia, Inc. April 11, 1998 at Cherry Hill Hilton, NJ; Outstanding UST Medicine Silver Jubilarian of the
Year, 1985, Manila, Philippines; Outstanding Filipino Award, Delaware Valley Association of Filipinos, 1978
Philadelphia; Manitoba Centennial Recognition Award for Community Service, Citizenship Council, Winnipeg,
Canada 1970.
On March 2, 2002, Dr. Basilio Bautista retired from his practice of Plastic, Reconstructive and laser surgery.
On his retirement celebrations attended by more than 300 of his friends, family members, patients, local and
state government officials, tributes were given by former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, former state Senator John Still,
III, representing the state senate , US Senators Thomas Carper and Joseph Biden, Dennis Klima, president
and CEO of Bayhealth Medical Center among other dignitaries. It was a momentuous occasion that closes
one chapter of Basil’s (Nonong’s) life and the beginning of a new one.
On July 1, 2002, Basil founded the Philippine-American Physicians of Delaware Foundation, later renamed
Philippine-American Medical Foundation, the purpose of which was to raise funds to help finance some
medical missions to the Philippines. For its first fund-raising event, he produced a spectacular multi-media
show at the Schwartz Center in Dover, “A Night to Remember”, where he brought in nationally and
internationally acclaimed entertainers including Broadway star Karen Curlee of “Cat’s” fame; recording pianist
Sally Harmon from Oregon and professor Nita Abrogar-Quinto of the University of the Philippines College of
Music and the Ballet Theatre of Dover. All of them performed the original musical compositions of Dr.
Bautista, from his first CD, “All My Love”. Earlier this year, at its Spring Concert during Olde Dover Days
celebrations, the Dover Symphony Orchestra performed his Piano Concerto in A Minor at the Schwartz Center
for the Arts in Dover.
Cognizant of the growing number of Delawareans in Kent County without medical insurance, the Philippine-
American Medical Foundation under his leadership, established the Hope Clinic in Dover. He appointed the
directors to run the clinic. The Foundation was again renamed HOPE Foundation to identify with its major
project – the clinic.
In January 2003, he was chosen Dover Post’s “Great Person of the Year”. He was recognized for contributions
to the community not only for his more than 30 years of service as plastic surgeon, but also for his significant
cultural contributions as artist, composer, writer, photographer, but most of all, for his endeavors as
humanitarian and philanthropist. In recognition for all these, the Board of Directors of the Schwartz Center for
the Arts in Dover named its gallery Dr. Basilio N. Bautista Gallery.
Upon invitation by the respective Boards, he accepted to serve in the Board of Trustees of Wesley College;
Advisory Council of the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation; Honorary Board Member of Variety, the
Children’s Charity of Delaware, the Board of Directors of VSA Arts (Very Special Arts)of Delaware and the
Advisory Board of Dover Symphony Orchestra.
In 2004, he released his second CD of his compositions “Love for all Seasons”- in the classical mood. This
was recorded by pianist Professor Nita Quinto.
In July 2007, the HOPE Foundation was finally renamed Child HELP Foundation with a new mission, that of
helping children with disabilities in Kent County. The Foundation has established an Endowment Fund at the
Delaware Community Foundation, and only its proceeds will be granted to other non-profit organizations that
serve children with disabilities in Kent County.
On March 7, 2008, he was featured in an article in the News Journal about the Filipinos in Delaware, where
the writer stated “Dr. Basilio N. Bautista’s life is defined by giving.”
In February 2009, in recognition of his leadership, achievement in his profession, and his humanitarian
endeavor, he was so honored with his inclusion in Strathmore’s Who’s Who. He is also listed in Marquis’
Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.
Dr. Bautista is a multi-faceted man who not only excels in his chosen profession but also in other fields of
endeavor, for which his colleagues dub him a 21st Century Renaissance man.
With all his accomplishments, his magnum opus, and undoubtedly, the one he is the very proud father of a
three-year old son, Basilio Nicolo III, and two-year old twins, Basilio Nathaniel IV and Bernadette Nazarie with
his wife Dr. Amelia Quinto Arabe. #
of his decision, to his disappointment, he was told that it was his father's wish that none of his children
become lawyers and politicians because of his fateful and tragic experience. His father, then governor when
World War II broke out refused to serve as governor during the Japanese occupation and instead joined the
guerilla forces. His political enemies were instrumental in his capture, imprisonment and later execution by
the Japanese shortly before the liberation.
The young Basilio Bautista, Jr. decided then to pursue the medical profession. He graduated from the
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in March 1960. He took the board of examinations
in the same year and left for the USA in 1961. He interned at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. He took
up residency training in General Surgery at Hahneman University Medical Center in Philadelphia. He
transferred to Boston and continued his residency training in General Surgery at Malden Medical Center
where he served as chief resident. He later went to Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York for
training in surgical oncology. He pursued further specification in Plastic & Reconstructive and Hand Surgery
at the University of Manitoba Medical Center - Winnipeg General and Children's Hospital in Canada. While
chief resident, he wrote several papers which were all published in leading surgical journals including an
award-winning paper entitled "Truck Tire Rim Injury - a New Trauma Entity." He spent another year at the
University as a Teaching Fellow in Anatomy and Research Fellow in Plastic Surgery. He has also taken post-
graduate studies at Harvard Medical School, Yale University School of Medicine, Columbia University College
of Physicians and Surgeons, New York Medical College and Eastern Virginia Medical School.
After completion of his training, he decided to come back to the United States and settled in Dover, Delaware
in 1972. Dr. Bautista's practice took off no time, and in 1982, he acquired a surgical laser and he was the first
plastic surgeon in Delaware to have used the state-of-the-art technology in his practice. In 1987, he founded
the Laser and Plastic Surgery Center of Delaware, the first non-hospital based day-surgery center in
Delaware. His reputation grew such that he was able to attract patients not only in Delaware, and other states
but from countries, as well.
Although he was busy with his training while in Canada and his new practice in USA, he had always found
time to participate actively with various professional and community organizations. He has served as the
President of the Philippine Association of Plastic Surgeons of America (PAPSA). He is the co-founder and
currently its Executive Director. He was President of the Association of the UST Medical Alumni Association of
America, Tri-State Chapter (USTMAATS) DE, NJ, PA. He was President of the Association of Philippine-
American Physicians of Delaware (APAPD) and currently the Executive Director. He was the President of the
American Cancer Society, Kent County Chapter. He served as the Regent of the International College of
Surgeons. He was President of Kayumanggi (The Filipino-Canadian Association of Manitoba); Vice-
President of the Citizenship Council of Manitoba, and is one of the founders of the International Center of
Winnipeg. Currently, he is the President of the UST Medicine Class of 1960, USA Chapter.
In the field of journalism, while in Winnipeg, he has served as Director, Canada (Ethnic) Press Club. He was
Associate Editor of International Journal of Laser Surgery and Medicine, Associate Editor of The Philippine
Surgeon, Editorial Board Member of Delaware Medical Journal; Editor, Plastikos/Papyrus; Editor, the UST
Medical Times; Editor, the Tri-State Thomasian; Editor, The Gazette (the PMSD News).
In the field of arts, he is an accomplished and award-winning photographer, a song writer, a poet, an artist
and a composer. Most probably he is the only plastic surgeon in the world who has commercially produced a
CD of his original compositions "All My Love". His Piano Concerto in A Minor was performed by the Dover
Symphony Orchestra, and one of his compositions "Bernadette's Lullaby" was adapted for ballet by the Ballet
Theatre of Dover. He is the founder and director of the then Galeria de Artes Internaconales. He has served
as a member of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Regional Ballet Company and currently a member of
the Board of Directors of the Schwartz Center for the Arts.
He is the recipient of the Robert J. Sims Award for Excellence in Black and White photography having won the
First and Second prizes; and the Third prize in color photography in a national photo competition held in
Princeton University, New Jersey in 1979. The winning B &W photograph "Winter in Delaware" was published
in Popular Photography magazine.
With Dr. Bautista's very busy life, he still finds time for humanitarian work, by conducting free skin cancer
screening clinics in Dover biannually and by joining the "Operation Smile" surgical mission work in the
Philippines. With the hundreds of clef lips that he has repaired among the less fortunate children in the
Philippines, Dr. Bautista swears, there is nothing more rewarding than to see smiling faces among these
otherwise deformed children. When this happened "I thank God for making me an instrument to help make
these unfortunate children whole again," he confessed.
Dr. Bautista was the recipient of the several awards, among noted are: Philippine Centennial Recognition
Award for Outstanding Achievement in Plastic Surgery, awarded by the Filipino Executive Council of Greater
Philadelphia, Inc. April 11, 1998 at Cherry Hill Hilton, NJ; Outstanding UST Medicine Silver Jubilarian of the
Year, 1985, Manila, Philippines; Outstanding Filipino Award, Delaware Valley Association of Filipinos, 1978
Philadelphia; Manitoba Centennial Recognition Award for Community Service, Citizenship Council, Winnipeg,
Canada 1970.
On March 2, 2002, Dr. Basilio Bautista retired from his practice of Plastic, Reconstructive and laser surgery.
On his retirement celebrations attended by more than 300 of his friends, family members, patients, local and
state government officials, tributes were given by former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, former state Senator John Still,
III, representing the state senate , US Senators Thomas Carper and Joseph Biden, Dennis Klima, president
and CEO of Bayhealth Medical Center among other dignitaries. It was a momentuous occasion that closes
one chapter of Basil’s (Nonong’s) life and the beginning of a new one.
On July 1, 2002, Basil founded the Philippine-American Physicians of Delaware Foundation, later renamed
Philippine-American Medical Foundation, the purpose of which was to raise funds to help finance some
medical missions to the Philippines. For its first fund-raising event, he produced a spectacular multi-media
show at the Schwartz Center in Dover, “A Night to Remember”, where he brought in nationally and
internationally acclaimed entertainers including Broadway star Karen Curlee of “Cat’s” fame; recording pianist
Sally Harmon from Oregon and professor Nita Abrogar-Quinto of the University of the Philippines College of
Music and the Ballet Theatre of Dover. All of them performed the original musical compositions of Dr.
Bautista, from his first CD, “All My Love”. Earlier this year, at its Spring Concert during Olde Dover Days
celebrations, the Dover Symphony Orchestra performed his Piano Concerto in A Minor at the Schwartz Center
for the Arts in Dover.
Cognizant of the growing number of Delawareans in Kent County without medical insurance, the Philippine-
American Medical Foundation under his leadership, established the Hope Clinic in Dover. He appointed the
directors to run the clinic. The Foundation was again renamed HOPE Foundation to identify with its major
project – the clinic.
In January 2003, he was chosen Dover Post’s “Great Person of the Year”. He was recognized for contributions
to the community not only for his more than 30 years of service as plastic surgeon, but also for his significant
cultural contributions as artist, composer, writer, photographer, but most of all, for his endeavors as
humanitarian and philanthropist. In recognition for all these, the Board of Directors of the Schwartz Center for
the Arts in Dover named its gallery Dr. Basilio N. Bautista Gallery.
Upon invitation by the respective Boards, he accepted to serve in the Board of Trustees of Wesley College;
Advisory Council of the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation; Honorary Board Member of Variety, the
Children’s Charity of Delaware, the Board of Directors of VSA Arts (Very Special Arts)of Delaware and the
Advisory Board of Dover Symphony Orchestra.
In 2004, he released his second CD of his compositions “Love for all Seasons”- in the classical mood. This
was recorded by pianist Professor Nita Quinto.
In July 2007, the HOPE Foundation was finally renamed Child HELP Foundation with a new mission, that of
helping children with disabilities in Kent County. The Foundation has established an Endowment Fund at the
Delaware Community Foundation, and only its proceeds will be granted to other non-profit organizations that
serve children with disabilities in Kent County.
On March 7, 2008, he was featured in an article in the News Journal about the Filipinos in Delaware, where
the writer stated “Dr. Basilio N. Bautista’s life is defined by giving.”
In February 2009, in recognition of his leadership, achievement in his profession, and his humanitarian
endeavor, he was so honored with his inclusion in Strathmore’s Who’s Who. He is also listed in Marquis’
Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.
Dr. Bautista is a multi-faceted man who not only excels in his chosen profession but also in other fields of
endeavor, for which his colleagues dub him a 21st Century Renaissance man.
With all his accomplishments, his magnum opus, and undoubtedly, the one he is the very proud father of a
three-year old son, Basilio Nicolo III, and two-year old twins, Basilio Nathaniel IV and Bernadette Nazarie with
his wife Dr. Amelia Quinto Arabe. #