| Virginia F. Mercado Towson, Maryland A remarkable woman endowed with unusual determination and remarkable character. |
Virginia was born on December 17, 1943 to Dr.
Secundino M. Fausto and Mrs. Leonila Yap Fausto,
the first of five children, in Victoria, Tarlac,
Philippines. She belongs to a prominent political
family, her uncle Governor Jose V. Yap being the
current and three-term governor of the province.
She entered first grade at the tender age of 4 as a
“trial” through the request of the then Mayor of their
town, her grandfather, Mayor Rufino Fausto. This
started her long academic path since it was not a
trial after all. She was on top of her class so she
had to move on. She graduated as Valedictorian in
both elementary and high school level. She was
Class President, President of the Student body,
Editor-in-Chief of the school paper, The
Valedictorian, platoon leader and actively
participated in folk dances and declamation
competitions.
Secundino M. Fausto and Mrs. Leonila Yap Fausto,
the first of five children, in Victoria, Tarlac,
Philippines. She belongs to a prominent political
family, her uncle Governor Jose V. Yap being the
current and three-term governor of the province.
She entered first grade at the tender age of 4 as a
“trial” through the request of the then Mayor of their
town, her grandfather, Mayor Rufino Fausto. This
started her long academic path since it was not a
trial after all. She was on top of her class so she
had to move on. She graduated as Valedictorian in
both elementary and high school level. She was
Class President, President of the Student body,
Editor-in-Chief of the school paper, The
Valedictorian, platoon leader and actively
participated in folk dances and declamation
competitions.
Her passion and dedication to medicine can probably be explained by the fact that she told her parents
at age 4 that she is going to be a doctor. She completed her Medical Degree at the Far Eastern
University Institute of Medicine in 1966. She passed the ECFMG right after internship and worked as an
adjunct resident at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital under the tutorship of her father who was then the Chief
of Surgery and the Chief of Clinics.
In July 1968, she came to the United States directly to Baltimore. She did her rotating internship at the
Provident Hospital and completed her Internal Medicine training in 1973 at the South Baltimore General
Hospital, now Harbor Hospital.
Her original plan of going back home to serve her countrymen with her U.S. acquired skills changed
when she met her husband, Dr. Manuel G. Mercado, on the first day of her arrival in Baltimore. They got
married in 1970 and the marriage was blessed with a son, Dennis, and a daughter, Aimee. Her life was
a constant juggling of time and sche- dule between her residency, being a wife and a mother to her
young children, as well as ancillary support to her husband’s growing pediatric practice. Their home
was a stepping stone for family and friends in their pursuit of greener pasture because of their
hospitality and generosity. She passed the Maryland Medical State Boards in 1974 enough her prayers
were not in vain.
It was at this time that she devoted herself to community service and her capabilities were slowly
recognized. Her achievements would include being the Secretary of the Kaycettes, Auxililary of the
Knights of Columbus, Sto. Nino Council in 1989-1990. She was a membe of the Sto. Nino Choral
Group as a soprano in 1999-2001, and also as their Chairman in 1999-2001. The group raised funds
for orphanages in the Philippines through their fund-raising activities, particularly their annual Christmas
caroling. They performed for various Filipino community activities, competed in Alice Tully Auditorium in
New York City, sang for Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Basilica of the Assumption and for Jaime
Cardinal Sin during his visit to Baltimore.
She was also the Secretary for the Association of Philippine Physicians in maryland in 1997-1999 and
went to rise to various positions before becoming the President of the said association in 2001-2003.
During this presidency, she started the concept of health fairs for the Filipino community providing
medical services particularly consultations in various specialties during the annual Independence Day
celebration, a Katipunan project. They held on large scale health fair at the St. Johns’s Evangelist
Church in Severna Park, Maryland under the chairmanship of Dr. Laurel G. Yap.
She spearheaded a campaign chaired by Dr. Antonia Grandea, for relief during the 9/11 catastrophy that
raised over $3,000.00 donated to the red Cross. Also, she organized volunteer work that served in Our
Daily Bread as part of the APPM Community Services.
Dr. Mercado also served as the Secretary of the F.E.U. Medical Alumni Association, Maryland Chapter, in
1999-2001 before being elected as President in 2004-2006. During this term, the association
undertook a fund raising performance of the Kundirana, a boy’s choir of La salle, for the Bahay Pag-Asa
project that houses and rehabilitates juvenile delinquents in the Philippines, under the chairmanship of
Dr. Eli Alegado.
She helped in the formation of a Filipino Spiritual Group at the St. Jude Shrine in 2003 with the help of
Miss Dolly Puno. It is a nationwide center for devotion to St. Jude in Baltimore City. She is an active
volunteer in the shrine as a lector and Eucharistic minister.
Today, she continues to enjoy her Internal Medicine practice in Baltimore. What gives her satisfaction
and happiness is being able to serve the medical needs of the Filipino community, her practice
comprising of a significant number of Filipino families.A prayer hangs in her office which she recites
before she sees patients and it goes like this: “Dear Lord, Please give skills to my hands, clear vision to
my mind, kindness and sympathy to my heart. Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift at least a
part of the burden of my suffering fellowmen and true realization of the rare privilege that is mine.”
As a person, Linda, as she is fondly called has been described as wa remarkable woman, kind-hearted
and somebody endowed with unusual determination and character. To her family, she is a pillar, a
decision maker. Her philosophies in life are simple-”Do not dwell on the tragic events of life, rather use
each experience as an inspiration to do better”, and “Try to help someone each day, it will give you a
great sense of fulfillment.”
Friends describe her as a woman of style and elegance, a beautiful lady, inside and out, a fine
physician, a wonderful doctor and one of a kind in her steadfastness and holding on to her vision. Truly
a mark of a leader.
at age 4 that she is going to be a doctor. She completed her Medical Degree at the Far Eastern
University Institute of Medicine in 1966. She passed the ECFMG right after internship and worked as an
adjunct resident at the Tarlac Provincial Hospital under the tutorship of her father who was then the Chief
of Surgery and the Chief of Clinics.
In July 1968, she came to the United States directly to Baltimore. She did her rotating internship at the
Provident Hospital and completed her Internal Medicine training in 1973 at the South Baltimore General
Hospital, now Harbor Hospital.
Her original plan of going back home to serve her countrymen with her U.S. acquired skills changed
when she met her husband, Dr. Manuel G. Mercado, on the first day of her arrival in Baltimore. They got
married in 1970 and the marriage was blessed with a son, Dennis, and a daughter, Aimee. Her life was
a constant juggling of time and sche- dule between her residency, being a wife and a mother to her
young children, as well as ancillary support to her husband’s growing pediatric practice. Their home
was a stepping stone for family and friends in their pursuit of greener pasture because of their
hospitality and generosity. She passed the Maryland Medical State Boards in 1974 enough her prayers
were not in vain.
It was at this time that she devoted herself to community service and her capabilities were slowly
recognized. Her achievements would include being the Secretary of the Kaycettes, Auxililary of the
Knights of Columbus, Sto. Nino Council in 1989-1990. She was a membe of the Sto. Nino Choral
Group as a soprano in 1999-2001, and also as their Chairman in 1999-2001. The group raised funds
for orphanages in the Philippines through their fund-raising activities, particularly their annual Christmas
caroling. They performed for various Filipino community activities, competed in Alice Tully Auditorium in
New York City, sang for Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Basilica of the Assumption and for Jaime
Cardinal Sin during his visit to Baltimore.
She was also the Secretary for the Association of Philippine Physicians in maryland in 1997-1999 and
went to rise to various positions before becoming the President of the said association in 2001-2003.
During this presidency, she started the concept of health fairs for the Filipino community providing
medical services particularly consultations in various specialties during the annual Independence Day
celebration, a Katipunan project. They held on large scale health fair at the St. Johns’s Evangelist
Church in Severna Park, Maryland under the chairmanship of Dr. Laurel G. Yap.
She spearheaded a campaign chaired by Dr. Antonia Grandea, for relief during the 9/11 catastrophy that
raised over $3,000.00 donated to the red Cross. Also, she organized volunteer work that served in Our
Daily Bread as part of the APPM Community Services.
Dr. Mercado also served as the Secretary of the F.E.U. Medical Alumni Association, Maryland Chapter, in
1999-2001 before being elected as President in 2004-2006. During this term, the association
undertook a fund raising performance of the Kundirana, a boy’s choir of La salle, for the Bahay Pag-Asa
project that houses and rehabilitates juvenile delinquents in the Philippines, under the chairmanship of
Dr. Eli Alegado.
She helped in the formation of a Filipino Spiritual Group at the St. Jude Shrine in 2003 with the help of
Miss Dolly Puno. It is a nationwide center for devotion to St. Jude in Baltimore City. She is an active
volunteer in the shrine as a lector and Eucharistic minister.
Today, she continues to enjoy her Internal Medicine practice in Baltimore. What gives her satisfaction
and happiness is being able to serve the medical needs of the Filipino community, her practice
comprising of a significant number of Filipino families.A prayer hangs in her office which she recites
before she sees patients and it goes like this: “Dear Lord, Please give skills to my hands, clear vision to
my mind, kindness and sympathy to my heart. Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift at least a
part of the burden of my suffering fellowmen and true realization of the rare privilege that is mine.”
As a person, Linda, as she is fondly called has been described as wa remarkable woman, kind-hearted
and somebody endowed with unusual determination and character. To her family, she is a pillar, a
decision maker. Her philosophies in life are simple-”Do not dwell on the tragic events of life, rather use
each experience as an inspiration to do better”, and “Try to help someone each day, it will give you a
great sense of fulfillment.”
Friends describe her as a woman of style and elegance, a beautiful lady, inside and out, a fine
physician, a wonderful doctor and one of a kind in her steadfastness and holding on to her vision. Truly
a mark of a leader.
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