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Dr. Waldimar Alarkon at his Connecticut home. |
In the United States Filipino doctors encounter extreme difficulty before they are allowed to practice their profession; many, in fact who have migrated end up doing odd jobs. To dramatize that hardship, a recent topnotcher in the medical board examination decided to shift to a nursing course because of the uncertainties hounding Filipino doctors. Even in Camarines Sur many doctors wanting to go to US are taking up nursing rather than go through the eye of the needle to be able to practice medicine.
But a Caramoanon now residing at New Fairfield, Connecticut has, for more than 30 years now, not only been able to practice his profession without any impediment but has been included in the list of the Consumers’ Guide for Licensed Physicians in the U.S.A. as among the Top Psychiatrists in America!
Dr. Waldimar Palencia Alarkon’s enviable record as a medical practitioner in the forbidding medical jungle of America has been further amplified by an Award of Excellence from the Hudson River Psychiatric Center in New York for his 25 years of service as psychiatric consultant. His citations indisputably were indicators of his talent and dedication to his profession. Yet, he has incredibly found time to meet his social obligations as well. In 1987 he was bestowed the Outstanding Kababayan Award for his excellent performance as president of the Filipino American Association of the East Coast.
Waldo as friends in America call him comes from a family of achievers. The seventh of ten children of the late Glicerio Alarkon, Sr. and Luz Palencia who have all became professionals, he graduated salutatorian at the Caramoan Central School and also salutatorian at the United High School, also in Caramoan. He was an honor student when took up his pre-med course at the University of the East. He finished his Doctor of Medicine at UST in 1972.
His father was the first post-war elected mayor of Caramoan and his mother was a pharmacist. Waldo’s outlook in life must have been immensely influenced by his father who served for only one term pursuant to his campaign pledge and did not seek re-election even when Liberal Party leaders pleaded with him to extend his exemplary tenure marked by efficiency and integrity. He would have been a cinch to win a second term or even beyond because of his unique brand of leadership. Today, only death and legal restrictions obstruct the re-election bid of an incumbent official.
Waldo migrated to the US in 1974 under the Exchange Visitor Student Visa Program. Upon arrival he immediately underwent a three-year training program and had his internship at the Meriden Wallingford Hospital in Connecticut. He had his residency in psychiatry at the Fairfield Hills Hospital and at the Yale New Haven Hospital also at Connecticut. Today he is a full time consultant at the Brewster Clinic at the New York State Mental Hospital and has his part-time private practice at the Carmel Clinic also in New York.
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Dr. Waldimar Alarkon with wife Dr. Techie Pangilinan and children Walter, Glizhelle and Warren and grandson Caleb. |
Waldo is married to another Filipina doctor, Teresita Pangilinan, a pediatrician and endocrinologist. They have three children: Glizhelle who finished her Bachelor of Science in Boston College and will graduate in 2008. With her Ph.D in Pharmacy; Walter who also finished his BS in Boston College and took his Master in Journalism in Columbian University; and Warren who finished his BS in Oklahoma University and is a freshman in the Law School of the same university. They have a four-year old grandson, Caleb, by Warren.
Walter is on internship with the New York Times and is staff writer of the Concord Monitor in New Hamphire.
Back briefly in Caramoan this month after three decades Waldo said he is retiring in two years because by that time all their three children may have completed or are about to complete their chosen courses. And obviously, because they have made enough to last them for their lifetime. Definitely, he says, he will be back in May, 2007 for the CRANE Balik Caramoan Program which he vowed to help succeed.
