Alimodian Firsts: Lt. Marcelo Amarra Tolentino

Lt. Marcelo Amarra Tolentino

First Military Town Officer during World War II

      Another Alimodiananon his townmates are duly proud of is Mr. Marcelo A. Tolentino who served the town as its first military officer during the Second World War.

      Marsing, as his friends call him, was born on June 28, 1917 in this town. He spent his elementary years at the Alimodian Elementary School and his high school at the Iloilo Provincial High School. He was in his second year at the Colegio de San Agustin, now the University of San Agustin, taking up Bachelor of Science in Commerce when World War II broke out.

       Responding to the call of duty, he enlisted with the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) on December 12, 1941. He organized the Guerilla Forces, Alimodian Unit, on June 1, 1942, and was appointed Military Town Officer of Alimodian on that date.

       During the remaining years of the war, he served in various other capacities as military man, and for his services, he was awarded 12 medals and citations. After the war, he served as councilor of the town for two terms, and one term as vice mayor. Presently, he is the general manager of the Alimodian Water District.

       He was married to the late Purita Patriarca. They have 9 children.

Alimodian Firsts: Salvador Salarda

Salvador Salarda

First Male Nurse

      Mr. Salvador Salarda, who is the first male nurse of Alimodian, was born on May 30, 1908 to Mr. Vicente Salarda and Mrs. Camila Alingasa Salarda. His father was from San Miguel, Iloilo, but the couple took up residence in Alimodian, Mrs. Salarda being an Alimodiananon.

       Salvador finished his elementary education here in Alimodian and his secondary education at the Iloilo High School. He then went to Manila where he took up nursing at the University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1932.

       As a nurse, he has served in the following capacities: Assistant Sanitary Inspector, Bureau of Health, Province of Iloilo; Nurse-School Worker, Bureau of Health, Cebu; Nurse, National Mental Hospital; and Teacher-Nurse, Bureau of Public Schools, Division of Iloilo.

        He retired from service on August 30, 1973. Presently, Mr. Salarda resides in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, with his wife, a Barotacnon.

Alimodian Firsts: Oliva Alloguines Leaño

Olivia Alloguines Leaño

First Female Nurse

     Mrs. Oliva Alloguines Leaño saw the first light of day on May 27, 1900. She was the daughter of Alejo Alloguines and Simona Aguillon.

      After finishing her elementary education at the Alimodian Central Elementary School in 1914, she went to the Iloilo High School, finishing her secondary studies in 1918. She then proceeded to the Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing where she obtained graduate nurse degree in 1923.

      From 1925 to 1926, she was staff nurse of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital. In 1928, she joined the staff of the Philippine Mental Hospital. She worked there until her retirement in 1965 as chief nurse.

      When she died on March 4, 1982, she left in sorrow her husband, Santiago Leaño, a native of Vintar, Ilocos Norte. They had four children, three of whom are living.

Alimodian Firsts: Francisco A. Alger

Francisco A. Alger

First Certified Public Accountant

     The man who was to become the first certified public accountant of Alimodian was born on January 29, 1918 to Isaac Alger and Perpetua Alzate of this community.

     After finishing his elementary and high school education from Iloilo Central School and Iloilo High School, respectively, he studied at the Jose Rizal College, graduating in 1948 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce. That same year, he took the CPA board examination and passed it.

    After passing the CPA board, he began practicing his profession, serving various companies . He was the principal partner of Francisco A. Alger and Associates, an accounting firm in Iloilo City.

    Not content with keeping his knowledge all to himself, Mr. Alger joined the teaching profession as faculty member of the Iloilo City Colleges, now the University of Iloilo. From there, he progressed to become the dean of the College of Commerce, University of Iloilo, from 1952 to 1990. He, himself, holds a Master in Business Administration from Central Philippine University.

    He presently resides with his wife, Alma Velez, in Tanza, Iloilo City. They have seven children.

Alimodian Firsts: Juan A. Alger

Juan A. Alger

First PMA Graduate

       On June 24, 1925, the man who became the first Alimodiananon graduate of the Philippine Military Academy was born.

       Juan A. Alger, while still a young boy, showed a deep interest in military life. Therefore, after completing his elementary and high school education, he took the entrance examination to the PMA and passed it. He entered the academy in 1947 and got his Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. Aside from this, he also holds Master in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.

      Since his graduation from the PMA, he has served as officer in both the Philippine Army and the Philippine Constabulary.

      He presently resides with his wife in Dasmarinas Village, Makati, Metro Manila.

Alimodian Firsts: Jacob Alzate Alger

Jacob Alzate Alger

First Alimodian Finance Officer of the Philippine Navy

     On April 21, 1928, the man who was to occupy one of the highest positions in the Finance Center of the Philippine Navy was born.

     After finishing his elementary and secondary education, Jacob A. Alger took and passed the entrance examination to the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, graduating in 1953.

     After his stint at the PMA, he took several post-graduate training courses allied with his military duties. He was also sent to the United States by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to further enhance his military abilities.

     From his first assignment in the FA Battery, 15th BCT, in Pampanga, Nueva Vizcaya, he served the different major services until he was assigned to the Marine Battalion as S-4 in 1957. He then worked his way up the ranks of the Philippine Navy Headquarters. From that year until his retirement in 1979, he was commanding officer of the Philippine Navy Finance Center.

Alimodian Firsts: Capt. Mauricio Alcon

Capt. Mauricio Alcon

First Aviator

      In October 1916, a son was born to Ambrosio Alcon and Felomina Alipala of this town. The boy was christened Mauricio, and he later became the first aviator of Alimodian.

      After finished his elementary and high school education, Maur, as the boy was fondly called, enlisted with the Philippine Constabulary at Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City in February 1936. But in September of the following year, he joined the newly-established Philippine Army Air Corps, now the Philippine Air Force, and began what he calls “my adventure into the wild blue yonder.” In order to qualify as flying cadet, he attended the National University in Manila to earn the required 50 units of college credit and made it in December 1941.

       During the Japanese Occupation, he served with the 9th Observation and Attack Squadron in Cebu, and the guerilla movement under Gen. Peralta. Unfortunately, he was wounded in action during the battle for liberation of Manila on February 9, 1944, thus ending his flying career.

       Not someone to remain idle for long, he remained with Philippine Armed Forces in the communication electronics field. In 1947, he, together with 49 other Filipino scholars, was sent to the United States for special studies in airways operation. When he finished the course, he was in the top ten.

       He retired from service on May 3, 1967, with the rank of full colonel. He and his wife Encarnacion Ambe, have four children.