Hall of Honor
Dr. Emilio Ruidera
January 25, 1953 - April 4, 2014
Vice President and Vice Chairman, CAHSAFI
Emil, as we fondly call him, gave his Alma Mater, Arellano High School, his full unconditional attention, love, and support in the last decade of his life. Using the internet and the social media, he searched and organized his co-alumni overseas and saw the formation of a global Arellano village that fosters friendship among members and promotes scholarships and financial assistance to needy students.
He was one of the leading founders of the webgroups ahsmultiply, arellanohigh.com, and cashafi.com. The latter now has over 2,000 members.
Through his leadership, a good number of scholarships have been set up to finance the college education of needy and deserving new graduates of Arellano High School. The school's newspapers have also received numerous assistance in the form of funds, computers and equipment, and monetary rewards for outstanding accomplishments.
We share this article about Emil:
The Life, Love, Hopes and Dreams of Dr. Emilio Rubio Ruidera
By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.
Publisher & Editor
San Diego Asian Journal
April 4, 2014
He had just arrived from the Philippines, basking in the glory and satisfaction of seeing the fruits of his generosity, especially in his beloved alma mater, Arellano (Public) High School. Despite a long absence, his presence was felt. He regularly funded charitable projects, scholarships to several students, financial support to the school band, and offered other encouragements. It was just natural that his friends, schoolmates and those who had benefited from his generosity had welcomed him like a hero. Photos of him happily posing with them, handing financial rewards, and getting hugs from his scholars filled the Arellano High-related Facebook groups. Finally, his beneficiaries got to thank him in person. Emil could savor with satisfaction the fruits of his good deeds.
There was no doubt the trip energized him. Seeing such happy faces must have made him more determined to continue with charitable projects. After all, he was a poor boy who had made good. It was natural for him to pay back society and be grateful for the blessings from God. To top it off, he had the financial means to do so. He was a highly-paid doctor with plenty of money to spare. His wife Grace, a medical doctor herself, was equally successful.
Their two sons, Robert and Ryan, also enjoy high-paying jobs. Like Emil, both were members of the high school band and played trumpets. Robert received a Masters in Biotechnology at Texas Tech University (TTU) and is now working in a biotechnology company in Richmond, Virginia. Ryan received a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and worked at Caterpillar, where they build the huge dump trucks and loaders for mining. He later transferred to a local engineering company near their hometown and is planning to pursue a Master degree in either aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering.
With an empty nest, professional satisfaction and financial independence, it was natural for Emil to turn his attention to people he left behind at his school. He had many good plans for them.
Humble beginnings
"I came from humble beginnings,” Emil insisted.
By any standards, his family would be financially comfortable if not for the fact that it had nine children.
"I was born at home in Baler, Aurora on January 25, 1953 with the help of a hilot just like my five other elder siblings,” he said. "The three who followed me were born with the help of a nurse.”
His father, Juanito Purisima Ruidera was a government employee in the Bureau of Lands; his mother, Dorotea Pimental Rubio, was a homemaker.
"Masipag si Tatay, masinop, tahimik, basta sinabi, ginagawa (Father was industrious, quiet and was a can-do guy),” he remembered. "My mother was kind, industrious and a good family care taker.”
All the children became successful. The eldest, Arceli R. Antonis, BSEED, was an elementary school teacher in the Philippines for 18 years, then a retired nurse in the United States. The second, Armando R. Ruidera, is a retired Master Chief in the US Navy. The third, Purita R. Fajardo, was a Registered Medical Technologist in the Philippines, then a retired lab technician in America. The fourth, Rodolfo Ruidera, was a businessman and the family’s land administrator in the Philippines; sadly, he passed away some nine years ago. The fifth, Evelita R. Ruidera, is a BS Commerce graduate in the Philippines and about to retire as a nurse. Emil is the sixth in the family, a surgery resident in the Philippines as well as a pathologist in America. The seventh is Luis Ruidera, an electrical engineer and computer technician in the Philippines, then later a businessman in America. The eighth is Dercylis (everyone calls her Marissa) R. Atienza, a registered nurse in the U.S. The ninth is Susan R. Nilo, also a nurse in the U.S.
With all nine children becoming professionals, Emil’s parent must have achieved exceptional accomplishments that few parents can attain. But it was no easy task.
"We always had financial problems, what with four siblings in college, two in high school and two in elementary at one time,” Emil recalled. "My father could hardly afford all the tuition fees. My older sister had to switch from medicine to medical technology course, so everyone could continue studying. My older brother in the navy tried to help everyone, and all our farm animals were sold to have some cash.”
Other tasks
In addition, the children had to help in farm maintenance during summer or vacations. They would help with cleaning the coconut farm, copra making, and planting young coconuts to replace the old ones or the trees destroyed by typhoons.
Emil claimed his parents were his role models.
"My grandfather died when my father was in Grade 5. They were very poor and later had to live with his sister's family (she had to marry early in life maybe to help solve the family’s financial problems). Early on, my dad tried to work anywhere to help support the family including his mom. Dad was one of the youngest road workers (pion) during the construction of Nueva Ecija to Baler Road that cut across the middle of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. He was also a laborer during his youth in one of the Sierra Madre logging companies. He was a hard worker. He persevered and later landed a job as an employee of the Bureau of Lands. During those times, he usually went to surveying trips for as long as six months in a row per deployment in the hinterlands. They would survey the uninhabited valleys and mountainous areas of Quezon. He was also a farmer who single-handedly developed our coconut farm. He was a carpenter, mason, and performed other tasks who built our two-floor house with three bedrooms, sala, kitchen, dining room and a balcony. I admired him. He was a versatile man. The only thing he was not good at was in cooking, which is understandable for it was the wife’s job at that time, he-he-he. Pero ngayon ako mismo marunong magluto dahil kami ni Misis parehong may trabaho. Mas busy pa nga si Misis kaysa sa akin kaya sa bahay, kung sino ang libre eh di siyang gumawa ng trabahong naghihintay (But now, I myself do the cooking since my wife and I have jobs. In fact, my wife is busier at work than I, that’s why in our house, whoever is free is the one who does the tasks waiting at home).”
Elementary school
Emil went to Baler Elementary School from grades 1 to 3. If I remember correctly, there was an incident at his school that discriminated against one of his siblings. I think she was not given the valedictorian honors she deserved because the one chosen had better connections. This prompted his parents to transfer all of the kids to Manila, despite the extra costs. He went to P. Gomez Elementary School from grades 4 to 6 to Arellano High School, then to the nearby Far Eastern University for his Med Tech and medical degrees. The schools were chosen based on their having top educational standards and being near the apartment they were renting.
"We saved money by not having transportation and snack allowances as it was near our school. Whenever we were hungry or needed something, we just walked to our apartment.”
He enjoyed the camaraderie and jokes in the school band and the happy memories of attending conferences like Hi-Y and Y-Teens in Baguio, the NSSPC trips and conferences. He was at Manila Science High School for a few weeks during his freshman year; due to unforeseen circumstances, his mother asked him to transfer to any high school closer to their house. Hence, he enrolled at Arellano. During his junior year, he was chosen as Regional National Science Development Board Biology quiz contestant representing the AHS.
"It was very competitive,” he remembered. "The quiz contest was done at the NSDB campus on Taft Avenue beside Philippine General Hospital. I tried my best and was able to beat most of the other school representatives, including my former classmates at Manila Science High School whom I still remembered after three years. All students of Manila Science High in the auditorium were rooting for their team. My AHS science teacher and I were the only ones there from our school. Lucky me, I beat my former classmate at Manila Science High. He got, I think, third place. When only two of us were left, the time limit was decreased each time a succeeding question was asked, until it came to a matter of seconds. I was not able to finish reading the last question, for the allotted time was too short. I got second place. Maybe if I were a speed reader at the same time, who knows what would have happened, he-he-he. I was so happy I could not believe my feat. I thought the Manila Science students were unbeatable, especially in their domain, their home turf, with everyone rooting for them in the gallery. Well that goes to show that anyone, even the ones from other schools like AHS, will win as long as we put our minds into it. And of course we have to work for it.”
He forgot to mention that it also helps if one is a "genius” like him!
Among the awards he received in high school were: 1) Ang Tambuli Award, given to the Tambuli Editor-in-Chief by the AHS Alumni Association; 2) Golden Eagle Award, given to the Valedictorian in the College Preparatory by the Insular Life Company; 3) 2nd place, NSDB Regional Biology Quiz Contest; 4) First Place, NSDB National Essay Writing Contest on Science and Mathematics; 5) Best in Mathematics Award (Sophomore year); and 6) Model Student Award (Junior year), given by the National Library.
At first, Emil wanted to become an engineer, but realized he could do more for his family and others as a physician. After graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 1971 at Arellano High, he enrolled at the Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation to pursue a BS Med Tech and later a medical degree.
His only love
He met his future wife Grace during a Physics class at FEU. They were taking Pre Med Tech then.
"I was at the 3rd or 4th floor of New Technology bldg. when I saw a beautiful student with long hair, fair skin, attractive face and a nice smile. She was then standing at the first floor hallway. I was looking down from the fourth floor. I did not know then that she would be my classmate in Physics. I was surprised and got excited when we were in the same room ten minutes later. Swerte si Milio! Sabi ko, ang pakiramdam ko para akong si "Tamper", iyon bang rabbit sa "Bambi", he-he-he (Milio was lucky! I felt I was Tamper, the rabbit in the movie "Bambi).”
"As I became to know her more, I was very impressed by her intellect, beauty and overall good personality. Love at first sight iyong sa akin pero sa kanya hindi. Matagal na kaming magkaklase, hindi lang ako pansin o kilala. Kungdi pa sinabi noong isa kong classmate na magtanong daw sa akin tungkol sa Physics problems na assignment. Tanong pa nga niya sa classmate namin: ‘Sinong Emilio? ‘ Buti na lang kilala ako noong napagtanungan. Sabi sa kanya, ‘Iyong may salamin , iyong leader ng isang group.’ Leader din kasi si Grace ng group nila pero nagkataong hindi nila ma-solve iyong Physics problem . Suwerte na naman si Emilio. Napagtanungan nang di oras. He-he-he. Eh di nagkakilala kami nang totoo hindi iyong tingin lang ako nang tingin(For me, it was love at first sight, but not for her. We had been classmates for a long time, but she did not notice or know me. Another classmate of ours advised her to consult me about the solution to an assigned Physics problem. "Emilio? Who is she?’ Grace even asked the classmate. ‘The one with eyeglasses, the leader of the other group.’ Grace was also a leader of a group, but they could not solve the assigned problem. Emilio is lucky. He-he-he. So we were introduced to each other formally, unlike when all I could do was look at her).”
But it took them fourteen years to marry. They were already going steady from the time they were in Med Tech Proper, then Med Tech Internship, then Medicine Proper, then Medicine Internship, then Residency Medicine, then Fellowship Medicine. "It was so long. I already had talons (may tahid na ako) when we married!”
Emil was already a U.S. immigrant and had been in the U.S. for three years while Grace was finishing her fellowship in Nephrology at the University of the Philippines PGH when they agreed to get married once she completed all her training.
American Dream
Despite having achieved the American Dream, however, Emil would prefer staying in the Philippines if he were to live his life again.
"I think we would be a lot happier in the Philippines. After all, that's one of the main reasons why I took medicine. I saw the need for medical doctors not only in our town but in many places in the country. My wife and I had already planned our medical professions in the Philippines, and we were on our way. She did all the things we were planning to do. In fact, she was at UP-PGH doing Internal Medicine and later Nephrology while I was doing General Surgery and planning to proceed to Urology. She finished all the trainings, but unfortunately I had to go to the U.S. as an immigrant because of the dangerous situation in the country, what with the martial law and all. My parents petitioned me and my siblings. I had to switch my specialty later. In the Philippines, we know the territory, the people, and the culture. Everything is familiar to us. Iba ang pakiramdam sa lupang tinubuan (The feeling is different in the country of our birth).”
For the future, Emil hoped his two sons would "find the right wives, have children of their own, and live happily ever after. "
"Much like the family we have now where we shared many happy moments during their childhood and later when their personality developed, armed with many of the tools needed for the problems of the future adult life,” he said.
He also hoped the Cayetano Arellano High School Alumni Fund International., the organization he co-founded, would be successful.
"My friends and I have been trying to organize the Arellano International Foundation for years. Now that it is officially organized and a registered entity in the States, I will try to help this organization the best I can.”
Sadly, with his demise, its success can only be made possible by his friends he left behind.
He told this writer that his dream was "to retire and spend most of his senior years with his wife either in the U.S. or in the Philippines.” With his death, this will not be realized, but the legacy of his charitable work will continue to live in the memories of the people he has helped and touched.
His life may have been cut short, but the fruits of his generosity will live long.
January 25, 1953 - April 4, 2014
Vice President and Vice Chairman, CAHSAFI
Emil, as we fondly call him, gave his Alma Mater, Arellano High School, his full unconditional attention, love, and support in the last decade of his life. Using the internet and the social media, he searched and organized his co-alumni overseas and saw the formation of a global Arellano village that fosters friendship among members and promotes scholarships and financial assistance to needy students.
He was one of the leading founders of the webgroups ahsmultiply, arellanohigh.com, and cashafi.com. The latter now has over 2,000 members.
Through his leadership, a good number of scholarships have been set up to finance the college education of needy and deserving new graduates of Arellano High School. The school's newspapers have also received numerous assistance in the form of funds, computers and equipment, and monetary rewards for outstanding accomplishments.
We share this article about Emil:
The Life, Love, Hopes and Dreams of Dr. Emilio Rubio Ruidera
By Simeon G. Silverio, Jr.
Publisher & Editor
San Diego Asian Journal
April 4, 2014
He had just arrived from the Philippines, basking in the glory and satisfaction of seeing the fruits of his generosity, especially in his beloved alma mater, Arellano (Public) High School. Despite a long absence, his presence was felt. He regularly funded charitable projects, scholarships to several students, financial support to the school band, and offered other encouragements. It was just natural that his friends, schoolmates and those who had benefited from his generosity had welcomed him like a hero. Photos of him happily posing with them, handing financial rewards, and getting hugs from his scholars filled the Arellano High-related Facebook groups. Finally, his beneficiaries got to thank him in person. Emil could savor with satisfaction the fruits of his good deeds.
There was no doubt the trip energized him. Seeing such happy faces must have made him more determined to continue with charitable projects. After all, he was a poor boy who had made good. It was natural for him to pay back society and be grateful for the blessings from God. To top it off, he had the financial means to do so. He was a highly-paid doctor with plenty of money to spare. His wife Grace, a medical doctor herself, was equally successful.
Their two sons, Robert and Ryan, also enjoy high-paying jobs. Like Emil, both were members of the high school band and played trumpets. Robert received a Masters in Biotechnology at Texas Tech University (TTU) and is now working in a biotechnology company in Richmond, Virginia. Ryan received a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and worked at Caterpillar, where they build the huge dump trucks and loaders for mining. He later transferred to a local engineering company near their hometown and is planning to pursue a Master degree in either aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering.
With an empty nest, professional satisfaction and financial independence, it was natural for Emil to turn his attention to people he left behind at his school. He had many good plans for them.
Humble beginnings
"I came from humble beginnings,” Emil insisted.
By any standards, his family would be financially comfortable if not for the fact that it had nine children.
"I was born at home in Baler, Aurora on January 25, 1953 with the help of a hilot just like my five other elder siblings,” he said. "The three who followed me were born with the help of a nurse.”
His father, Juanito Purisima Ruidera was a government employee in the Bureau of Lands; his mother, Dorotea Pimental Rubio, was a homemaker.
"Masipag si Tatay, masinop, tahimik, basta sinabi, ginagawa (Father was industrious, quiet and was a can-do guy),” he remembered. "My mother was kind, industrious and a good family care taker.”
All the children became successful. The eldest, Arceli R. Antonis, BSEED, was an elementary school teacher in the Philippines for 18 years, then a retired nurse in the United States. The second, Armando R. Ruidera, is a retired Master Chief in the US Navy. The third, Purita R. Fajardo, was a Registered Medical Technologist in the Philippines, then a retired lab technician in America. The fourth, Rodolfo Ruidera, was a businessman and the family’s land administrator in the Philippines; sadly, he passed away some nine years ago. The fifth, Evelita R. Ruidera, is a BS Commerce graduate in the Philippines and about to retire as a nurse. Emil is the sixth in the family, a surgery resident in the Philippines as well as a pathologist in America. The seventh is Luis Ruidera, an electrical engineer and computer technician in the Philippines, then later a businessman in America. The eighth is Dercylis (everyone calls her Marissa) R. Atienza, a registered nurse in the U.S. The ninth is Susan R. Nilo, also a nurse in the U.S.
With all nine children becoming professionals, Emil’s parent must have achieved exceptional accomplishments that few parents can attain. But it was no easy task.
"We always had financial problems, what with four siblings in college, two in high school and two in elementary at one time,” Emil recalled. "My father could hardly afford all the tuition fees. My older sister had to switch from medicine to medical technology course, so everyone could continue studying. My older brother in the navy tried to help everyone, and all our farm animals were sold to have some cash.”
Other tasks
In addition, the children had to help in farm maintenance during summer or vacations. They would help with cleaning the coconut farm, copra making, and planting young coconuts to replace the old ones or the trees destroyed by typhoons.
Emil claimed his parents were his role models.
"My grandfather died when my father was in Grade 5. They were very poor and later had to live with his sister's family (she had to marry early in life maybe to help solve the family’s financial problems). Early on, my dad tried to work anywhere to help support the family including his mom. Dad was one of the youngest road workers (pion) during the construction of Nueva Ecija to Baler Road that cut across the middle of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. He was also a laborer during his youth in one of the Sierra Madre logging companies. He was a hard worker. He persevered and later landed a job as an employee of the Bureau of Lands. During those times, he usually went to surveying trips for as long as six months in a row per deployment in the hinterlands. They would survey the uninhabited valleys and mountainous areas of Quezon. He was also a farmer who single-handedly developed our coconut farm. He was a carpenter, mason, and performed other tasks who built our two-floor house with three bedrooms, sala, kitchen, dining room and a balcony. I admired him. He was a versatile man. The only thing he was not good at was in cooking, which is understandable for it was the wife’s job at that time, he-he-he. Pero ngayon ako mismo marunong magluto dahil kami ni Misis parehong may trabaho. Mas busy pa nga si Misis kaysa sa akin kaya sa bahay, kung sino ang libre eh di siyang gumawa ng trabahong naghihintay (But now, I myself do the cooking since my wife and I have jobs. In fact, my wife is busier at work than I, that’s why in our house, whoever is free is the one who does the tasks waiting at home).”
Elementary school
Emil went to Baler Elementary School from grades 1 to 3. If I remember correctly, there was an incident at his school that discriminated against one of his siblings. I think she was not given the valedictorian honors she deserved because the one chosen had better connections. This prompted his parents to transfer all of the kids to Manila, despite the extra costs. He went to P. Gomez Elementary School from grades 4 to 6 to Arellano High School, then to the nearby Far Eastern University for his Med Tech and medical degrees. The schools were chosen based on their having top educational standards and being near the apartment they were renting.
"We saved money by not having transportation and snack allowances as it was near our school. Whenever we were hungry or needed something, we just walked to our apartment.”
He enjoyed the camaraderie and jokes in the school band and the happy memories of attending conferences like Hi-Y and Y-Teens in Baguio, the NSSPC trips and conferences. He was at Manila Science High School for a few weeks during his freshman year; due to unforeseen circumstances, his mother asked him to transfer to any high school closer to their house. Hence, he enrolled at Arellano. During his junior year, he was chosen as Regional National Science Development Board Biology quiz contestant representing the AHS.
"It was very competitive,” he remembered. "The quiz contest was done at the NSDB campus on Taft Avenue beside Philippine General Hospital. I tried my best and was able to beat most of the other school representatives, including my former classmates at Manila Science High School whom I still remembered after three years. All students of Manila Science High in the auditorium were rooting for their team. My AHS science teacher and I were the only ones there from our school. Lucky me, I beat my former classmate at Manila Science High. He got, I think, third place. When only two of us were left, the time limit was decreased each time a succeeding question was asked, until it came to a matter of seconds. I was not able to finish reading the last question, for the allotted time was too short. I got second place. Maybe if I were a speed reader at the same time, who knows what would have happened, he-he-he. I was so happy I could not believe my feat. I thought the Manila Science students were unbeatable, especially in their domain, their home turf, with everyone rooting for them in the gallery. Well that goes to show that anyone, even the ones from other schools like AHS, will win as long as we put our minds into it. And of course we have to work for it.”
He forgot to mention that it also helps if one is a "genius” like him!
Among the awards he received in high school were: 1) Ang Tambuli Award, given to the Tambuli Editor-in-Chief by the AHS Alumni Association; 2) Golden Eagle Award, given to the Valedictorian in the College Preparatory by the Insular Life Company; 3) 2nd place, NSDB Regional Biology Quiz Contest; 4) First Place, NSDB National Essay Writing Contest on Science and Mathematics; 5) Best in Mathematics Award (Sophomore year); and 6) Model Student Award (Junior year), given by the National Library.
At first, Emil wanted to become an engineer, but realized he could do more for his family and others as a physician. After graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 1971 at Arellano High, he enrolled at the Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation to pursue a BS Med Tech and later a medical degree.
His only love
He met his future wife Grace during a Physics class at FEU. They were taking Pre Med Tech then.
"I was at the 3rd or 4th floor of New Technology bldg. when I saw a beautiful student with long hair, fair skin, attractive face and a nice smile. She was then standing at the first floor hallway. I was looking down from the fourth floor. I did not know then that she would be my classmate in Physics. I was surprised and got excited when we were in the same room ten minutes later. Swerte si Milio! Sabi ko, ang pakiramdam ko para akong si "Tamper", iyon bang rabbit sa "Bambi", he-he-he (Milio was lucky! I felt I was Tamper, the rabbit in the movie "Bambi).”
"As I became to know her more, I was very impressed by her intellect, beauty and overall good personality. Love at first sight iyong sa akin pero sa kanya hindi. Matagal na kaming magkaklase, hindi lang ako pansin o kilala. Kungdi pa sinabi noong isa kong classmate na magtanong daw sa akin tungkol sa Physics problems na assignment. Tanong pa nga niya sa classmate namin: ‘Sinong Emilio? ‘ Buti na lang kilala ako noong napagtanungan. Sabi sa kanya, ‘Iyong may salamin , iyong leader ng isang group.’ Leader din kasi si Grace ng group nila pero nagkataong hindi nila ma-solve iyong Physics problem . Suwerte na naman si Emilio. Napagtanungan nang di oras. He-he-he. Eh di nagkakilala kami nang totoo hindi iyong tingin lang ako nang tingin(For me, it was love at first sight, but not for her. We had been classmates for a long time, but she did not notice or know me. Another classmate of ours advised her to consult me about the solution to an assigned Physics problem. "Emilio? Who is she?’ Grace even asked the classmate. ‘The one with eyeglasses, the leader of the other group.’ Grace was also a leader of a group, but they could not solve the assigned problem. Emilio is lucky. He-he-he. So we were introduced to each other formally, unlike when all I could do was look at her).”
But it took them fourteen years to marry. They were already going steady from the time they were in Med Tech Proper, then Med Tech Internship, then Medicine Proper, then Medicine Internship, then Residency Medicine, then Fellowship Medicine. "It was so long. I already had talons (may tahid na ako) when we married!”
Emil was already a U.S. immigrant and had been in the U.S. for three years while Grace was finishing her fellowship in Nephrology at the University of the Philippines PGH when they agreed to get married once she completed all her training.
American Dream
Despite having achieved the American Dream, however, Emil would prefer staying in the Philippines if he were to live his life again.
"I think we would be a lot happier in the Philippines. After all, that's one of the main reasons why I took medicine. I saw the need for medical doctors not only in our town but in many places in the country. My wife and I had already planned our medical professions in the Philippines, and we were on our way. She did all the things we were planning to do. In fact, she was at UP-PGH doing Internal Medicine and later Nephrology while I was doing General Surgery and planning to proceed to Urology. She finished all the trainings, but unfortunately I had to go to the U.S. as an immigrant because of the dangerous situation in the country, what with the martial law and all. My parents petitioned me and my siblings. I had to switch my specialty later. In the Philippines, we know the territory, the people, and the culture. Everything is familiar to us. Iba ang pakiramdam sa lupang tinubuan (The feeling is different in the country of our birth).”
For the future, Emil hoped his two sons would "find the right wives, have children of their own, and live happily ever after. "
"Much like the family we have now where we shared many happy moments during their childhood and later when their personality developed, armed with many of the tools needed for the problems of the future adult life,” he said.
He also hoped the Cayetano Arellano High School Alumni Fund International., the organization he co-founded, would be successful.
"My friends and I have been trying to organize the Arellano International Foundation for years. Now that it is officially organized and a registered entity in the States, I will try to help this organization the best I can.”
Sadly, with his demise, its success can only be made possible by his friends he left behind.
He told this writer that his dream was "to retire and spend most of his senior years with his wife either in the U.S. or in the Philippines.” With his death, this will not be realized, but the legacy of his charitable work will continue to live in the memories of the people he has helped and touched.
His life may have been cut short, but the fruits of his generosity will live long.
Emilio "Emil" Rubio Ruidera, M.D., FCAP, '71, OK -- Former Vice-President and Vice-Chairman
Emil was born in Baler, Aurora, but grew up and studied in Manila. Valedictorian of Class 1971, he was the editor-in-chief of Ang Tambuli under Miss Magdalena Tapang. He played the clarinet in the school's marching band under the baton of Atty. Luis Relativo. He finished BS Medical Technology and Doctor of Medicine at Far Eastern University-Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation where he met his future wife, the former Grace Cueto Mata, a Doctor of Medicine also and a specialist in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. Emil immigrated to the United States and settled in Oklahoma where he has been an Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist for many years. Currently he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology and a partner in a group of Pathologists affiliated with the St. Joseph Hospital of OSF Hospital System in the Midwest. Emil and Grace have two sons, a mechanical engineer from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and a MS in Biotechnology. from Texas Tech University.
