NOTABLES: Calamba's Wall of Fame

Five of the country’s national heroes are products of Calamba, Dr. Jose Rizal, his brother Paciano, Rizal, mother Teodora Alonzo, General Vicente Lim and Lt. Geronimo Aclan. As Calamba strides on the challenging avenue leading to its progress, it persistently yielded citizens that would occupy its wall of fame of men and women with noteworthy achievements in politics, the military, business, Sports, Entertainment and profession.

Besides Lt. Geronomo Aclan, Calamba has another pilot hero− First Lt. Silverio Cendaña, Jr. First Lieutenant Silverio Cendaña, was a former Aviation Cadet of the Philippine Air Force Flying School Class of 1949 B, and was the son of the late Dr. Silverio Cendaña, Sr., an entomologist of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños and Illuminada Rubio Cendaña, of Calamba. He was killed in action while saving Sgt. Pedro Dumapias from Moro rebels led by Hadji Kamlon at the Luuk Airfield in Mindanao in 1953. First Lt. Cendaña, Jr. was awarded the Medal of Valor, and the Luuk Airfield was renamed Cendaña Airfield in his honor. A Street at the Villamor airbase today also carries his name.

Four Calambeños from the year 1948 to present became governors of the Province of Laguna. They are: Dominador E. Chipeco Sr. who served in 1948 to 1959, Restituto R. Luna who was governor in 1992 to June of 1995, Teresita S. Lazaro who became governor in Jan 2002 to 2010, and Ramil R. Hernandez, the present governor since May 27, 2014.

In February of 1986, when former President Ferdinand Marcos was exiled in Hawaii, he made Guillermo Trinidad of Calamba his media spokesman. Trinidad returned to Manila on September 6, 1989 after withdrawing his request for political asylum in the United States. Trinidad was a regional director in the Ministry of Human Settlements, which was then headed by Marcos' wife, Imelda during Marcos’ 20 year rule.

Calambeños too appeared on the silver screen of the Philippine movies. The first was Teody Belarmino (1922-1984) a formet guerilla leader during the Second World War. The first stage of Belarminos career was made for his home studio LVN Pictures. Belarmino was one of the leading men in the stable of fine seasoned actors of LVN Studios. His leading ladies were: Rebecca Gonzales in Mutya ng Pasig, Tessie Quintana in Kapitan Erlinda Ng Candaba, Celia Flor in Ang Tapis Mo Inday, and Lilia Dizon in Venus.

Elena Razon born Elenita Paunlagui, also starred in Philippine movies. She was born in Calamba, Laguna on April 8, 1941 and is credited with 9 movies from 1963 to 1966. She is known for her movies “Ang Mahal k’oy Ikaw” (1963}, “Bilis ng Kamay” {1963}, “Walang Hanggan” (1964), “Sagupaan ng mga Patapon” (1964), “Bale Bale Kung Lumaban” (1964) “Tatlo sa Tatlo” (1965), “Limbas: Walang Gulat!” (1965), “Magkapatid na Jesse at James” (1965), and “Operation Butterball” (1966). She starred with actors Eddie Garcia, Jun Aristorenas, Tony Ferrer and Jess Lapid. She is now retired residing in Arlington Heights (Northwest Suburban) in Illinois since 1981 and is heavily involved in activities of Filipino communities.

Another Calambeño who made it in the movies was Actor/Comedian Reynaldo Alfredo R. Hippolito (September 4, 1934 – April 12, 2010). Hippolito was known in the movies as Palito. He was born in Calamba, near the Rizal Shrine. Palito started as an "extra” in the 1960 movie Prinsipe Amante, starring the then superstar Rogelio dela Rosa. One of his early movies was Pitong Zapata in 1965. His first non-extra role was as a sidekick of Jun Aristorenas in the late 60s film Bingbong at Dodong. At first, he was casted in straight action films, but because of his physique, he was groomed as a comedian. He would then be casted with Fernando Poe Jr., Dolphy, Chiquito, Panchito, Pugo & Togo, Pugak at Tugak, Ramon Revilla, Sr., and many other big names in Philippine cinema.

Ronato Alcano, born in Calamba on July 27, 1972 excelled in sports. Ronato Alcano is a professional billiard pool player, nicknamed "Ronnie Calamba" aka "the Volcano". After graduating in elementary school, Alcano didn't continue his education due to financial problems. He then opted to play pool for a living. Alcano's recognition in the Philippines began with his performances at the 2000 Rising Stars Tournament. During the finals, he was highly favored to win the title, but in the final match (a race to 13), Alcano lost to Edgar Acaba by just a rack short, 13-12. Despite having a 12-7 advantage, Alcano missed a shot three balls away from winning. Acaba then returned to the table and won the needed 6 racks in a row to win the match and the title. In 2002, Alcano began to make a name for himself, and began competing in major events in the US. He won five tournaments in the Joss Tour and was awarded Rookie of the Year for 2002 by azbilliards.com.

Alcano returned to the East, for the 2005 WPA Asian Nine-ball Tour, winning the Manila tournament (11-6 versus Yang Ching-shun), qualifying for the world championship.

Tomas Victorino “Tiny” Meneses is the First Filipino to win the Emerging Master Entrepreneur Award (2004). Meneses graduated a scholar, with Humanities degree from Ateneo de Manila and is the Founding Chairman and CEO of Tynor Drug House, Inc., established in 1978 as a manufacturer and distributor of locally produced and Swiss-made pharmaceutical products. After several years of working in the industry, he learned the trade and decided to put up his own company: Tynor Drug House, Inc. At present, Tynor is just one of the companies in the growing Meneses Group of Companies. Sister companies in the group are Time Machine Cosmetiques, Inc., which formulates skin care products; PMB Salon Specialties, Inc., which manufactures, imports, and distributes hair and scalp care products; InterMed Marketing Philippines, Inc., which markets and distributes Tynor products; Gruppo Medica, Inc., which manufactures pharmaceuticals and food supplements; and Tynor Agrovet Division, Inc., which markets imported and locally manufactured veterinary products.

Jose O. Juliano is a famous Filipino scientist born on October 16, 1932 to Jose B. Juliano , Botanist and Teodora Ochoa, a dental surgeon of Calamba., He became famous for his researches in nuclear chemistry and physics. A chemist by profession, he was in charge of grain quality research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from the year 1961 to 1993. He was also one of the receivers of the The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award in the year 1959 for his involvement in Nuclear Science and became an affiliate of the American Nuclear Society, American Physical Society and American Chemical Society. He completed his B.S.A., major in Agriculture Chemistry and Mathematics, in the University of the Philippines, his M.S. major in Electrochemistry and Chemical Engineering in the Louisiana State University and his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry and Physics in the University of California in the year 1957.

Atty. Rodel E. Rodis of San Francisco California is the first born son of Calambeños Atty. Hermilo V. Rodis and Teofila Elepaño of Del Pilar, Calamba City. He is an attorney in private practice with a special emphasis on immigration law and civil litigation. He is also a writer, and since 1987, had an avidly-read regular weekly column, “Telltale Signs,” in the nationally circulated Philippine News (WWW. philippinenews.com). In 1991, he wrote a weekly column in the third largest daily newspaper in the Philippines, The Daily Globe. Rodel E. Rodis serves as State Chair of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) which represents the 6,500 community college trustees in 1,200 community colleges in North America and the United Kingdom. He is also the National President of the Association of Asian/Pacific Islander Community College Trustees. Prior to his appointment to the College Board, Atty. Rodis served as a two-term president of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).

Magtanggol Gatdula is from Calamba. On July 2010, President Aquino appointed Gatdula as the 19th NBI Director. On his first year in service, the bureau was able to solve big cases such as the Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis, the Bar exams blast, the reinvestigation of Vizconde Massacre, the Globe Asiatique scandal, and the arrest of members of West African Drug Syndicate (WADS).Gatdula is a member of the PMA Class of 1976, where he graduated 12th in the class. He finished his law studies at the University of the Philippines in 1983 and passed the Bar exam in 1984. He earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Batangas State University, and his Doctorate Degree in Peace and Security Administration from Bicol University in 2001.Upon his graduation from PMA, he served as Operations Officer of the 60th PC Battalion. He was wounded in action in one of their operations. After being discharged, he was assigned with the defunct PC Metrocom as Intelligence Analyst and Chief of the Production Branch of M2 Intelligence Division. Among the other responsibilities he held while with the PNP were: Executive Officer of the Directorate for Logistics, Deputy Director for Administration, QCPD; Chief of the Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Division; Deputy Chief for Operations of Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF); Chief of the Public Information Office of Regional Command 4; Commanding Officer of 213th PC Company and District Director of the 2nd Police District in Batangas; and head of the PNP Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management.Before he retired from service, he was promoted to Director, the equivalent rank of a two-star general, by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.