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Midweek, Wed. - Fri., September 08 - 10, 2010 Balita


Nevada Doctor Bags TOFA 2010 Award LAS VEGAS – Local medical practi-


tioner Dr. Romualdo Aragon Jr. recently was chosen one of the Twenty Outstanding Filipinos Abroad (TOFA) for 2010. He was featured in a recent issue of Filipino Image Magazine.


The magazine, in its feature article wrote that Dr. Aragon, or “Jun” to his fam- ily and colleagues, is a modern renaissance man with broad intellectual interests and accomplishments in the arts and sciences, as well as in humanitarian services. Dr. Aragon was born in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines on July 6, 1957 and was raised by his parents, Rosa and Ro- mualdo, Sr., who took pride in their humble roots from a small rural town located in Northern Luzon. Since childhood, Ara- gon’s dream was to become a physician. However after high school, he was sent to the University of the Philippines (UP) Rural High in Los Banos, Laguna to study agriculture like his two maternal uncles. It was there where Dr. Aragon discovered his passion for the arts and began his in- volvement in creative literary writing, spe- cifically poetry and playwriting. Later he would also be involved in the performing arts by acting in and directing stage plays. He continued his involvement with the arts while pursuing Bachelor of Science in Biology at UP Baguio from 1974 to 1978. Aragon graduated at the top of his class. Also, he won first place in a nationwide literary writing contest sponsored by the Gawad Sagisag ng Panitikan in 1977. His entry was one-act stage play entitled Monu- mento, a brilliant political farce written in Filipino. Aragon also became a member of the UP Writers Club. In 1978, Dr. Aragon entered the UP College of Medicine (UPCM). As a medi- cal student, he was able to juggle his time writing lyrics for his class songs while studying medicine. He wrote Harana Sa Bayang Nahihimbing (first place winner in 1979) and Isang Dakilang Layunin (second place winner in 1980) as entries to the UPCM annual choir competition, Tao Rin


Pala. He also wrote the lyrics of Mutyang UP Medisina (the hymn of his Alma Mater) in 1982; Awit ng UPMASA (the hymn of UP Medical Alumni Society in America) in 2006; Mediko ng Bayan (the hymn of UP Medical Alumni Society) in 2008; and most recently the lyrics of UP Alumnay Sa Amerika (the hymn of UP Alumni Associa- tion in America) in 2009. Dr. Aragon graduated from the Univer- sity of the Philippines and specialized in Ear, Nose, Throat – Head & Neck Surgery (ENT-HNS) at the Philippine General Hos- pital. Before migrating to the United States, Aragon took up several postgraduate spe- cialty training in Belgium and Germany for 2 years. He trained in Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York and moved on to work in varied health care settings such as hospital, emergency de- partment, operating room, outpatient clinic, urgent care facility, and even house/hotel locations. His past works and experiences have prepared him to deal with a wide range of medical problems of children and adults, and men and women, of different ethnic backgrounds, and from all walks of life. He was certified by the Philippine Board of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery in 1990, the American Board of Ambulatory Medicine in 1997, and the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1995 and 2005. In 2000, Dr. Aragon moved to Las Ve- gas, Nevada and established his own solo private practice - Prime Care Medical Ser- vices. Last year, he opened FirstMed Ur- gent Care with two other Filipino medical specialists. He believes that a doctor should “treat everyone like family” and this has made him the consummate family physi- cian. In spite of his busy medical practice, he continues to be involved in community service being an active leader of several non-profit organizations. These include UP Alumni Association of Nevada, Las Vegas Philippine American Lions Club, and two organizations, UP Medical Alumni Society in America-NV and Filipino American


DIRECTV subscribers offered relief vs LV economic distress


LAS VEGAS – Existing DirecTV cus- tomers are invited to attend a two-hour workshop on “Bill Reduction and Therapy” in Las Vegas, Nevada, to be conducted by Paul Magno, a medical doctor by profes- sion, and a solutions provider in action. The workshop will provide practical tips on reducing household costs, espe- cially the monthly recurring ones. It also opens up several possibilities for steady revenue streams for the household, even during hard economic times. Dr. Paul promises a rewarding experi- ence for all attendees, more especially those who will strictly adhere to his “pre- scriptions.” Those bringing a copy of their most recent DirecTV bill will be given an instant gift, Dr. Paul said.


The weekly workshops will be held every Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. be- ginning September 11, 2010. Cost is FREE and refreshments will be served, courtesy of Advanced Satellite Technology, Inc.


outreach programs, as well as fundraising events that benefit charitable projects here and in the Philippines. Since October 2008, he holds free medical clinic two Saturdays a month to uninsured and under-insured residents of Las Vegas regardless of their ethnic background.


On September 30, 2009, Dr. Aragon was elected Chair of Las Vegas-Philippine Emergency Disaster Relief Operations (LV-PEDRO), a committee represented by leaders of many Filipino American organizations and businesses in Southern Nevada to launch fundraising relief efforts to benefit the victims of Tropical Storms Ketsana and Parma in Central and Northern Luzon.


TOFA 2010 Awardee Romulo A. Aragon Jr., MD


Heritage Foundation-Nevada, which he himself founded in 2006 and 2008, re- spectively. Dr. Aragon is also a founding board member of Colors of Lupus–Nevada (COLN) and a well-loved member of the Ilocano American Association of Nevada and Kalahi- A Philippine Folkloric En- semble. In 2009, he became an honorary member of The International Artist Group of Nevada (TIAGON), a member of the Committee on Health/Community Rela- tions of the Clark County Medical Society, and the first Filipino physician volunteer of Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada. He was also elected Vice President of the West of UP Alumni Association in America for 2009 to 2010. Currently, Dr. Aragon continues to be a key player in the Filipino American com- munity in Southern Nevada, as well as in the mainstream American society. He leads the annual celebration of Filipino American History Month in October. He spearheads free health screenings, flu shots, Consular


Last year, Dr. Aragon received pres- tigious awards including Distinguished Alumnus Award in Community Service conferred by the UP Alumni Association in America on September 4, 2009; Cel- ebrating Diversity Award of Excellence in Healthcare bestowed by the Las Vegas Hispanic Council and COLN on June 27, 2009; and the Community Spirit Award given by KLASTV-Channel 8 Las Vegas on August 2009. He is the first ever Filipino American recipient of the last two afore- mentioned awards. Dr. Aragon has been married for more than 21 years to Mary Jo Bernardo, a career diplomat and current Consul General of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California. They have a daughter, Kimberly Ann, who goes to school at Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts majoring in Japanese language.


In the midst of his growing medical private practice, his volunteer works with several organizations, and his numerous awards and accomplishments, Dr. Jun Ara- gon remains simple, humble and steadfast, and continues to inspire other Filipino Americans to do their very best and be proud of their heritage. ■


New Health Reform Law is working for Nevada – Harry Reid


DR. PAUL MAGNO


(ASTI), a top DirecTV dealer concentrat- ing on the Filipino-American market based in Las Vegas.


Only 10 new registrants will be booked every session. Call Dr. Paul at 702-502- 9101 for inquiries or reservations. ■


LAS VEGAS – Senator Harry Reid (D- NV), Senate Majority Leader and leading candidate in Nevada’s Senate race, has announced the implementation of Early Retirees Reinsurance Program for workers, not only in Nevada but across the nation. Senator Harry Reid said in his statement that nearly 2,000 employers and unions have been accepted into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. The employers ac- cepted into the program will begin receiv- ing reimbursements for employee claims this fall, giving them the ability to use the savings to reduce health care costs and premiums for workers and their families. “Today’s announcement is good news for early retirees in the Silver State and the latest example of how the new health reform law is already working for Nevada,” Reid said. “In addition to helping busi- nesses provide coverage for early retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare, we learned yesterday that one million Medi- care beneficiaries who have fallen into the prescription drug doughnut hole have received their $250 rebate check to help cover the cost of their medication.” This is just the first batch of applicants the Department of Health and Human Services has approved and they are still ac- cepting applications. According to Senator Reid’s website, the following Nevada com- panies have been accepted into the program namely Board of Trustees IBEW Local 640, Cement Masons and Plasterers Health and Welfare Plan, City of Henderson, Las Vegas Firefighters Health and Welfare Trust 1285 Local, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Employees Health & Welfare Trust, NV Energy, Inc., Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 525 Health and Welfare Trust, School Administrators


Welfare Trust,


Southwest Gas Corporation, State of Nevada Self Funded Plan, Teamsters Local 631 Security Plan for Southern Nevada, Teamsters Security Fund for Southern Nevada, Washoe County, County School District.


and Washoe


As his campaign slogan reiterates, Senator Reid emphasizes that this recent development was “good news for early retirees in the Silver State and the latest example of how the new health reform law is already working for Nevada.” In addition to helping businesses pro- vide coverage for early retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare, Senator Reid added that one million Medicare beneficia- ries who have fallen into the prescription drug doughnut hole have received their $250 rebate check to help cover the cost of their medication.


Also, Senator Reid announced that Ne- vada will receive $83.1 million to protect and support the jobs of teachers, adminis- trators and support professionals through the Education Jobs Fund. Records show that the senator led the Senate in passing the Jobs Fund to protect 1,400 education jobs in Nevada and thousands more around the country


Senator Reid praised the timely applica- tion submitted by the State of Nevada, and Secretary Duncan’s efforts to distribute these funds quickly, which according to him “teachers and students can have the peace of mind and support they need to be successful in the classroom.”


Senator Reid is running for his fifth term in Congress. He is the only politician from Nevada who has accomplished so much for the state and has reached the third highest office in the United States government. ■


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