EDITORIAL - February 2, 2008 Issue

Madam Carmen Salas Quimpo

“Those who are prepared to die are most prepared to live.” Anonymous

Madam Carmen Salas Quimpo was prepared to die, we prepared that she lives. Nevertheless, she passed away happy and she is now with her Creator in heaven.
“As a pharmacist, mentor and mother, I found true happiness and solid satisfaction in life. Thanks to the Almighty God for all these manifold blessings. I couldn’t ask for more.
The grand essentials of success in my chosen profession are: having something to do, somebody to love, a closely –knit family to raise.”–Madam Carmen Salas-Quimpo said.
Four scores and seven years ago, on the early morning of May 14, 1920, the first cry of a cute baby girl was heard to herald the birth of Madam Carmen Salas-Reyes, the “unica hija” of spouses Don Vicente Salas Reyes and Doña Consolacion Vda. De Zarate. Both of them came from two prominent families in Kalibo, Aklan.
She grew up to be sweet, generous and compassionate. She was fondly called “Meling” by close friends and relatives.
She went to Manila for her college education and enrolled in prestigious school, the Manila Central University where she was acclaimed “Miss Pharmacy” during her freshmen year. After graduation, she took the Pharmaceutical Board Exams in 1947 and scored a rating of 80 percent.
She had a lot of admirers because of her beauty and brains. But at long last, the former Mayor of Kalibo, the late Rustico Salazar Quimpo turned out victorious among her suitors. They tied the knot on September 13, 1942.
The newly-married couple stayed in the ancestral house of the Salases. They were blessed with 10 children, six of whom are boys and four are girls.
The eldest is Melrose Quimpo-Martelino, whose name was coined from Meling and Rustico. She is a BSE, MAEd degree holder from U.P. and presently Vice Chairman, NVC; member of the Board of Directors, Rural Bank of Balete. She is married to Atty. Roy Yap Martelino, Vice-Prexy, Legal Department, Metrobank of Manila with whom she has four children: Michelle, Sheryl, Romel and Liezl.
The second child is Atty. Allen Salas Quimpo, a lawyer by profession. He obtained his long line of degrees from the University of the Philippines, AD, LLB, MBA, MMPA. Bewitch by politics just like his parents, he was former Congressman of the Lone District of Aklan and Mayor of Kalibo. But his “first love is as an educator and so he retired from the political limelight to be the President of the Northwestern Visayan Colleges, a legacy of his Lolo Cente Salas and his father Judge Rustico S. Quimpo. He founded and pioneered this past-expanding fountain of knowledge conceived in freedom and dedicated to the ideals of freedom. His better half is former Ms. Aklan, Marianne Lao-Quimpo. The marital life is blessed with five children: Alma, Aileen, Angelo, Andrew and Maico.
The third child is Nene Carmela Quimpo-Almanzor, a BSC graduate from UE married to the late Edgar Almanzor. They have lovely twins: Melissa and Caressa from the grandma’s name Carmen and her nickname Meling. Jomel is the youngest.
Then comes Reyes Salas Quimpo, the President/Manager of the RBB or Rural Bank of Balete, Kalibo Branch. One will notice the logo in front of the bank at the groundfloor of the NVC Hotel formerly Salas Theatre. The 10 branches signify the 10 children of the big Quimpo-Salas family. Rey’s best half is Didi Roldan-Quimpo, Director of USWAG Development Foundation, Inc. The marriage is blessed with two doctors: Lemon and Don. The youngest is Rita who specializes in Arts and Interior Design.
The fifth child is no other than Dean Ma. Erlinda Q. Fernandez-Wilson, a beauty and brains combination, a U.S. Exchange Visitor Field Scholar during her high school days, a CAT corps sponsor, consistent honor student, a Battery Sponsor while taking up her profession in U.P. She obtained her BSBA in U.P. Diliman, MMBM at UP Visayas and M.A., NVC. Married to a businessman, the late Christi Fernandez with whom they sired five sons: Christopher Jones, Christian Michael, James Gabriel, Francis Louie and John Paul. Presently, she is the Executive Dean of NVC; and Chairman, Arts Council of Aklan Foundation, Inc. She remarried last year Mr. David Wilson, the school administrator of the NVC IPLC, Boracay Campus.
Hon. Lilian Quimpo-Tirol is a BSN, R.N. degrees holder from Ortañez University. She is a Sangguniang Bayan member of Kalibo; manager, Malayan Insurance Company; Treasurer, and School Nurse, NVC. The apple of her eye is no other than Julius Abello Tirol, a fishpond operator from Tangalan, Aklan. The marriage is gifted with four children, Julian Newton, Bob James, Jules Simon and Jan Rei.
After Baby Tirol, comes Dr. Vicente Salas-Quimpo, a UST graduate, Fellow Philippine College of Physicians; Fellow, Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; Section Head, Infectious Diseases Dept. of Medicine, the Medical City Clinical Consultant, Microbiology Laboratory, the Medical City. Vic is well-traveled. His best half is Alice, a R.N., BSN Training Manager, Nursing Dept., Reg. Staff Belle Israel NY, New York, U.S.A.
Dan Salas Quimpo comes next, a BSA, BSC degree holder who works as Client Relations Asst., Bank of Commerce; member, BOD RBB and NVC. Dan married Ma. Vina Ong Quimpo, Credit and Loans Officer, Land Bank of the Philippines, Kalibo Branch with a lovely daughter named Carmina.
Next in line is Bob, a BSC graduate who died on a vehicular accident. A throng of sympathizers mourned over his early demise but his Creator has sounded his trumpet call and the end of the road has come.
The youngest of course is Jesse Salas-Quimpo, a CPA from Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Owner/Manager KITCOM Internet and Gizmo; Corporate Secretary, NVC; member, Board of Directors NVC and Rural Bank of Balete, Past President, PICPA Aklan Chapter and Aklan Kalantiaw Jaycees. He is happily married to the lovely pharmacist at DRSTMH, Sandra Aborka-Quimpo with “unico hijo” Jason.

CSQ Litany of Sterling Qualities

Mrs. Carmen Salas Quimpo is not only doubly blessed but, she is loved by God to be saved from the rampaging sea where she was one of the passengers of the ship that sanked immediately before World War II where her only sister died. Truly, God has a mission for her on earth that she was fortunate to survive the fury of the sea and was able to produce ten successful professionals and loving children and grandchildren.
She was active in religious and civic activities, held important positions and led in extending assistance to those in need. Some of her awards are:
· Outstanding Aklanon Award, 2006, the only woman awardee during the Aklan Day Celebration.
· Most Outstanding Parent by the Kalibo Women’s Club, 1988.
· Most Outstanding Councilor by Public Administration Journal, 1968-1971.
· Distinguished Alumna of Aklan Academy, 1955-56
· Golden Record of Excellence by the New Life on Family Development and Youth Council, Inc., April 13, 1994.
· Golden Globe Award by the Mother’s Day Council on May 8, 1994, Kalayan Hall, Malacañang.
· Cash Prize of P50,000.00 from DM TH MB (Debate Manila Times, Philippines Herald, Manila Bulletin.

Professional, Civic and Community Involvement:

· Adviser, Aklan Pharmaceutical Association, 1978 to present.
· 2nd Vice President, Federation of Women’s Club
· Board of Directors, Catholic Women’s League
· Consultant, NVC Pre-School and Learning Center
· Municipal Councilor of Kalibo, 1968-71, 1971-1972
· Vice President, National Federation of Women’s Club
· President, Inner Wheel Club, 1972-1973
· President, Catholic Women’s League, Diocese of Kalibo, 1979-82
· Board of Director, Catholic Women’s League
· PRO, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Aklan Council, 1982
· Secretary, Aklan Anti-TB Society
· Secretary, Kalibo Federation of Women’s Club
· Secretary, Kalibo Women’s Club
· Chairman, Extra Curricular Activities, NVC
· Instrumental in Granting Scholarships to thousands of poor but deserving students./MP