Conrado Banzon

CONRADO ARCA BANZON, a native of Balanga, was the country’s most famous ophthalmologist. He was named “Most Outstanding Professional in Medicine” by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC). In a fitting ceremony held at the PICC in Manila on June 22, 2000, the “Top Physician” award was conferred to Dr. Banzon by PRC Commissioners Hermogenes Pobre, Alfonso Abad and Avelina dela Rea-Tan, in the presence of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

Dr. Conrado Banzon was in the company of 35 other awardees cited for their excellence, achievement and unparalleled contributions to the country. Another awardee was Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., the “Outstanding Mechanical Engineer.”

“Rado” Banzon was the son of former Congressman Manuel Banzon Sr. and Arcadia Arca. A graduate of the Arellano Memorial High School, he studied Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. He also finished post-graduate studies at the Bronx Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York City, USA.Thereafter, he founded his own EENT clinic in Sampaloc, Manila in the 1950s.

Dr. Banzon pioneered in Refractive Surgery by introducing Radial Keratotomy in the Philippines. He also spearheaded the unification of Filipino eye doctors into one specialty association in 1971. He served as secretary-general of the Asia Graduate Course in Opthalmology and chairman of the EENT Department of UST where he also served as the medical director of the UST Hospital.

Banzon was one of the founding members and former president of the HAS Club of Balanga. He was married to the former Filomena “Nenita” Delgado of Manila and had seven children: Radito, Dr. Marcel, Renato, Lizette Banzon-Cojuangco, Monique Banzon-Daza, Raul and Yvonne. He passed away on August 18, 2008.