1889-1913
Olivia Simeona Demetria
Salamanca y Diaz was the second child of a well-to-do couple, jose Salamanca , a colonel in
the Philippine Revolutionary Forces, a pharmacist, and a signer of the Malolos
Constitution, and Cresencia Diaz. Olivia was born on July 1,1889 in San Roque, Cavite where she spent
her childhood.
She obtained her early
education is a private school in Cebu where
her father worked as a pharmacist. When the family returned to Cavite ,
Olivia studied in the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia in Cavite
City and later at the Cavite High
School where she completed the first two years of
the secondary course.
When an examination for
scholarship to the US
was given in 1905, Olivia took it and was one of the two women awarded a grant.
She enrolled in a high school in St.Paul, Minnesota
and finished the secondary course at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia . Although her original plan was
to take up teaching, she shifted to medicine and was admitted to the Women's Medical College
in Philadelphia
in 1906.
During her second year in
college she won a prize in anatomy. Being brilliant she finished the medical
course in four years, obtaining grades that were above 90 percent. In 1910 she
took and passed the civil service examination in the US . she also visited medical
centers in New York and Washington
D.C. , BAltimore ,
New York City, Rhode
Island , and Boston .
It was on July 24,1910, when
Dr. Salamanca returned to the Philippines
after a whole month's voyage. Upon her arrival she was appointed secretary of
the Anti-Tuberculosis Society. She was so engrossed with her work that she
became neglectful of her own health. She became a victim of white plague that
she was sent to the Baguio
Hospital to recuperate.
She continued working in this hospital while undergoing treatment. when her
condition did not improve, she was sent to Hongkong for treatment by the Lopez
family of Batangas. however, her stay in Hongkong did not improve her health.
She returned to Philippines
and on July 13, 1913, she died at the age of 24.
As a tribute to this
exemplary woman, a historical marker was installed by the Philippines Women's
Medical Association at the Plaza Olivia Salamanca. A street in San Roque, Cavite
and a ward in the Mary Johnston Hospital
in Tondo, Manila ,
have been named after her.
Source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Olivia_Salamanca
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