Born to Lead
A natural born leader, an outstanding doctor and academic, successful businessman, philanthropist, visionary, Dr. José Evangelista y Limjoco was always destined for greatness. His achievements echo that of his illustrious Evangelista ancestors who once ruled Candaba, Pampanga, as part of the Principalia during the Spanish Colonial Rule in the Philippines.
He was born in Candaba on January 21, 1944, to José Evangelista y de Castro, the town doctor and one of the most beloved political and humanitarian figures in Candaba's history, and Aurora Limjoco-Evangelista, a wise homemaker who was "a student of life." The younger José is a grandson of Don Pedro Canciller Evangelista, Municipal Presidente (an office formerly known as Gobernadorcillo) and Katipunero who courageously fought for Philippine independence in the 1890s. His great-grandfather is Don Santiago Canciller Evangelista, the famous Capitan Tiago, Gobernadorcillo and one of the greatest Candabeños who ever lived. The Evangelistas of Candaba boasts of several Gobernadorcillos among its ranks.
Academic Brilliance
As a little boy growing up in Candaba, the young José stood out among his peers. In many respects he was a typical lad who enjoyed playing marble games. Early on, he was interested in games of strategy such as blackjack and mahjong, the latter he played with the Mayor, the parish priest, and local business and civic leaders. This exposure honed his analytical mind, his social skills, and taught him many valuable life lessons. But above everyone else, his greatest influences were his parents. From José, Sr., he learned the importance of perseverance, civic duty, and charity to the poor. Though José, Sr. completed his medical studies, he missed his opportunity to take the Philippine board examinations due to the Second World War. It was a lifelong regret which made a deep impression on his son. Nevertheless, the town's underprivileged trusted and respected José, Sr. and they came to him for their medical needs. Without charge, he served the community. Through his mother, Aurora Limjoco, a woman of unimpeachable character who believed that life offers so many possibilities for growth if you choose to learn from its school, he learned integrity. Buoyed by a strong foundation, the young José began to soar.
Academically, he shined and was always at the top of his class, graduating valedictorian in elementary and high school at St. Andrew's Academy, a parochial school in Candaba. He was the leader of his generation, being elected Class President throughout his time at St. Andrew's. His academic excellence continued in college at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Manila, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine and Zoology in 1963. Remembering the heartache of his father missing his chance to take the medical board exams spurred José, Jr. to take almost all the sub-specialty board exams, a feat accomplished by only a few. Thus he turned tragedy into a great triumph. In 1968, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree, and was the Class President once again.
It was at UST where he met Stella Salgado, a highly intelligent woman who was also pursuing a degree in Medicine. The young José was smitten and knew in his heart that here at last was the woman he wanted to share the rest of his life with. After graduation, the young couple married and went to Chicago to pursue their post-graduate studies in July 1968. They had $200 in their pocket!
A Life of Service
As with any great success stories, the next few years were times of trials and testing for the young immigrant couple as they began to carve out a life in the United States where they decided to stay permanently after Martial Law was declared in the Philippines in 1972. Dr. Joe, as he became known to colleagues and patients, received basic training at the Columbus Hospital, Chicago in 1968. That same year, he had an internship at Columbus-Cuneo Medical Center. He trained in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, from 1969 to 1971. In 1971, he had an Internal Medicine residency also at Mount Sinai Hospital and at the University of Illinois Hospital. In 1971, he pursued a Pulmonary Fellowship at the Wayne County General Hospital and University of Michigan. This was followed by a second fellowship in Cardiology at Sinai Hospital, Detroit, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor in 1973. It was a period marked by hard work, many sacrifices, and little sleep, wherein he quickly made a name for himself as a rising star in the medical field.
By the 1980s, Dr. José Limjoco Evangelista, was a well-known figure not only in the United States but in the Philippines as well. Relatives from Makati to Candaba heard and celebrated his successes, were thrilled for him, and proud of his achievements as a member of the House of Evangelista. He became a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Sleep Medicine, and Nuclear Medicine. His fellowships are numerous: the American College of Cardiology, American College of Angiology, American College of International Physicians, American Society of Cardiac Invasive Professionals, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In 1988, he was named the Most Outstanding Kapampangan of the Year in the field of Medicine and Humanitarian Services by the Government of Pampanga.
The 1990s saw Dr. Joe soar to even greater heights. He was appointed as a member of the Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation by U.S. President Bill Clinton. In 1990, Dr. Joe and Dr. Stella Evangelista became the first Filipino and first couple to be inducted into the International Heritage Institute Hall of Fame in Metro Detroit in recognition for their outstanding contributions to the community. In 1992, he was named Physician of the Year by The Association of Philippine Physicians. In 1993, Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos honored him with the Banaag Award at Malacañang Palace for his civic and philanthropic activities. From 1999 to 2000, the esteemed Dr. Joe was the Chief of Staff at St. Mary's Hospital in Livonia, Michigan.
Added to his awards (too many to count) and recognitions both in the United States and the Philippines, are the numerous organizations where he has served as its president including The Philippine Medical Association of Michigan, the University of Santo Tomas Medical Alumni Association of Michigan, the University of Santo Tomas Medical Alumni Association of the Midwest, the UST Medical Alumni Association of America Foundation. Dr. Joe was appointed Philippine Honorary Consul General in 2008.
Gifted with a keen business acumen and foresight, Dr. Joe is also a real estate magnate. Together with his wife Dr. Stella, an accomplished physician in her own right, the couple began to diversify and move into property development and construction, and other ventures. A licensed builder, Dr. Joe is the CEO of the JS Evangelista Development Company, a construction and development corporation in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and the Royal Management Company, a property management firm. The couple also invested in specialized patient care. A licensed Health Care Administrator, Dr. Joe is the CEO of the Livonia Diagnostic Center and Livonia Heart Center located in Livonia, Michigan, and the Maple Manor Rehab and Neuro Center, which consists of 3 skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers in West Bloomfield.
Behind every great man is a woman, and Dr. Joe is the first to proudly state that without his wife Stella he would have been able to have the wonderful family and home life, and all the businesses that they founded together. For Dr. Joe marrying Stella is hands down the best decision he ever made in his life. Dr. Stella Salgado-Evangelista, a multi-awarded physician known for her intelligence and wit is also the heart of the Evangelista household. They raised six children, all of them accomplished in their own field: Cristy, their eldest child, is a real estate developer and COO of the JS Evangelista Development Company; Marcus, a lawyer and a certified public accountant is the CFO and Legal Counsel of the Evangelista group of companies; José III is a medical doctor, like his namesake, specializing in pulmonology, critical care, wounds and hyperbaric; Maristella is a doctor specializing in plastic surgery; Edmund, another doctor, is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; August Peter, the youngest of the brood, also became a doctor specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Through their children, the Evangelista business empire will continue to flourish in the years ahead. They are the greatest achievements of Dr. José and Dr. Stella Evangelista.
Today, Dr. José Evangelista y Limjoco, M.D.,FACC,FACP,FRCP(C),FACA,FACCP, FASCIP,CMD,NHA, sits at the pinnacle of his career, recognized as one of the greatest of his generation, but is one who never forgets his roots. He and his wife are known for their philanthropy and generous endowments to great causes both in the United States and in the Philippines. Dr. Joe has led many medical missions to the land of his birth, bringing teams of doctors to provide free medical care to the less fortunate particularly in Pampanga, his home province. He has given back to his hometown of Candaba, to his alma mater, the church, and its citizenry. He is a firm believer in the saying, "Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan." (A person who does not know how to look back to where he came from, will never reach his destination.) With all the success and immense wealth he has managed to remain humble and is quite approachable which catches many people by surprise. Dr. Joe has always given back the glory to God for blessing him with all the success. His parents José and Aurora Evangelista of blessed memory would expect no less.
Indeed, the life Dr. Joe has built in Michigan harks back to a time when Evangelistas controlled a large swathe of Candaba, Pampanga, and were the leaders of the town. From Don Marcos Evangelista, the first known haciendero of the Evangelista Clan who lived in the 1700s, to Don Santiago Canciller Evangelista who lived in the 1800s, to Don Pedro Canciller Evangelista who led Candaba into the modern age in the 1900s, to Dr. Joe's father José Evangelista y de Castro, to Dr. José Evangelista y Limjoco and his children, the legacy of excellence continues well into the 21st century.
"We will pass through this world only once. We ought to be sure that in that passage, we can leave footprints in the sands of time that would serve as an eloquent reminder to those following us, that at one time in the past, there journeyed through this world men and women whose spirit was as generous as their character was noble." - Dr. José Evangelista y Limjoco
Editor's Note: The book, "Dr. José Evangelista: One Magnificent Journey'' provides an in-depth look at the life of Dr. Joe. It includes a comprehensive list of the awards and accolades he and Dr. Stella Salgado-Evangelista has received over the years, and gives an intimate glimpse of their beautiful family. It is published by Philippine Time Publication Corporation, Chicago.