Angel Thoughts
This week, I met an outstanding medical academician, Dr. Jose Navarro Esteban who is the founding chair of the Department of Anatomy of De La Salle College of Medicine in Dasmarinas, Cavite. This unassuming doctor and professor was honored by the La Sallian school recently with a Memorial Lecture. It was the 18th lecture series and they had former Health Officer-in-Charge Secretary Maria Rosario Vergerie as lecturer. She was a former student of the De La Salle University College of Medicine.
She spoke on La Sallian values and those who helped her as OIC in the Department of Health. She also lauded Dr. Esteban for his humility and positive core values and how these helped her as a public servant.
Born on Oct. 20, 1934, in Paniqui, Tariac, Jose Esteban was the youngest of eight siblings his father brought up, having lost his mother at an early age. He finished his elementary and high school at Paniqiu Elementary School and Tartac Provincial High School.
He went to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman where he took his pre-medicine course and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He started his academic career as Instructor of the Department of Anatomy University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM).
It was also during that time when he married Isabelita Munson, (who just happened to be my elder sister Deedee) a Maryknoll College graduate who became a school teacher. Their first born, Amado Gabrriel (Boyet) was followed by their only daughter Maria Antonia (Tonnette) Habana. Nurturing a career in the academy while spending more time with his wife and enjoying fatherhood became his priorities.
UP saw his potential and obtained for him a scholarship to pursue his graduate studies in the United States He brought his family with him and their youngest child, Julian Jose (Jette) was born there. Dr. Esteban finished his Master of Science in Anatomy at the University of Washington in 1967. He brought his family back to the Philippines and continued teaching at the UPCM. He was also a Lecturer of Pathology. Physiology, Histology and Anatomy at National University and Philippine Women’s University. He was promoted to Professor of Anatomy in 1975 at UPCM.
In 1979 together with some UPCM professors, he joined Dr. Paulo Campos in establishing the General Emilio Aguinaldo College of Medicine in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Dr Esteban became the founding Chair and Professor of the Department of Anatomy and concurrent Associate Dean for Basic Sciences. He retained the same positions when De La Salle University took over the management of the Health Sciences Campus in 1988. Dr. Esteban was appointed Dean of the De La Salle University College of Medicine in 1993.
New faculty members were hired and in order to welcome them and foster camaraderie among everyone. Dr. Esteban, who loved to paint, initiated the Faculty Art Club. During lunch breaks, faculty members from the clinical and basic sciences and from the College of Physical Therapy gathered to draw and paint. The Faculty Art Club held several art exhibits during Lasallian Week. The final exhibit was at the Ayala Museum .
To date, the friendships developed in the Art Club remain strong. Dr. Esteban eventually went back to UPCM where he was appointed Associate Dean of Faculty and Students. He retired in 2000 and went back to teach Anatomy at DLSUMC.
Dr. Esteban published five scientific papers. He was senior author of the first and second editions of “Histology” with Dr. Eduardo Gonzales as co-author. The textbook, now on its 6th edition, is currently being used by first year medical students. He was also Contributor and Editor of a Gross Anatomy textbook. He has also been presented with numerous prestigious awards including the highest award given by De La Salle University System Schools—CHIMES, 1st Lorenzo Tañada Award DLSU. 2001.
In 2000, Dr Esteban was diagnosed with liver cancer. He would visit the different departments and update his friends and colleagues not only on his latest health bulletin but also on the latest news about his grandchildren complete with pictures. During the final days of his life when he was in coma, his family and colleagues (Dr. Tangco, Dr. de la Cruz, Dr. Macapinlac, Dr. Escobar, to name a few) gathered around his hospital bed exchanging friendly banters and asked him to wake up to join the conversation.
He died Sep. 14, 2003. His life was best described by his son, Boyet, “My dad also knew how to enjoy the simple things in life. I remember watching Bruce Lee or Tarzan movies with him then buying egg pie or Hopia. Shooting hoops with him or just sitting down and carrying on a conversation over dinner brought great joy to him. I came to realize that being happy has nothing to do with wealth but rather finding joy in the relationships we develop and in all things the Good Lord has made available to us.”
Dr. Esteban or “Steve” or “Peping” as his family and friends called him left two medical doctors, his daughter Dr. Antonia Habana, Ob-GYN and researcher and his youngest son Dr. Jette, who is a cardiologist in the US. His eldest son Boyet was the first non-clerical president of America’s biggest Catholic University. Jan Habana, son of Dr. Antonia and cardiologist Dr. Luis Habana, is also a radiologist at the Nation Kidney Transplant Institute.
His wife Lita and family (me and my two other sisters, Cielo Rivera, and Paz Weigand) loved him and are proud of him. Thank you, UP and De La Salle University, for letting him soar high!