A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HOSPITAL It is a classic story of a couple who hit it big through hard work and experience. In 1978, Drs. Romeo and Ruby Casaul were both working part time as resident physicians at the Out- Patient Department of the Llegado Medical Clinic located at Bagbag, Novaliches, Q.C. They were then married for four years and were acting as custodians of the clinic since Dr. Llegado had to leave for the United States. THE EARLY YEARS
On the other hand, Dra. Ruby Casaul (nee Lanting), a native of Manila is the only child of Dr. Carlos S. Lanting and the former Rhoda del Rosario. She took her Elementary and High School at the St. Theresa’s College in Q.C and finished B.S Physical Therapy at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Q.C. She was already practicing as a therapist when her mother convinced her to enrol in a medical course at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERM-MC). Ever the obedient daughter, she relented and finished four years after. She undertook the required six month rural Health Volunteer Program of the government then she proceeded to take her residency training in Rehabilitative Medicine at the UP-PGH. While practicing as a therapist, she met Dr. Romeo Casaul who was one of the patients. The doctor-patient relationship blossomed into a beautiful romance and after a whirlwind courtship they became permanent life partners on April 23, 1974. THE STRUGGLE During their stay at the Llegado clinic, the couple, owing to their innate charisma, reasonable consultation fee (it was P5.00 per patient during those time) and high degree of proficiency began to attract a large number of patients. Apparently, their old clients recommended them to others and through personal endorsement their popularity grew. They began working round-the-clock and it was not unusual for patients to knock at their residence in the wee hours of the night or early dawn. GROWING YEARS
In 1980, Drs. Romeo and Ruby Casaul applied for a hospital license for 10 beds with primary care services. In medical parlance, primary care service means giving minor medical surgical and obstetrical services plus laboratory analysis of stool, urines etc. They also offered dental services. In 19881, an additional 20 beds had to be placed because of the increasing clientele. MOVING TO THE PRESENT SITE In April 1982, construction of the Casaul General Hospital in its present site along Tandang Sora Ave near Sangandaan officially started with a 50-bed capacity which renders secondary services. Accordingly these types of services deal mainly on obstetrics, pedia-medical and surgical. It was on this year when Dr. Carlos S. Lanting, with a tremendous amount of generosity, donated the hospital equipments to the current site. THE BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE It was in 1983, when the idea of establishing a paramedical school took its roots. Their friends, Dr. Isagani Vidanes and Dr. Alfredo Caramat of Unciano Colleges cajoled them into applying for a school permit since no Midwifery and Nursing school has ever been constructed in the Novaliches area. The husband and wife team took the advice to heart and undertook the usual routine set by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports. It was an excruciating ordeal to say the least. Both doctors never realized how rigid and arduous it was to establish a school considering that they never had any connection who can expedite their papers. Bureaucratic red tape was at its peak during that year which was prior to the Ninoy Aquino assassination. The building was an apartment-type edifice which was formally opened in 1984. Initial enrolment was 42 midwifery students. Simultaneously, a nursery school started operations with 20 pupils. A year after, additional courses were offered namely dental, radiologic and food technology including the grade school. AGAINST THE ODDS In 1986, a year marked by turbulence and social change when the dictator ignominiously fell from power, the school opened its College of Nursing. Enrolment began with only 37 students which formed the core group. The BSRT program and the High School Department also began operation. Owing to the instability of the political ferment and faltering economy, completing the building turned to nightmarish proportions since prices of all construction materials drastically increased. But the couple was undaunted. They refused to give up on what has already been started and painstakingly, they consolidated their financial resources to keep the construction viable. They knew fully well then it would not be wise to continue at a time when the country is very unstable. But there was no turning back. And so with hard work and the right business acumen they were able to tide over the crisis. TOWARDS STABILITY Three years after, when the change in government leadership slowly stabilized, so did DCLC. Call it life’s way of creating equilibrium. Or just plain luck. But after the couple’s hardships, the DCLC graduates garnered top position in Board Exams for three consecutive years beginning in 1988. Estrellita Macabagdal, Dalisay Peñamante and Belinda dela Cruz copped the 7th, 9th and 12th places respectively in Midwifery Board Exam in May , 1988. A year later, Carol Mina grabbed the 17th place and in 1990 Rowena Barreras and Jocelyn Kimhoko placed 12th and 14th respectively. Not to be outdone, the Department of Radiologic Technology produced its own cream of the crop when their graduates copped major position in the Medical Radiation Board Exam given by the Dept. of health. Noel Galguerra attained 7th place in 1987. A year after, it was followed by Maita Dicdican, Normina Oliva and Fe Casaba who got 4th, 6th and 12th places respectively. And in 1989, RolandoBriones and Laarni de Leon garnered the 5th and 6th places, respectively. The year 1995 proved to be a glorious year for DCLC, in particular the Radiologic Technology Department because we had been declared by the PRC as number one among schools offering BSRT. It was also in this year that the College of Maritime Education was given birth. It was certified as the Thirty third (33rd) Maritime Academy worldwide complying to the International Standard by a reputable institution Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Later on, it was certified as ISO-compliant by the AJA Registrars. The year 2000 has catapulted DCLC to nationwide distinction. The College of Nursing has produced its very first Board Topnotcher in the person of Ms. Dinabelle Fermin, and has since, the roster of board topnotchers for Nursing will not be complete without DCLC graduate occupying respectable top ten finish. When everything seems to falling in place for DCLC, a most tragic event befell our institution with the untimely demise our well – loved and respected President Dr. Romeo B. Casaul in October 2003. Though hurting from great loss, the widow, Dra. Ruby Lanting – Casaul took the cudgels and assumed the Presidency and with the guidance of the late Dr. Romeo B. Casaul coupled with a sound policy and vision for further greatness, she steered vast infrastructural improvements to the delight of ever – growing clientele population. The quality of instruction was also given priority consistent with the school’s aim of producing quality graduates. In fact December 2005 Nursing Board Examination saw 7 of our graduates garnering positions in the Top 10, a living testimony of our school’s continued quest for academic excellence. The school was conferred the Philippine Quality Awards for Business Excellence on 2006 thereby qualifying it to be a member of the Philippine Business World- Quality Class. Year 2007, the school passed the ISO – 9001 – 2000 Certification Audit from the very strict and prestigious AJA Registrars based in United Kingdom, another proof of a WORLD CLASS institution DCLC has come to be. Consistent with its commitment to serve the clientele, several facilities were constructed including internet rooms, speech laboratory, nursing skills laboratory, related learning experience laboratory and several aesthetically designed audio visual rooms. At present, students enjoy airconditioned rooms. The library is also undergoing major renovation to provide students with quality library services. The administration stands firm on its commitment of providing the best educational service possible to its students. |
Dr. Romeo Casaul hails from Tabaco, Albay and is one of four children (three boys and a girl) of Eusebio Casaul and Epifania Buenaflor. He finished his Elementary and High School at the Tabaco National School. From there, he migrated to Manila and took up his pre-med course (B.S Zoology) at the Far Eastern University afterwhich, he went to South Western University (SWU) Medical School. Dr. Romeo Casaul then worked for one year at the Ziga Memorial Hospital in his province. He spent another year as member of the medical team under the Provincial Health Office. After that provincial stint he went back to Manila and took his residency training in Anaesthesia at the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. He had his residency training in Obstetrics-Gynecology at the Ospital ng Maynila.
In 1979, to accommodate their growing clientele, they rented a garage size room along Sangandaan, Quirino Highway and converted it into an outpatient clinic with a capacity of 50 to 100 patient per day. In less than a year, the clinic was converted into a lying-in owing to the increasing number of the deliveries. The landlord then offered both doctors to rent a bigger area in the same building.
