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Garcia, Chuck Loreto O. (1968–2011)

By Jonathan Q. Cordial

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Jonathan Q. Cordial

First Published: January 10, 2022

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Chuck Loreto O. Garcia IV was an Adventist missionary doctor, singer, and administrator from the Philippines.

Early Life

Chuck Loreto O. Garcia IV was born on September 18, 1968, in Cebu City, Philippines, to Loreto R. Garcia and Carol O. Garcia.1 His family’s missionary engagement established him in the work at an early age. His father Loreto was a medical practitioner. When Loreto Garcia became the president of the Cagayan Valley Sanitarium and Hospital,2 a Seventh-day Adventist medical institution, the family moved to Santiago City, Isabela. The influence and teaching of his parents led Garcia’s acceptance of the Adventist faith and he was baptized on May 12, 1981.3

Education and Marriage

Garcia received his high school diploma in 1984 from Northern Luzon Academy, Sison, Pangasinan. Philippines. He proceeded to Philippine Union College (now University of the Philippines) Silang, Cavite, Philippines, from which he graduated in 1988 with a BS in biology.4 He continued his medical education at Central Manila University (CMU) graduating with an MD in 1992. In 1993, he enrolled in a general surgery residency at CMU, which he completed in April 1997.5

While serving at the Cagayan Valley Adventist Hospital in 1999, Garcia met a fellow physician, Diovi Jane Mopera. Their friendship blossomed into a more special relationship and they married on June 4, 2000. Diovi Jane was a doctor of internal medicine who trained in Quezon Medical City, Philippines. Their union was blessed with two children, Jahn Chloe and Ivahn Dion Loreto VI.6

Ministry

After graduation, Garcia served Cagayan Valley Adventist Hospital. In 2000, he was called to serve as a physician at Palawan Adventist Hospital (PAH), Palawan, Philippines. He eventually became the chief of staff.7 On January 1, 2003, he was elected vice president for medical affairs.8 Two years later, on May 16, 2005, Garcia became the president of PAH.9 PAH thrived under his leadership. During his term, the hospital obtained recognitions and certificates, both local and international. In 2005, PAH was recognized as a tertiary hospital by the Philippine Department of Health. It also launched its caregiver school under a memorandum of agreement with the Infant Jesus College, Olongapo City, Philippines. Moreover, it obtained an ISO 9001:2008 certificate demonstrating that the services rendered by the hospital passed the international standards TUV-SUD. This status had previously seemed unattainable for PAH.10 The hospital experienced financial stability and partnered with the government for quality patient health care under Philhealth11. Garcia held the presidency position of PAH until November 21, 2011.12

Aside from hospital services, Chuck Garcia was also active in various medical missions, outreach programs, and evangelistic meetings in Palawan. A bass soloist, he also enjoyed singing in church and was dubbed as the “singing doctor.”13 He was an awardee of the Palawan Medical Society. During his leisure time, he engaged in sports such as lawn tennis, golf, and basketball.

Later Life

While working as a medical doctor and administrator, he suddenly got ill. He was diagnosed with a lymphoma of duodenum, “a rare gastrointestinal tumor.”14 Despite being sick, he continually did his job and worked as the hospital’s general surgeon. Eventually, he was hospitalized for couple of times, around eight months, he was staying in the hospital. His sickness gradually took his health, and on December 15, 2011, he died at the age of 43.15

Contribution 

Chuck Garcia was a humble leader. His investment of time and energy in developing PAH’s facilities achieved his goal of raising the hospital’s services to a higher level.16 He was the first Palawan doctor sponsored in trauma surgery by Shell Malampaya, Palawan.17

Sources

Chuck Loreto O. Garcia Service Record. Palawan Adventist Hospital, San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.

Graham, R. L., Mardones, M. A., and Krause, J. R. “Primary Follicular Lymphoma of the Duodenum.” Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings 28, no. 3 (2015): 381-383. Accessed November 30, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2015.11929284.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1999-2006.

Silang Memoirs. Silang, Philippines: Philippine Union College, 1986-1987.

Souvenir Program of the Palawan Adventist Hospital Anniversary 2017. San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 2017.

Notes

  1. Chuck Loreto O. Garcia Service Record, Palawan Adventist Hospital, San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.↩

  2. “Cagayan Valley Sanitarium and Hospital,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association,1999), 515.↩

  3. Diovi Jane Mopera Garcia, phone interview by the author, July 17, 2018.↩

  4. Silang Memoirs (Silang, Philippines: Philippine Union College, 1986-1987).↩

  5. Chuck Loreto O. Garcia Service Record.↩

  6. Lydia T. Tanaman, vice president for operation of Palawan Adventist Hospital in 2009-2011, phone interview by the author, July 17, 2018.↩

  7. “Palawan Adventist Hospital,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2003), 563.↩

  8. “Palawan Adventist Hospital,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2004), 545.↩

  9. “Palawan Adventist Hospital,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2006), 590.↩

  10. Diovi Jane Mopera Garcia, phone interview by the author, July 17, 2018.↩

  11. PhilHealth is a Philippine government-owned health insurance corporation.↩

  12. Chuck Loreto O. Garcia Service Record.↩

  13. Ibid.↩

  14. R. L. Graham, M. A. Mardones, and J. R. Krause, “Primary Follicular Lymphoma of the Duodenum.” Baylor University. Medical Center Proceedings 28, no. 3 (2015): 381-383, accessed November 30, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2015.11929284.↩

  15. Diovi Jane Mopera Garcia, phone interview by the author, July 17, 2018.↩

  16. Lydia T. Tanaman, vice president for operation of Palawan Adventist Hospital in 2009-2011, phone interview by the author, July 17, 2018.↩

  17. Souvenir Program of the Palawan Adventist Hospital Anniversary 2017 (San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 2017).↩

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Cordial, Jonathan Q. "Garcia, Chuck Loreto O. (1968–2011)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 10, 2022. Accessed March 14, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=9J8Q.

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Cordial, Jonathan Q. "Garcia, Chuck Loreto O. (1968–2011)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 10, 2022. Date of access March 14, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=9J8Q.

Copy to clipboard Download Word File

Cordial, Jonathan Q. (2022, January 10). Garcia, Chuck Loreto O. (1968–2011). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved March 14, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=9J8Q.

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