Sarabia Optical turns 100
DR. SALVADOR SARABIA
First established in 1906 by a young optometrist and his new bride, Sarabia Optical celebrates its centennial anniversary in the city of its birth with a simple commemorative program this Friday at the Museo Iloilo.
With numerous branches all over the country, Sarabia Optical is a highly regarded eye care firm continuing a tradition of providing for the needs of even the most distinguished clientele.
It all began at the turn of the 20th century when a young man of 15, wit the help of an American Captain, stowed away on a boat taking American soldiers home from their tour of duty in Aklan. The lad first set foot in California where, with the encouragement of Filipino pensionados, he finished his secondary schooling. Later he would find himself entertaining guests at a Chicago hotel as a diver billed as "a young Aguinaldo." He continued his studies, however, and earned his degree at the Northern Illinois College of Optometry. He would move on again and eventually practice the profession at the Eye Infirmary in New York City where he also associated with young Filipinos sent to America by the government to study.
DR. FEDERICO SARABIA, SR.
In 1906, Dr. Federico Sarabia Sr. went home to marry his childhood friend, Rosalia Gonzales. Soon after they moved to Iloilo City and established the first Sarabia Optical Clinic.
A couple of years later, the Sarabias would move to Manila where Dr. Federico would quickly establish himself as the First Filipino Optometrist. His patients include Presidents Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmena as well as Dona Trining, sister of Dr. Jose Rizal. The glasses worn by Trining, which is part of the Rizal memorabilia at Fort Santiago, are clearly marked "anteojos de Federico Sarabia." In 1928, President Quezon appointed Dr. Sarabia as Chairman of the Optometry Board of Examiners. He would also found the Philippine College of Optometry.
As Dr. Sarabia's practice flourished, he engaged in other businesses -- an hacienda in Negros, a sugar farm in Mindoro, sausage making, even a year-long carnival in Davao.
World War II interrupted everything. But, immediately after liberation, Dr. Sarabia would resume his practice in earnest, reopening the clinics in Escolta and Iloilo. Within the next couple of years, he would open branches in Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, and Roxas City.
Dr. Sarabia succumbed to a heart attack in September 14, 1954. But his children would carry on the tradition. Five of his children 13 children -- Antonio, Salvador, Federico Jr., Jesus, and Salvacion -- became optometrists. Salvacion became the first lady Board Examiner in Optometry and Dean of the College of Optometry. Federico Jr. followed suit and became chairman of the board. To Dr. Salvador Sarabia Sr., would go the honor of managing the First Sarabia Optical clinic in Iloilo.
Today, the 3rd generation of Sarabias, the grandchildren of Dr. Federico, have not only lived up to their old man's legacy they have brought Sarabia Optical into the modern world with modern technology and equipment. The tradition continues, the legacy lives on.