Dr. Filemon Celestino Aguilar, a great man widely acknowledged as the builder of Las Piñas, passed away into pages of history in February 14, 1995 at the age of 80.

Doctor. Pioneer. Builder. Entrepreneur. Mayor. Congressman. Public Servant.

Aguilar was among the first batch of graduates of the University of Philippines College of Medicine in 1939 and served as a "barefoot doctor" to remote barrios of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa through the tribulations of the Second World War and the reconstruction that marked it's aftermath.

Pioneering as a developer, he acquired extensive but unprovocative lands in the 1940's and 1980's ushered Las Piñas into an era of progress and development. Also engaged in poultry business, he became the foremost supplier of eggs and chickens in 1950's.

Fondly called "Lolo Cong" by his constituents in Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, Aguilar entered politics in the 1960's, serving as Las Piñas Mayor from 1964 to 1986, then becoming the congressman of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa until 1992.

He met and married Lydia Ampaya, a pharmacist and public school teacher who was to become his partner for 42 years until her demise in 1988. The loss of his spouse greatly affected Aguilar, whose health declined rapidly.

Aguilar established "H.E.L.P.", the four pillars that provided the foundation for the transformation of Las Piñas from a sleepy second-class municipality into the premier town (and Future City) it is today.

HOUSING - he pioneered socialized and low-cost mass housing;

EDUCATION - he was the first to establish a government-recognized high school;

LIVELIHOOD and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - he convinced investors to set up factories

and commercial establishments in the town, thereby creating thousands of job opportunities for the people;

PUBLIC HEALTH - he was the prime mover behind the establishments of the country's first district hospital.

"Lolo Cong" leaves behind a legacy of unparalleled public service which has been bequeathed to his six children, led by Las Piñas Mayor Vergel "Nene" A. Aguilar, Elizabeth Aguilar Masangkay, Filemon Jr., Alexander, Christian and Cynthia Aguilar-Villar who is married to Las Piñas Congressman, Manny B. Villar Jr.