Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Awards 2011

20^th DR. JOSE P. RIZAL MEMORIAL AWARDS

The Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial Awards is given to outstanding Filipino physicians whose lives and works reflect the ideals of Rizal in their profession and practice, in their love for fellowmen, the country and God.

Initiated by the Southern Tagalog Association of Medical Practitioners (STAMP), the award hopes to inspire physicians and non-physicians to perpetuate the memory and legacy of Rizal. A toast to men and women whose selfless service that goes beyond the call of duty is a way of life: for the love of human life.

The award began in 1987, when a group of the PMA component presidents from the Southern Tagalog Region conceived of giving an award to an outstanding Filipino physician of the year. The STAMP regional council, headed by Dr. Galicano G. Espiritu (Cavite), and its project director, Dr. Aquilino Cariño II (Laguna), decided to give   the first ever award. Later, to make the award national in scope, STAMP sought the support of the Philippine Medical Association and United Laboratories, Inc.

The 5 Awards categories are in the fields of:

Outstanding Clinical Practice

Community Leadership

Government Service

Academe

Research

Five outstanding physicians will take their rightful places to join the prestigious roster of honorees in the 20th DR. JOSE P. RIZAL MEMORIAL AWARDS during the ceremonies to be held on May 20, 2011 at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.

The Search is On!

The search for outstanding physicians is on with the 19th Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Awards. The annual event is spearheaded by the Southern Tagalog Association of Medical Practitioners and presented by the Philippine Medical Association in cooperation with United Laboratories, Inc.

This event was launched last March 24th at the Discovery Suites with cocktails in honor of this year's new batch of judges headed by no less than Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral.

Four outstanding physicians will be chosen in the fields of Clinical Practice, Government Service, Academe & Research and Community Leadership. Apart from the honors and distinction that go with the award.Winners will also receive specially designed trophies, medallions and plaques courtesy of United Laboratories, Incorporated.

Each of the 12 category finalists will receive fifty thousand pesos worth of Unilab medicines for donation to any charitable institution of their choice.

The four category winners will receive one hundred fifty thousand pesos worth of Unilab medicines for donation to any charitable institution of their choice.

In addition, Unilab will also sponsor the attendance of the four category winners to a medical convention in the united states. The prize includes convention registration fees, air-fare, and hotel accommodations

All that in honor of the Filipino physicians of distinction!

Awarding ceremonies will be held at the Isla Ballroom of the EDSA Shangrila Hotel on May 21, 2010.

Modern Day Heroes

I almost let the month slip by without posting a thing! Thank God for the let up, now i have the time to put in some thoughts.

I have been busy with my annual project with United Laboratories, Inc. (Unilab) and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) for their yearly Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial Awards (JPRMA). It's a search for Filipino Physicians of Distinction. This year, the awarding ceremonies was held the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel. It's the 17th JRMPA, and it's my fifth time to direct and organize the event. What an experience! Tiresome...but very gratifying!

From the nominees, four category winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges. I felt sad Gov. Vilma Santos - Recto, one of the judges, did not make it to the event. It would have been great to see her again, after all these years!

To all the winner, my heartfelt congratulations!