Text by: Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by: Jericho Paolo L. Mabansag
The Acta Medica Philippina editorial board, UP Manila officials, authors, peer reviewers, and partners from the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) commemorate the journal’s 87th anniversary with a group photo following the anniversary program.
Acta Medica Philippina, an open-access, international, peer-reviewed general medical and health sciences journal published monthly by the University of the Philippines Manila, celebrated its 87th anniversary on July 21, 2026 at the College of Dentistry Auditorium by unveiling an upgraded journal website, recognizing its most cited articles and outstanding peer reviewers, and reaffirming its commitment to expanding the global reach of Philippine medical research.
The program brought together UP Manila officials, editors, researchers, authors, reviewers, and representatives from the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) to celebrate nearly nine decades of scientific publication and scholarship.
Acta Medica Philippina Editor-in-Chief Dr. Angela Aguilar said the journal has focused this year on increasing not only the number of submissions but also its visibility in the international scientific community. She said the launch of the enhanced journal website reflects that goal and honors the long-serving staff who helped shape the journal through the years. “It is a testament not only to the legacy of the Acta but to our long-standing staff who have made Acta what it is now,” Aguilar said. She added that the website’s updated editorial policies are intended to support the journal’s eventual inclusion in the Web of Science, while its integration into PAMJE Central will further expand the accessibility and reach of Philippine medical research.
Acta Medica Philippina Editor-in-Chief Dr. Angela Aguilar
A Legacy of Philippine Medical Scholarship
College of Medicine Dean Charlotte Chiong described Acta Medica Philippina as the country’s premier platform for medical scholarship since its establishment in 1939.
“For 87 years, Acta Medica Philippina has served as the nation’s premier platform for scientific inquiry, faithfully promoting the evolution of medicine, public health, and medical education in the Philippines,” Dean Chiong said.
She highlighted the journal’s resilience, recalling that although it lost its PubMed indexing in 1967, it continued publishing quality research while steadily improving its editorial processes. Those efforts culminated in a major milestone when the journal became searchable through PubMed Central in June 2024, restoring greater international visibility for Philippine medical research.
Dean Chiong also cited landmark studies published in Acta Medica Philippina, including the first description of Rotor syndrome and research on infectious diseases, public health, nutrition, maternal and child health, surgery, medical education, COVID-19, health systems, workforce development, and healthcare innovations. She credited generations of editors, reviewers, and staff for transforming the journal into one of the country’s most respected biomedical publications.
Looking ahead, Dean Chiong said the journal is well-positioned to become a leading voice for Southeast Asian and Global South scholarship as artificial intelligence, open science, and global collaboration reshape research publishing.
“Our aspiration should not simply be to publish more papers, but to publish research that changes clinical practice, influences national policy, advances medical education, reduces health inequities, and ultimately improves the lives of every Filipino,” she said.
Supporting Researchers and Policy
UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee said the University remains committed to strengthening Acta Medica Philippina as a platform for research that addresses national health priorities while meeting international standards.
He noted that one of the administration’s earliest initiatives was to waive publication fees for UP Manila faculty publishing in Acta Medica Philippina, removing a financial barrier to publication and encouraging more researchers to share their work. Since then, he said, the journal’s publication frequency has increased from monthly to every two weeks.
“People are now using Acta, and it has become a bridge to policy,” Tee said. “All our research is nationally relevant yet internationally of world-class quality.”
Tee expressed confidence that Acta Medica Philippina would continue to guide future healthcare professionals and educators by publishing research that is both relevant to the country’s needs and globally competitive. He also recognized the journal’s editorial team, long-serving staff, and peer reviewers for upholding the quality and credibility of every publication.
New Website Streamlines Submissions
A major highlight of the celebration was the launch of the journal’s redesigned website and upgraded manuscript submission system. The new platform aims to improve efficiency for authors, reviewers, and editors while reducing delays caused by incomplete submissions.
Under the revised workflow, manuscripts now undergo administrative screening before entering editorial evaluation. Authors whose submissions lack required documents or fail to meet formatting requirements will be notified early, allowing deficiencies to be corrected before peer review begins.
The system also introduces several new features, including simplified manuscript uploads, mandatory confirmation from all listed authors, contributor role taxonomy based on the CRediT framework, structured abstracts aligned with reporting guidelines, and future integration of ORCID authentication.
According to the editorial team, these enhancements are expected to shorten processing times, reduce administrative workload, and allow editors and reviewers to focus on complete submissions that are ready for scientific evaluation.
The redesigned website also transforms Acta Medica Philippina from a repository-style archive into a more dynamic publishing platform featuring journal updates, improved navigation, and mobile-responsive design.
Recognizing Research Excellence
As part of its anniversary celebration, Acta Medica Philippina recognized the journal’s most cited articles published from 2021 to 2025, honoring research that has made significant contributions to healthcare, public policy, and medical practice in the Philippines and beyond.
The Most Cited Articles recognized during the ceremony were:
The journal also recognized its Top Peer Reviewers for their invaluable contributions to upholding the quality, rigor, and integrity of published research.
The awardees were:
Joining A National Journal Network
During the program, Vice President for External Affairs of the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) Erlinda Palaganas welcomed Acta Medica Philippina as the newest journal to join the Centralized Electronic Roster of Philippine Medical Journals (CENTRAL).
Supported by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, CENTRAL is a unified online platform that brings together Philippine medical journals and provides researchers, educators, editors, and healthcare professionals with access to trusted peer-reviewed publications and editorial resources. Palaganas said the initiative seeks to expand the reach, accessibility, and impact of Philippine medical journals while promoting quality and ethical scholarly publishing.
As Acta Medica Philippina enters its 88th year, the journal continues to strengthen its editorial processes, broaden its international visibility, and advance the dissemination of Philippine medical research to local and global audiences.
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