Text by Martin R. Racza Photos by Joseph A. Bautista
UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee and CM Dean Charlotte Chiong with the faculty of the Department of Pediatrics, the winner of this year’s Most Outstanding Clinical Department.
The College of Medicine (CM) held its “Pagkilala 2024” on Dec. 10, 2024, recognizing their faculty achievers, faculty mentors, special awardees, and the newly-appointed, renewed, and promoted UP Scientists.
The event also saw the awarding of the Silver Cup for outstanding departments, which were given to the Department of Pharmacology (for Basic Sciences) and the Department of Pediatrics (for the Clinical Department).
CM Dean Charlotte Chiong hailed the faculty as “dedicated individuals who have become the pillars of innovation, research, and healthcare, inspiring students in their dedication in teaching and pursuit of excellence.”
Chancellor Michael Tee likewise lauded the awardees, calling them “ambassadors of UP, the leaders of our healthcare industry, of our health sciences center.” “We are the biggest service arm of the UP system, and UP Manila is serving the nation through [your] service, influencing how health sciences is being taught. And UP is tasked not only to serve, but to create knowledge.”
The recognized faculty are:
Dr. Marie Carmela Lapitan – Stanford University World’s Top 2 Scientist for 2023
Dr. Anthony Perez – UP Scientist I for 2022 to 2024
Dr. Teresita Joy Evangelista – Most Outstanding Physiatrist, Philippine Rehabilitation Medicine (Feb. 24, 2024)
Dr. Richard Jose Quintos II – Chair, Board of Examiners, Philippine Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgeons
Dr. Mark Anthony Sandoval – President, Philippine Society of Physiologists and President, Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines Foundation Inc.
Dr. Ma. Stephanie Fay Cagayan – Ramon Lopez Award of Merit for Community Service
Dr. Lorna Abad – Chair, Philippine Society of Pediatric Metabolism and Endocrinology Specialty Board
Dr. Maria Cecilia Lim – President, Philippine Society of Pathologists •Dr. Irewin Tabu – Chair, Fragility Fracture Network Global Regionalization
Dr. Almira Amin-Ong – President, Philippine Society for Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Dr. Mikaela Erlinda Bucu – Constantino P. Manahan Young Researcher Award, Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
Dr. Doris Benavides – Chair, Philippine Board of Gynecologic Oncology
Dr. Sybil Lizanne Bravo – President, Asia Oceania (Research Organization) on Genital Infections and Neoplasia (AOGIN)
Dr. Mary Rani Cadiz – Ratnam Young Gynecologic Award from the Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Efren Domingo – Founding President, Society of Gynecologic Robotic Surgery of the Philippines
Dr. Romelyn April Imperio-Onglao – Young Doctor Award from the Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology and Best Presentation Award during the Annual Meeting of the Asian Society for Gynecologic Robotic Surgery
Dr. Marie Christine Valerie Mendoza – Ratnam Young Gynecologic Award from the Asia and Oceania Federation International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Dr. Virgilio Novero Jr. – Chair, Philippine Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Joselito Santiago – President, Philippine Society of Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Dr. Maria Lilibeth Sia Su – 11th PFPA Distinction Award, Baldomero Roxas Memorial Lecturer and Awardee for Academic Excellence, and Philippine Medical Association Council of Professional Health Association (COPHA) 2024 Awardee for Academe and Research Development Category
Dr. Gladys Tangonan – Chair, Philippine Board of Reproductive Medicine
Dr. Jean Anne Toral – President, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines
Dr. Maria Julieta Corazon Victoriano Germar – Recipient of the Honoria Acosta Sison Award of Merit for Research
Dr. Maria Epifania Collantes – Chair, Certifying Board, Adult Neurology Subspecialty Board
Dr. Maria Teresa Abola – 2024 Most Distinguished Fellow Awardee of the Philippine Heart Association
Dr. Agnes Mejia, Dr. Lenora Fernandez, Dr. Ester Penserga, and Vice Chancellor Bernadette Heizel Reyes – 2024 Outstanding Book and/or Monograph Award for the PCP Textbook of Internal Medicine
Dr. Regina Berba – recipient of the Dr. Lourdes Campos Award for Public Health and the Pagpupugay sa Lingkod Bayan 2024 award from UP Diliman
Dr. April Llaneta – founding president of the Outdoor Medicine Association of the Philippines
Dr. Ma. Lourdes Concepcion Jimenez – Chair, Philippine Board of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Belen Dofitas – recipient of the 33rd Jose Rizal Memorial Award for Research and of the 2024 International League of Dermatological Societies Certificate of Appreciation in Humanitarian Dermatology
Dr. Jacinto Blas Mantaring III – Chair, Health Technology Assessment Council of the Department of Science and Technology
Dr. Joven Jeremius Tanchuco – Most Outstanding Fellow of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians •Dr. Rafael Bundoc – 2023 Distinguished Orthopaedic Surgeon awardee
Dr. Alvin Caballes – Push One UP awardee
Newly appointed UP scientists Dr. Melissa Amosco, Dr. Ma. Stephanie Fay Cagayan, Johanna Patricia Cañal, Dr. Belen Dofitas, Dr. Rowena Genuino, Dr. Scarlett Mia Tabuñar, Dr. Carol Stephanie Tan-Lim, Dr. John Mark Velasco, and Dr. Raul Destura were also recognized. Renewed and promoted UP scientists Prof. Emmanuel Baja, Vice Chancellor Leslie Michelle Dalmacio, Chancellor Michael Tee, Dr. Emmanuel Estrella, Dr. Cecilia Nelia Maramba-Lazarte, Dr. Janus Ong, and Dr. Jean Toral were also given recognition. Department chairs, committee members, faculty association officers, community liaison officers, and faculty mentors were also acknowledged.
Dr. Abner Chan, CM College Secretary, ended the program by noting the spirit of sharing among the faculty, saying that they celebrate “because we want to share our accomplishments with others, those who stood with us and enabled us to succeed. We all should be able to celebrate each other’s achievements, which leads to recognition and affirmation of community values and the spirit of connectedness.”■
