Pagkilala: Faculty Recognition Ceremonies 2021
January 17, 2022
By: Stephanie Noelle Blanco, UPCM Class 2024
On December 7, 2021, the UP College of Medicine proudly recognized and awarded faculty and departments who garnered significant achievements from academic years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. The first ever Dr. Evangeline Olivar Santos Memorial Awards were also presented. This year’s ceremony entitled “Pagkilala” was conducted via Zoom.
The UPM College of Medicine recognizes the significant achievements from its faculty and departments from academic years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
It began with introductions from the Masters of Ceremonies, Dr. Angela S. Aguilar and Dr. Benjamin P. Sablan Jr., followed by performances of the UP MedChoir for the invocation, national anthem, and college hymn. College of Medicine Dean, Dr. Charlotte M. Chiong, UP Manila Chancellor, Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, and PGH Director, Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi delivered the welcome remarks and opening messages. They commended the faculty for their contributions in fulfilling the College’s mission—especially in the face of unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic—and serving as inspirations and mentors.
Masters of the Ceremonies, Dr. Benjamin P. Sablan Jr. (left) and Dr. Angela S. Aguilar (right), proudly begin the program for “Pagkilala: Faculty Recognition Ceremonies” held December 7, 2021 via Zoom.
The first group of awardees recognized were the Faculty Achievers—faculty who received awards, both locally and internationally, and served as heads of their respective specialties and societies from 2019 up to July 2021. There were 84 recognized faculty across 16 departments.
From the Department of Anesthesiology were the following:
- Dr. Maria Lourdes Josefina K. Cabaluna,
- Dr. Grace Anne B. Herbosa,
- Dr. Geraldine Raphaela B. Jose,
- Dr. Catherine Renee B. Reyes,
- Dr. Maria Dolma G. Santos,
- Dr. Edgard M. Simon, and
- Dr. Benjamin Daniel S. Valera
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology:
- Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio, PhD
- Gracia Fe B. Yu, PhD
Department of Clinical Epidemiology: Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria
Department of Dermatology: Dr. Claudine Yap-Silva
Department of Family & Community Medicine:
- Dr. Karin E. Garcia
- Dr. Leilani A. Nicodemus
Department of Medicine:
- Dr. Albert B. Albay, Jr.,
- Dr. Jubert P. Benedicto,
- Dr. Regina P. Berba,
- Dr. Joselito R. Chavez,
- Dr. Mark Anthony A. De Lusong,
- Dr. Lenora C. Fernandez,
- Dr. Gabriel V. Jasul Jr.,
- Dr. Elizabeth S. Montemayor,
- Dr. Jaime C. Montoya,
- Dr. Deborah Ignacia D. Ona,
- Dr. Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan,
- Dr. Bernadette Heizel M. Reyes,
- Dr. Evalyn A. Roxas,
- Dr. Evelyn O. Salido,
- Dr. Anthony Russell T. Villanueva, and
- Dr. Aileen D. Wang
Department of Neurosciences:
- Dr. Carissa Paz C. Dioquino,
- Dr. Peter Paul D.P. Rivera, and
- Dr. Ma. Cristina Z. San Jose
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology:
- Dr. Angela S. Aguilar,
- Dr. Ira Dominique T. Alatraca-Malonzo,
- Dr. Doris R. Benavides,
- Dr. Sybil Lizanne R. Bravo,
- Dr. Ma. Bernadette O. Cruz,
- Dr. Maynila E. Domingo,
- Dr. Ana Victoria V. Dy Echo,
- Dr. Florante P. Gonzaga,
- Dr. Maria Antonia E. Habana,
- Dr. Cecilia A. Ladines-Llave,
- Dr. Erlidia F. Llamas-Clark,
- Dr. Ricardo M. Manalastas Jr.,
- Dr. Virgilio M. Novero Jr.,
- Dr. Lisa Teresa T. Prodigalidad-Jabson,
- Dr. Filomena S. San Juan,
- Dr. Maria Lilibeth L. Sia Su,
- Dr. Agnes L. Soriano-Estrella,
- Dr. Gladys G. Tanangonan,
- Dr. Jean Anne B. Toral,
- Dr. Maria Julieta Corazon M. Victoriano-Germar, and
- Dr. Regina Rosario P. Vitriolo
Department of Orthopedics:
- Dr. Peter B. Bernardo
- Dr. Czar Louie L. Gaston
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery:
- Dr. Arsenio Claro A. Cabungcal,
- Dr. Charlotte M. Chiong, and
- Dr. Jose Florencio F. Lapena, Jr.
Department of Pediatrics:
- Dr. Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-Dela Paz,
- Dr. Leonila F. Dans,
- Dr. Ma. Liza Antoinette M. Gonzales, and
- Dr. Bernadette Madrid
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology:
- Dr. Maria Stephanie Fay S. Cagayan,
- Dr. Cleotilde H. How,
- Dr. Irma R. Makalinao,
- Dr. Jose Paciano Baltazar V.T. Reyes, and
- Dr. Richard Henry P. Tiongco, III
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine:
- Dr. Alma L. Jimenez,
- Dr. Constantine D. Della, and
- Dr. Antonio C. Sison
Department of Radiology:
- Dr. Lorelie L. Chavez,
- Dr. Manuel Martin L. Lopez, and
- Dr. Leizl B. Valerio
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine: Dr. Teresita Joy P. Evangelista
Department of Surgery:
- Dr. Jose Modesto B. Abellera III,
- Dr. Crisostomo E. Arcilla, Jr.,
- Dr. Allan Dante M. Concejero,
- Dr. Daniel A. de la Paz, Jr.,
- Dr. Arturo S. de la Pena,
- Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa,
- Dr. Reynaldo O. Joson,
- Dr. Adrian E. Manapat,
- Dr. Orlando O. Ocampo, and
- Dr. Francisco Manuel T. Roxas
Next was the UPMASA Outstanding Teacher Awards for AY 2019-2020, whose faculty recipients were chosen by the students from each year level. Awardees received a certificate of recognition and a cash award from the UP Medical Alumni Society in America. A Hall of Fame Award was also given to those previously awarded as UPMASA Outstanding Teacher for more than five times consecutively.
The Hall of Fame awardees for LU 3 were Dr. Blesile Suzette S. Mantaring and Dr. Jose Leonard R. Pascual V, while the recognized Outstanding Teachers in LU 3 are Dr. Ronnie E. Baticulon and Dr. Rafael C. Bundocーall belong to the Department of Anatomy.
The Hall of Fame awardees for LU 4 are Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno and Dr. Maria Concepcion C. Sison, both from the Department of Pharmacology. Meanwhile, the Outstanding Teachers in LU 4 are Dr. Jose Leonard R. Pascual V of the Department of Neurosciences, and Dr. Paolo S. Macasaet of the Department of Pathology.
The UPMASA Outstanding Teachers in LU 5 are Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno of the Department of Pharmacology, and Dr. Maria Julieta Corazon M. Victoriano-Germar of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno was also recognized by the UPMASA as Outstanding Teacher in LU 6, along with Dr. Felice Katrina T. Ranche of the Department of Ophthalmology.
The Dr. Augusto A. Camara Best Teacher in the Basic Sciences was then awarded. It is given annually to honor Dr. Augusto A. Camara of UPCM Class 1944. He graduated summa cum laude from the College of Medicine, topped the medical board exam, served as an eminent cardiologist, and was a concert pianist. The award itself was given to Dr. Blesile Suzette S. Mantaring. This year, a Hall of Fame award was also given, recognizing Dr. Jose Leonard R. Pascual V as its recipient.
Dr. Blesile Suzette S. Mantaring is awarded the Dr. Augusto A. Camara Best Teacher in the Basic Sciences; the Hall of Fame award is given to Dr. Jose Leonard R. Pascual V.
For the first time, the Dr. Evangeline Olivar Santos Memorial Awards were conferred by former UP College of Medicine Dean Cecil Tomas. Dr. Evangeline Olivar Santos of UPCM Class 1965 became a researcher after graduation at the Philippine Eye Research Institute and served as Chair of the National Committee for Sight Preservation for many years. She garnered many accolades for her work in bringing basic ophthalmologic services to the provinces. The respective categories under the Dr. Evangeline Olivar Santos Memorial Awards are the Best Student Research Paper and the Meritorious Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals.
Former UPCM Dean Cecil Tomas confers the first ever Dr. Evangeline Olivar Santos Memorial Awards to Dr. Maria Llaine Callanta for the Best Student Research Paper Category, and to Dr. Harvey Siy Uy and Dr. Emmanuel P. Estrella for the Meritorious Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals Category.
The Best Student Research Paper intends to encourage students to pursue high-impact research. This was awarded to Dr. Maria Llaine Callanta, who conferred her MD-PhD in Molecular Biology this 2021, for her research “The Role of SMAD2/3 in Vascular Remodeling of Kawasaki Disease Murine Models.” She also received the DOST-PCHRD Award for Most Outstanding MD-PhD Dissertation.
The Meritorious Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals aims to encourage faculty to publish their research in index peer-reviewed journals adhering to high standards of scholarships. This year, there were two recipients. Dr. Harvey Siy Uy, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, was recognized for his publication in The Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology entitled, “Comparison of Two Different Intravitreal Injection Techniques.” Dr. Emmanuel P. Estrella, Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopedics, was recognized for his publication entitled “Quality of Life of Patients with Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries” in the International Journal of the Care of the Injured.
Before the final segment, a special intermission number was performed by colleagues from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Rani M. Cadiz and Dr. Florida F. Taladtad performed a duet of the song “Tuloy Pa Rin” by Neocolors.
The final awards given were the Silver Cup Awards for the Most Outstanding Departments for AY 2019-2020, an initiative of the UP Medical Foundation, Inc. (1993). The criteria for outstanding departments are contributions to (1) academic excellence, (2) research integrity and relevance, (3) staff development, (4) university and college extension services, and (5) the public persona of the UP College of Medicine. Dr. Paolo Maria M. Pagkatipunan, President of the UP Medical Foundation, Inc. conferred the Most Outstanding Basic and Clinical Departments.
The Top 3 departments of the Basic Sciences were the Department of Anatomy, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, and Department Pharmacology, with the Department of Pharmacology bagging the award.
As for the Clinical Sciences, the Top 3 departments were the Department of Neurosciences, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Department of Surgery. The award was given to the Department of Surgery.
Marking the end of the ceremony, closing remarks were given by College Secretary Dr. Abner Chan, followed by UP Naming Mahal led by the UP MedChoir. Taking from the message of Dr. Chan, “What a blessing it must be to have found your true calling early in life, to love what you do, to be able to work on it on a daily basis, and ultimately, achieving excellence, if not perfection. To one day be recognized for it is definitely a bonus.”
Becoming a six-star physician does not have shortcuts nor is it achieved by luck. The faculty are examples of what persistence, passion, and continuous work together can achieve.