The Outstanding Filipino Physicians » 2008 TOFP History & Milestones

2008 TOFP History & Milestones

Download The 2008 TOFP Search PDF file

When the JCI Senate Philippines launched the maiden search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP) last year, it got its most logical partner, the Department of Health. It also got an institutional supporter, the government’s socialized health insurance arm, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).
Despite the birthing pains accompanying a new project that tries hard to gather nominees from across the 7,000 islands making up the Philippine archipelago, five doctors emerged as winners in the TOFP maiden search.
On January 15, 2008, new JCI Senate Philippines Carlos G. Co formally appointed JCI Sen. Melandrew T. Velasco of Dagupan “Bangus” Jaycees to chair the 2008 TOFP Search and Awards. Velasco’s appointment came as no surprise on account of his close association with Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III having worked with him before as media and PR consultant at Philhealth.
In appointing Velasco, JCISP President Co also took into consideration the former’s vital contribution to the TOFP maiden search as well as his expertise in project and events management. He has handled big national and international events such as the Palarong Pambasa in 1995 and 1996 as well as the first International Healing Festival. He is a professional media executive who manages his own advertising, PR, and publishing outfit, Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. He has established himself as the family biographer of former President Fidel V. Ramos having written five books on the Ramos family.
Taking to heart his chairmanship, Velasco immediately convened the TOFP Executive Committee and appointed key sub committee chairmen retaining a number of original maiden search players as well as appointing new ones namely JCI Senators Joel Sarmiento and Rosalind Ngo, both stalwarts of the regular Jaycees.
Having no start up funds at the start of organizational stages from January to June 2008, the TOFP chair had to personally bankroll the operations including the production of needed collaterals for the TOFP nationwide search and underwriting committee meetings.
On April 9, 2008, the TOFP Search for 2008 was formally launched at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. It was providential that the NKTI Executive Director, Dr. Enrique Ona was among the five maiden awardees. He personally volunteered to sponsor the catering for the TOFP launching at NKTI.
Fulfilling his promise to increase funding support for the annual TOFP awards, Health Secretary Duque announced at the launching rites the entry of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office through PCSO Chairman Sergio O. Valencia as TOFP institutional sponsor, thereby assuring the JCI Senate leadership it the search this year would be another success. Duque also directed the increase of TOFP awardees from five to ten awardees for this year’s search including the possibility of honoring rural doctors.
The response this year was equally enthusiastic.
Thus, the TOFP Steering Committee particularly the search committee went on a nationwide campaign with actual visits to Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon islands at their own personal expense. It also caused the distribution of 5,000 TOFP posters to DOH and Philhealth offices and accredited hospitals and clinics. It also sent out letters and emails to hospitals and individuals nationwide. It also placed 30-seconder TOFP plugs to FM and AM radio stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The TOFP also generated greater media mileage from ABS-CBN which ran the TOFP-30 seconder for free from August 1 to 15 including regular announcement and promotion by Ms. Cheryl Cosim of Salamat Dok. Other media outlets were also supportive of the TOFP as shown by the request for interviews from the TOFP Chairman in radio stations like DZRZ, DZMM, DWAZ, among others including support from major dailies like Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Business Mirror and People’s Journal. The TOFP was also the featured guest at the weekly Health Forum hosted by Atty. Joey Hisamoto with the presence of the TV, radio and print media networks and practioners.
“If there’s one major innovation which TOFP Chairman Mel Velasco did to the TOFP this year, it is the fact that he has practically run the organization and managed the committee as a seasoned professional by organizing a strong secretariat handled by his chief of staff, Ms. Michelle Cabrera, thus giving the TOFP a corporate look,” observes JCI Sen. Butch Vibar who chairs the venue and physical arrangement committee.
Vibar cited the creation of the TOFP website (www.tofpjcisp.com) as well as exploring possible corporate support for TOFP – other than the institutional sponsors PCSO and Philhealth – with the tapping a sales and marketing for this year.
This early, the JCI Senate Philippines is now looking way forward on how to institutionalize and sustain the yearly TOFP awards so that it would later equal the prestige and sustainability of the more matured outstanding Filipino awards the likes of The Outstanding Young Men or TOYM for young leaders in different fields and The Outstanding Filipinos (TOFIL) awards. The yearly search for two Jaycee awards are now institutions with permanent funding partners from the corporate world.
At this point, the search for the best and most deserving Filipino doctors, be they in the barrios or in squatter colonies, in private practice or in government hospitals, only in its second year, has only government agencies and institutions for partners.
As often observed in the Philippines, government partners in long-term projects are not reliable. Experience has taught the organizers that a change in government also changes the priorities of the new incumbent. More often than not, old partnerships with the outgoing administration are most likely dropped.
The challenge of sustainability then crops up.
“Before that happens,” says JCI Senator Mel Velasco, the moving hand behind the DOH-JCI Senate partnership, “we are now laying the ground-works for the TOFP yearly search to be sustained, self-propelling and independent.”
For starters, JCI Senate Philippines, employed this year a professional marketing group to search for more permanent partners of the project other than government institutions through Campaigns and Bridges, Inc. (CBI).
According to Ms. Marilet Catapang, CBI managing director, the prospects were very bright last June for TOFP but hard realities such as cost-cutting measures by various firms due to the present economic crunch dampened our overall projections. Thus for this year, only handful answered the call to support TOFP but it has nevertheless succeeded in introducing the TOFP as the “Oscar Awards for Filipino Physicians.” The dividends sowed by CBI and this year’s Steering Committee to plant the seeds of corporate support will be reaped next year and the years to come by future TOFP Committees.
It is the prudent thing to do, explains Velasco who also is an ardent proponent of the TOFP Foundation. He said the exodus of health workers to better-paying jobs overseas has not abated. As the Philippines makes its mark as the world’s number two exporter of doctors to the world, next to India, and the number one exporter of nurses, the toll on the quality and reach health care in the Philippines is steadily getting undermined. This is exacerbated by the continuing decline in the number of medical graduates who pass the board examinations each year.
In a situation like this, the remote towns are the first to suffer. Families in those towns run the very real risk of raising children that never have the chance to see a doctor.
Reforms of public policy meant to upgrade the quality of the delivery of basic and curative public health services continue but is yet to adopt competitive salary scales of Filipino doctors, nurses, medical technologists, midwives, therapists and other health workers.
Until such policy reforms are safely in place, the next best alternative is to honor those Filipino doctors who preferred to stay put in the country, and continue to serve the community they are working in.
Cynics often raise the specter that the quality of government hospitals, community health clinics including outreach health services are fast deteriorating due to the utter lack of properly trained health professionals in the field.
But it has been the JCI Senators who have taken upon themselves to do the opposite, honoring as quiet heroes such as the best physicians or the barrio doctors that have opted to be self-made paupers in the name of public service, the government hospital doctor who has to work day and night at times to attend to the medical needs of mostly poor patients who could not afford the astronomical charges of private hospitals, the private practitioner who devotes some days a week of his professional life extending free service to the needy.
They are out there, toiling silently, and keeping a flame the Hippocratic Oath every medical doctor takes after passing the medical board examination.
Last August 15, 38 nominees from all over the Philippines were received by the TOFP Search Committee. Soon after, TOFP Screening Chairman JCI Senator Hermin Arceo convened his committee whose membership includes: JCI Senators Emmy Bamba, Mon Nañadiego, Philip Briones, Louie Pabalan and Nelson Tan, Prime Minister of Capitol JCI Senate. For two weeks, the screening committee worked overtime to screen the nominees and came up with a shortlist of 20 finalists.
On August 29, the Board of Judges for this year’s search was formally convened at the Anabel’s Restaurant with the presence of the entire TOFP National Steering Committee. Eminent members of this year’s Board of Judges are PCSO Chairman Sergio O. Valencia, former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, Philippine Medical Association president Dr. Rey Melchor Santos, former acting Philhealth President and CEO Lorna Fajardo and DOH representative Dr. Kenneth Ronquillo.
On September 16, the Board of Judges was formally convened and after thorough deliberation, the 10 winners for this year’s search was formally announced by Dr. Santos who serves as chair of the TOFP 2008 Jurors.
Last September 29, the 10 Outstanding Filipino Physicians were formally conferred the award at the Manila Hotel.

Download TOFP 2008 Milestones PDF file:

January 24, 2008
New TOFP Chairman JCI Sen. Melandrew Velasco convened the Executive Committee at the Sulo Hotel for the 1ST EXECOM MEETING. It was attended by JCISP President Carlos Co, Executive Vice President Manny Sabalza, Secretary General Art Zurbito, 2007 TOFP Chairman Mars Pineda, JCISP Executive Director Mon Nañadiego, Capitol JCI Senate Prime Minister Nelson Tan, JCI Senators Emy Bamba and Philip Briones, representatives from the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and MTVI project director Michelle M. Cabrera. Pineda was named TOFP Chairman Emeritus as recommended by JCI Senator Zurbito. Chairman Mel Velasco was given the blanket authority to organize, name and appoint the 2008 TOFP Committee officers. Meeting was sponsored by the TOFP Chair.

February 29, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened the second Executive Committee at the Moomba Restaurant to announce the appointment of several TOFP committee chairmen and to discuss action plans and programs for the year. Upon the suggestion of TOFP legal counsel JCI Senator Moises Tolentino, the TOFP Committee was hereby formally named as TOFP 2008 National Steering Committee. Meeting was sponsored by the TOFP Chair.

March 12, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened a special meeting of the TOFP National Steering Committee at the UCC Morato. Among the salient points discussed were the criteria for the TOFP awards, the formal launching of the 2008 TOFP Search and the courtesy call cum business meeting with Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III. Meeting was sponsored by the TOFP Chair.

March 14, 2008
Upon the request of Health Secretary Duque who had an engagement at the Sofitel Hotel, the TOFP National Steering Committee formally met at said hotel. Among the salient points discussed were DOH’s continuing support for the TOFP, criteria for the TOFP awards to give chance to rural physicians, the formal launching of the 2008 TOFP Search at the National Kidney and Transplant Insititute, among others.

April 4, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened a special meeting of the TOFP National Steering Committee at Max’s Restaurant along Scout Tuason to pertinent preparations for the formal launching of the 2008 TOFP Search at NKTI. Meeting was sponsored by the TOFP Chair.

April 9, 2008
The 2008 TOFP Search was formally launched at the NKTI by Secretary Duque and the JCISP led by its president Carlos Co and TOFP Chairman Mel Velasco. Members of the National Steering Committee were formally inducted. Secretary Duque announced the entry of PCSO as a new institutional partner along with Philhealth. NKTI, through Executive Director Enrique Ona sponsored the cocktail for the launching.

April 17, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened a special meeting of the TOFP Search Committee headed by JCI Senator Joel Sarmiento at the Kaya Restaurant, Podium to discuss strategies and plans for a natiownide search pertinent preparations. Meeting was sponsored by the TOFP Chair.

May 6, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened a special meeting of the TOFP National Steering Committee at Max’s Restaurant along Scout Tuason to discuss the entry of Campaigns and Bridges as the official sales and marketing arm of the TOFP. Other topics were discussed such as the on-going search, criteria of the awards, printing of media collaterals such as posters, among others. Meeting was sponsored by the TOFP Chair.

May 20, 2008
The TOFP Steering Committee silently launched the TOFP website: www.tofp_jcisp.com to further boost the project among ‘netizens’ and for the project to have greater reach to all parts of the country and the world.

June 11, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened a special meeting of the TOFP National Steering Committee at Dulcinea Restaurant along Morato to discuss status of various committee preparations to include awards and programs. Updates were made on the TOFP Search as well as overall efforts to instituionalize support for the TOFP. Meeting was sponsored by the TOFP Chair.

June 25, 2008
The TOFP Steering Committee led by JCISP President and the TOFP Chairman led a 10-man delegation to Philhealth President Lorna Fajardo for a courtesy call and the formal turnover of the P500,000 sponsorship of the state health insurance firm for the 2008 TOFP Search. On the same day, the liquidation for the P500,000 Philhealth sponsorship for TOFP 2007 maiden search was formally submitted.

June 25, 2008
The TOFP Steering Committee led by JCISP President and the TOFP Chairman signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Campaigns and Bridges represented by its managing director Marilet Catapang submitted at the Edsa Shangrila lobby.

July 11, 2008
The TOFP Chairman and Search Chairman Joel Sarmiento made a last ditch effort to campaign for TOFP nominees with a lightning visit to Davao and General Santos City. Media interviews were condcuted as well as guesting at the PIA Forum by the TOFP chairmen. Expenses for the trip to the Mindanao island were personally shouldered by both TOFP National Chairman and Search Chairman respectively.

July 15, 2008
The TOFP Steering Committee led by JCISP President and the TOFP Chairman led a 12-man delegation to PCSO Chairman Sergio O. Valencia for a courtesy call and the formal turnover of the P250,000 representing one half of the P500,000 sponsorship of PCSO for this year’s TOFP Search. The MOA between JCISP and PCSO was formally signed on the same day.

August 1-15, 2008
For the first time, the TOFP Steering Committee ran a 30 seconder TV and Radio Ad aired on AM and FM stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as part of the awareness campaign for the TOFP. ABS-CBN including Salamat Dok aired ‘for free’ the 30-seconder TV spot during said period, thereby giving boost to the JCISP’s TOFP.

August 5, 2008
The TOFP Chairman and TOFP Adviser JCISP EVP Manny Sabalza joined the Health Forum at Anabel’s Restaurant to drumbeat the TOFP awards along with Secretary Duque, former DOH Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, Philippine Medical Association president Dr. Rey Melchor Santos and 2007 TOFP maiden search awardee Dr. Eric Talens. Health Forum moderator lawyer Joey Hisamoto was tapped as consultant for promotions and publicity probono by the TOFP Chairman.

August 15, 2008
About 38 nominations were received at the JCISP Headquarters by the Search Committee.
August 16-25, 2008
The TOFP Chairman and Screening Chairman JCI Senator Hermin formally convened the screening committee. Aside from Arceo, other screening committee members include JCI Senators Emy Bamba, Mon Nañadiego, Nelson Tan, Philip Briones and Louie Pabalan. Of the 38 nominees, 20 emerged as finalists for endorsement to the Board of Judges.

August 28, 2008
The TOFP Chairman and Screening & Judging Chairman JCI Senator Hermin formally convened the Board of Judges at Anabel’s Restaurant. The Board of Judges includes PCSO Chairman Sergio Valencia, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Atty. Gonzalo T. Duque, Dr. Rey Melchor Santos, Ms. Lorna Fajardo and Dr. Kenneth Ronquillo. The event also coincided with the photo session of the National Steering Committee to include the advisers and other officers.

September 8, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened a special meeting of the TOFP National Steering Committee at the JCISP Headquarters to discuss preparations for the awarding ceremonies chaired by JCI Senator Adonis Samson. Among the salient points discussed were the physical arrangements, booking at Manila Hotel, and other needed collaterals for the event.

September 16, 2008
The TOFP Chairman and Screening & Judging Chairman JCI Senator Hermin formally reconvened the Board of Judges at Anabel’s Restaurant. The event also coincided with the announcement of this year’s Top Ten Outstanding Filipino Physicians by Dr. Santos, this year’s chairman of the board of judges.

September 24, 2008
The TOFP Chairman convened a final meeting of the TOFP National Steering Committee at the JCISP Headquarters to discuss and finalize preparations for the awarding ceremonies at the Manila Hotel on September 29, 2008.

September 29, 2008
Awarding ceremonies for the Ten Outstanding Filipino Physicians at the Centennial Hall of the posh Manila Hotel.