Messages
MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
Congratulations to the men and women of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Philippines and the Department of Health as you jointly conduct this year’s search for the 2009 Ten Outstanding Filipino Physician s (TOFP) with the theme, Serving and caring for our Countrymen are the Best Works of Life”
Your advocacy of selecting 10 patriotic and outstanding Filipino doctors who excel in their respective fields in medicine is indeed relevant considering that most of our doctors and medical professionals are lured with high paying jobs abroad. The fact that your honorees have provided indigent patients with affordable healthcare services and have chosen to serve the poor makes them truly noble and worthy of commendation.
It is heartwarming to note that this year’s awardees have shunned financial rewards rendering medical services to the less privileged. There is no greater sacrifice than this. And we salute you for your magnanimity.
To the honorees, may you continue to serve the public regardless of their status in life. With the support of civic groups like the JCI Senate P resident and government institutions like DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, we can be assured of a healthier and more productive citizenry.
Congratulations to all the awardees and Mabuhay kayong lahat!
HON. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
President, Republic of the Philippines
MESSAGE FROM THE DOH SECRETARY
It has been an honor and privilege for the JCI Senate Philippines to have taken the Department of Health as its partner when it launched the search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP) last year. We grabbed that opportunity for we knew then the relevance to appreciate fellow doctors who have chosen to serve their countrymen.
Despite the cynicism of the times, we wanted to believe that there are still many doctors who are quietly practicing their Hippocratic oaths, doctors who have resisted the seduction of the almighty dollar and euro for the sake of their countrymen
We appreciate the fact that searching for the best is a tedious, difficult and expensive work perhaps only the Jaycees can successfully do in the mold of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) and The Outstanding Filipino * (TOFIL).
The rich harvest of awardees this year is a living testimony to that belief. The prestige that comes with the award will again make us proud of our Filipino physicians.
My only fear is that, when our stewardship of the DOH would have ended, and like most other things it will eventually happen, what we have started may not be sustained.
May I take this opportunity then to challenge the JCI Senate leaders to face the challenge of sustaining the TOFP search and awards as sustainable and self-financing program. You made it happen and you can keep it happening,
Congratulations to the TOFP and to this year’s Ten Outstanding Filipino Physicians!
HON. FRANCISCO T. DUQUE
Secretary, Department of Health
MESSAGE FROM THE PCSO CHAIRMAN
Warmest Greetings of Peace!
On behalf of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the winners and organizers of this year’s “The Outstanding Filipino Physicians” (TOFP) Search.
Despite the great number of Filipino doctors, the current ratio is a physician for every 28,493 citizens, brought about by the outward migration of seven out of ten licensed Filipino physicians causing us the loss of our best and brightest clinicians.
If this trend is not controlled and properly managed, the country will eventually be bled of doctors which has already compromised the delivery of health services in the country and may result in higher morbidity, mortality, and infection rates.
It is therefore reassuring that JCI Senate Philippines, Inc., in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, have initiated this noble project by providing inspiration for our medical practitioners as they continue to serve their countrymen. May this project enhance the motivation and pride of our medical professionals in pursuit for a healthy, strong and productive citizenry.
My warmest congratulations to the winners; your being selected to this prestigious award symbolizes the significant role you and your profession play in the lives of our people. May you serve as models of commitment and dedicated service reflective of the JCI tenet - “That Service to Humanity is the Best Work for Life.”
May your quest for excellence continue! Mabuhay ang TOFP!
HON. SERGIO O. VALENCIA
Chairman, PCSO
MESSAGE FROM THE PHILHEALTH PRESIDENT & CEO
In behalf of Philhealth, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the JCI Senate Philippines and the Department of Health for making us an institutional partner since its maiden search in 2007 for the annual nationwide search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP).
Now on its second year, TOFP has become an important vehicle to promote patriotism among our Filipino doctors who have decided to stay and embrace this year’s theme that “serving and caring for our countrymen are the best works in life.”
Based on reports from our nationwide network of Philhealth accredited hospitals and clinics, TOFP has generated so much interest not only among Filipino physicians but the general public as well lauding it as a noble project to promote excellence and love of country.
We are one with JCI Senate Philippines, the DOH and our new institutional partner Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in congratulating this year’s Ten Outstanding Filipino Physicians who have proven their excellence, patriotism, dedication to the medical profession and for their admirable caring and sharing in serving our countrymen.
Mabuhay ang TOFP!
REY B. AQUINO, M.D
President and Chief Executive Officer, PhilHealth
MESSAGE FROM THE JCI SENATE PHILIPPINES
JCI SEN. ARTHUR B. ZURBITO, JR.
National President, JCI Senate Philippines
MESSAGE FROM THE TOFP 2009 NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
JCI SEN. PHILIP BRIONES
National Chairman, TOFP 2009
Download TOFP 2008 Institutional Messages
