Official Newsletter of the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine

October to December 2016

In This Issue: 18th PCOM Midyear Convention in Baguio with #typhoon Karen at its heels (page2)

Chapter led BCOM and DCOM in Manila and Davao (page4)

PCOM reaches out to communities (Page5)

Laguna hosts its 2nd Post Graduate Course in OSH (Page5)

PCOM Caravan (Page5)

Preparing for the 39th PCOM Annual National Convention (Page6)

Schedule of Diplomate Course for Southern Mindanao (Page7)

Message From the PCOM President

Dear Chapter Officers and members,

Good day, my dear teammates. While we are already on the second quarter of our term as PCOM officers, I still wish to welcome everyone to this new PCOM year with a lot of optimism.

Every new fiscal year is a sign of a brighter tomorrow. It means a new beginning, a new life. To us, it signifies the next chapter of our vital and lifelong commitment to the ideals of PCOM.

We have a destiny to pursue - and that destiny is to continue on the path established by those who have come before us. But at the same time we have to be conscious and aware of what Heraclitus said that “change is the only constant in life.”

As new PCOM leaders, we will face numerous formidable tasks during this year. Our success relies largely on having clear ideas and goals, meticulous planning, and positive attitude. We should remember the five P’s - Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. It is imperative that we should be fully prepared in order to overcome all obstacles towards accomplishing our given assignments.

It is important to have a good and strong foundation that will serve as our best instrument to effectively car-ry out the enormous responsibilities of being a PCOM leader. Without a strong foundation, we can accom-plish nothing. PCOM depends on the actions of people like you.

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(Continued from page 1) Message From the PCOM President

However, in case you become anxious of being compared with your predecessors, this is my advice: Never attempt to compare yourself with others, for there will always be a better and lesser person than you. And in both occasions you will end up a disappointed person. Thus, rather than being pressured with the compari-son, just do your best.

Bear in mind that the real measure of our success as leaders will be the accomplishment of our shared goals. The deeds we perform and the goals we achieve will be the standards by which this fiscal year will be judged. We therefore have work, much work to do. As Dr. Jonas Salk once said, “The greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.”

My dear officers and members, as one family, let us move forward from here with love, hope and confi-dence, and hold to our cause dearly and effectively, for if we have the strength to live with uncertainty, there is hardly any obstacle that cannot be overcome.

If we stand together and work together for this great cause – “to selflessly serve PCOM - then we must keep our eyes straight ahead. Individually and collectively, let’s all rally together and march forward as one united body in providing what our members need.

My fellow PCOM Officers and members, there is so much to be done. Let no obstacle stop us on our tracks and continue that noble quest to be of service to PCOM and our fellow members. Let us continue to bring PCOM to greater heights!

Edmyr M. Macabulos, MD, MPH, DPCOM

PCOM National President

PCOM Concludes its 18th Midyear Convention

PCOM held its Midyear Convention in the City of Pines and Summer Capital of the Philippines. The

event lasted for 4 days which was started off by a Gatsby themed dinner hosted by PCOM Baguio-Benguet

Chapter and a partner pharmaceutical company. It is at this event that tokens of appreciation were given to

National Officers for gracing the occasion. Tokens were also given to the most senior members present from

each chapter of the Society.

The festivities of the night was followed the fol-

lowing morning by a meeting of the National

and Chapter Officers were held along with the

convention opening ceremonies. During the

meeting, concerns and issues were raised by

chapter officers to the National officers all of

which were noted down and plotted to be ad-

dressed in the succeeding meeting of the Board

PCOM National Officers (from L to R) Dr. Ricardo Balagot, Dr. Marilen Marcelino-Cruz,

Dr. Toni Yamamoto, Dr. Margaret Leachon, Dr. Edmyr Macabulos, Dr. Margarito

Hernandez, Dr. Marilyn Alentajan, Dr. Felix Labanda Jr., Dr. Jovencio Padilla

(Continued from page 2) PCOM concludes 18th Midyear Convention

of Directors. Present during the said meeting were the National Officers, the Chapter officer presidents/secretaries and/or their representatives, members of National Committees and the PCOM Secretariat.

The Convention proper for the day was followed by the officers’ meeting in one function area, and the orientation and induc-tion of new members in the adjacent function area. This was followed by a Cañao during the fellowship night. This became the venue for the Baguio Benguet Chapter to show dele-gates a portion of their culture. The festivities was capped off by a dance which was partici-pated by Dr. Edmyr Macabulos and Dr. Mar-garet Leachon, the PCOM National President and PCOM National Treasurer respectively.

The following day started with an early morning Zumba followed by further learnings of the delegates. Concomitant to the lectures were meetings aimed to address pressing issues of the Society. An approaching typhoon not only enhanced the cold temperature of Baguio but further emphasized topics of the midyear convention dealing with disaster preparedness and accident prevention.

The convention ended the following day with most of the delegates opting to return immediately to Manila owing to the approaching typhoon (Karen) which was predicted to make a landfall in the Benguet Ar-ea the following day. Some delegates opted to stay and further enjoy the cold winds that the typhoon brought with it. Updates on location and safety status were done and no untoward incident was recorded.

Clockwise from Top: Dr. Edmyr Macabulos, , Dr. Riza Relova, Dr. Marilen Cruz, Dr. Phil

Pangilinan, Dr. Margaret Leachon, Dr. Jose Ranilo, Dr. Joseph Alunes

Clockwise from top left: PCOM Midyear Poster; Dr Margaret Leachon and Dr. Edmyr Macabulos dancing in the Cañao; Fellowship

festivities; Photo-op after the fellowship night; Collage of pictures during the Zumba; Energized delegates after the Zumba class;

Meetings; #typhoonkaren approaching Baguio-Benguet

Chapter led Basic Course in Occupational Medicine

Several Chapter led BCOM courses were held and successfully completed around the country spreading the knowledge on

how to protect workers in all workplaces to the highest degree.

BCOM held in Davao City led by PCOM Northern Mindanao Chapter

BCOM held in The Medical City Clark Ambulatory Cen-

ter led by PCOM Pampanga Chapter

BCOM held in Naga City led by PCOM Northern Bicol Chapter BCOM led by PCOM Bulacan Chapter

Diplomate Course in Occupational Medicine

A diplomate course in Occupational Medicine was

conducted in Luzon and Mindanao. Despite the logistical

problems that the undertaking entailed, the activities were

done with flying colors owing to the concerted effort of

the Specialty Board, the CME Committee, the local chapter

and the DCOM Secretariat.

DCOM Southern Mindanao

PCOM Laguna Hosts Its 2nd Post Graduate Course in OSH

Laguna chapter hosted its 2nd Post Graduate Course in Oc-

cupational Health and Safety held in Biñan, Laguna. This postgradu-

ate course titled “Change” aimed to discuss changes in the practice

of Occupational Safety and Health in the dynamic field of Occupa-

tional Medicine.

Latest treatment guidelines on tuberculosis were also cas-

caded to participants with the lecture conducted by Dr. Toni Yama-

moto. (Wearing pink in the image on the right)

PCOM Outreach Programs led by Local Chapters

PCOM through its chapters connects to patient other

than those in the workplace through various medical mis-

sions and outreach programs. From the month of October to

December 2016, Pampanga Chapter has led such an activity

together with their local Philippine Medical Association.

This activities form part of the societies corporate so-

cial responsibilities that aim to bring health not only to the

formal sector for which most members of PCOM work with

but also with the workers who are in the informal sector

such as those in the small and micro enterprises who are

mostly in the communities.

PCOM Pampanga together with PMA Pampanga in an

Outreach Program

PCOM Caravan goes to the Land of the Bicolanos

The PCOM Caravan, a National effort to reach the different chapters of PCOM and know their prob-

lems at the grass roots level went to Bicol in the last quarter of the year 2016. Included in the travel were Dr.

Edmyr Macabulos, Dr. Jovencio Padilla, Dr. Ricardo Balagot and Dr. Phil Pangilinan.

From L to R: Arrival in Albay Province; (2) (3) meeting with PCOM Bicol Chapter; PCOM National Officers who joined the Caravan

Preparing for the 39th PCOM Annual National Convention 2017

Even before the reports for the mid-year convention has been turned in, the National Officers has

started work on the preparation for the 39th PCOM Annual National Convention (ANC) 2017. This was done

through meetings were delegation of responsibilities were done on top of the regular board meeting where

problems and issues were discussed and addressed.

PCOM Chapters sending the spirit of the Holidays to Everyone During December

PCOM Baguio-Benguet Chapter

PCOM PaLM Chapter

Editor: Felix F. Labanda Jr., MD, DPCOM, MOH, National Director

Philippine College of Occupational Medicine, Inc.

All images used were lifted from the Official PCOM Facebook page.