The Physician Licensure Exam Results of the February 2012 Physician Board Examinations was announced by the Philippines‘ Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Thursday, March 1, 2012.

Reports say that 520 out of 990 examinees passed the Physician Licensure Exam held in the cities ofManila and Cebu.

The top examinee in the 2012 Physician Exam isRonald Resuma Ceriales of Our Lady of FatimaUniversity in Valenzuela City. Ceriales garnered a score of 88.50 percent rating. Jon Karl Delgado Velasco of Cebu Institute of Medicine (85.92 percent) and Miguel Rafael David Ramos of St. Luke’s College of Medicine (85.83) were second and third respectively.

Below are the Top 10 examinees in the February 2012 Physician Licensure Exam.
1. Ronald Resuma Ceriales
2. Jon Karl Delgado Velasco
3. Miguel Rafael David Ramos
4. Von Andre Mejico of University of Perpetual Help System-Laguna (85.58)
5. Irvin Lorrie Pitapit Galvan of Our Lady of FatimaUniversity-Valenzuela (85.42)
6. Murphy Estremos Boyles of Xavier University(85.33)
7. Christina Margarita Canon Janer of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (85.17)
8. Marc Frances Bongcawil Magoncia of Xavier University (84.75)
9. Cherrylyn Restrivera Laguna of Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela (84.67)
10. Bill Allen de Guzman Alarcon and Uzziel Ginette Aguinaldo Bascao, both of Our Lady of Fatima University(84.58)

See the complete list of 2012 Physician Licensure Exam passers below.

1 ABADILLA, GISELLE MARIE TERCERO
2 ABALA, ANTHONY TUMANAN
3 ABALOS, APRIL SALUÑGA
4 ABANTAS, BB GIRL FAIZAH SHARIEF
5 ABBAS, NURHAINA ASJUDI
6 ABDULLA, ADAMIER PANDUGA
7 ABDULLAH, HEDJARAH AMBOLA
8 ABORDO, EMILY JANE BARTOLOME
9 ABUAN, MA ROWENA BALITAO
10 ABUENA, GRETCHEN SAET
11 ACOSTA, GEMMA MONTECLARO
12 ACOSTA, ROSARIO MONSERRAT RAMOS
13 ACUT, DARYL ALEJANO
14 ADLAON, PHILLIP BRYANT DE LA TORRE
15 AFULUGENCIA, LOUIE EMERSON TANCINCO
16 AGAGON, BABILYNE GARNATE
17 AGORILLA, MARIA FILIPINA RIBUYACO
18 AGRIAM, PAMELA INOCENCIA ADELINA LEAGOGO
19 AGRIPA, FRANCIS DOMINIC AMADOR
20 AGUINALDO, MERVIN IAN PAUL URSAL
21 AGUIRRE, SHANA GAIL SEMBRANO
22 AJOC, ARDEN DAGATAN
23 ALAGOS, ARCHAEL JUN CABRILLOS
24 ALAMEDA, ANDREI OWEN RUANCE
25 ALARCON, BILL ALLEN DE GUZMAN
26 ALAURIN, KENNEDY NAIRA
27 ALAVA, ICYNTH ANG
28 ALCAUSIN, MADELINE CHAN
29 ALCAYDE, JOEL BLUE LAPIDEZ
30 ALMOJERA, ELIZA CHAN
31 ALONZO, SHERYLENE ALGAS
32 AMADA, ALFRED JIM GALLEGO
33 AMADA, CHRISTINE CASABUENA
34 AMANEO, MA RICAR GODINEZ
35 ANASTACIO, JADE AYALA
36 ANCHETA, JERIKA MALETH BENIGNO
37 ANDAYA, ESPERANCITA JOSE
38 ANG-PASION, CESARIA OLAÑO
39 ANGLO-ANGELES, MARY JOAN BARBACENA
40 ANGUE, ISAH VERONICA QUIACOS
41 ANTONIO, MA ELIZABETH GAMAZON
42 APAGA, APPLE PIE MARIE MAQUERA
43 APULI, PAOLO NERCUIT
44 ARAJA, ADVENT GENESIS MARASIGAN
45 ARAMBULO, CHRISTINE YAPTINCHAY
46 ARCEÑO, RUBY LIZA ARCENAL
47 ARCHE, MA RHONA AÑOVER
48 ARCIGA, FAYE PULMONES
49 ASMOD, MARY GRACE SANTOS
50 ASUNCION, TRIX MESA
51 ATILLO, ROBERTO PAOLO REPULDA
52 ATOC, JESSICA MARIE DE LOS REYES
53 AUSTRIA, DIANA SORIANO
54 AYONON, ELIZABETH ANNE LEOBRERA
55 BACANI, MARIA ANGELICA TUAZON
56 BACCAY, INNA MAE POVADORA
57 BADERE, APRIL LLARINA
58 BADONG, EVAGAY AG-A
59 BAGCAL, GEOMAR CHRIS BALICOCO
60 BALANAY, ARLENE PADILLA
61 BALANE, RAY BRANDON SERINO
62 BALASBAS, KATRINA ROSE SILAO
63 BALAYANTO, RIO STEPHANIE PASCUAL
64 BALINGIT, JOHN DAVID VALENZUELA
65 BANDERADO, DIVINA GRACIA AMOR FRANJE
66 BANIAGA, SITTIE AISHA AMINODEN
67 BANIQUED, CHRISTOPHER CALUGAY
68 BANTOLO, LEANNA GUILALAS
69 BANTUGAN, JAYSON HELERA
70 BARATA, RUSHELL CRUZ
71 BARBA, JOANALLIE CARAS
72 BARCENILLA, BERLIN BLANCO
73 BARRON, J BENEDICT ZENON TAPIA
74 BARTOLOME, REGAN LUDOVICK CHUA
75 BASCAO, UZZIEL GINETTE AGUINALDO
76 BAUTISTA, EMMANUEL DAULAT
77 BAUTISTA, SHERWIN GONZALES
78 BAYLON, ANGELICA KRISTINE LINA
79 BAÑES, ED MICHAEL JUN DEALA
80 BELDUA, LAWRENCE DEAN BATOY
81 BELLOSILLO, FEMAE LOVE PLAZA
82 BELTRAN, APRIL JOANA NEBREJA
83 BERNALES, ANDREA MARIE BERNARTE
84 BERUA, INTANJAMIRAH BATO
85 BIBON, JENNIFER BELEN
86 BISQUERA, RUBY ROSE SANTOS
87 BONIFACIO, ARLENE TOLEDO
88 BOOL, MARY CECILLE GAA
89 BOYLES, MURPHY ESTREMOS
90 BRION, JESSICA DIMAANO
91 BULLOS, JOVY SANTISTEBAN
92 BUNUAN, MISAEL PRESENTACION TANGAN
93 BUOT, KATHLEEN ANN PAGHUBASAN
94 BURGOS, RHEA MARLEEN JOY SIBUG
95 BUSTAMANTE, CARLO III NAVERA
96 BUYUCAN, GINA AMBOJNON
97 BUÑI, CINDY LEAL
98 CABAHUG, ELVIRA PITOGO
99 CADANO, MARY JOYCE GOMEZ
100 CADDAUAN, SHARI-MAR MEDRANO
101 CAGAMPANG, LORIBEE JALOP
102 CALIMAG, MARIANO JR GUZMAN
103 CALLE, PAUL JOSEPH BERNARDO
104 CALMA, DIANNE BEVERLY DIMALIWAT
105 CALUNOD, JOFREY YEBAN
106 CALUSCUSIN, IAN RAY CANTOS
107 CAMACHO, JULIE ANN NOFUENTE
108 CAMAMA, MALICAH MACABANGKIT
109 CAMBE, CRIS PAGAL
110 CAMCAM, GENTELLE MILCA BELMES
111 CAMINGAO, ROSE MARY BATESTIL
112 CAPUYAN, JULIEROSE CABUGUAS
113 CARAMAT-SABADO, SHEILA ESGUERRA
114 CARANDANG, FINKY REYES
115 CARGANILLA, MA DHANIKA AVILES
116 CARMELO, JUAN CARLOS ALDEA
117 CARMELO, MA LIZA QUETULIO
118 CARTAGENA, JEMIMAH TAN
119 CARVAJAL, MARY ANN MARGARET ORLINO
120 CASAUL, ROMEO BARRION
121 CASTILLO, ALFREDO JR BABYLONIA
122 CASTILLO, JOHN DAVID DUPALE
123 CATEMBUNG, ANNABELLE MANANTAN
124 CAUSAPIN, JEFFREY GOMEZ
125 CAÑADA, KAREN JILL BALAGASAY
126 CERCADO, KAYA SHARLEY LIRA
127 CERIALES, RONALD RESUMA
128 CHAN, CRESSILDA LING
129 CHIU, WILSON TAPAYA
130 CHUA, MARY JACQUELINE TALUSAN
131 CINCO, ANTONETTE DAGUMAN
132 CINCO, CARLA MAE OCAÑADA
133 CINCO, DEBRA MYR ESTRADA
134 CLACIO, PURA WENA ABILLON
135 CLARIANES, EFREN JR GREGORIO
136 CO, MARK ISAIAH KHO
137 CO SAY, MARK GLEN TAN
138 CONLU-GREGORIOS, MA REBECCA GAMINO
139 CONTRERAS, CHRISTOPHER JAIME SALES
140 CORNEJO, LORRAINA FLOR GUMBA
141 CORONEL, MARIA KRISTINA ANGELA ALCANTARA
142 CORTEZ, BERNADETTE ECHON
143 COSIP, KYEEMA JUMAWAN
144 COSTANTINI, MANILA BALBARINO
145 CREDO, NICOLE MARIE CINCO
146 CRISTOBAL, LEA MANERA
147 CRUZ, FONTINI CRISTI FIGUEROA
148 CUENCO, FRANCIS MARTIN TINED
149 CUETO, ARNOLD IVAN BUHAT
150 CUSTODIO, MANILYN ANDAL
151 DALISAY, FERDINAND GUSTILO
152 DAMIAN, MANUEL JR ASI
153 DAMONSONG, ANNA MARIE LUZA
154 DAMOT, OLIVIA OLIVARES
155 DANGO, AILEENE ELLA LICONG
156 DAPAL, MA GLAIZA CENIZA ANOT
157 DAYAO, CARLOS SANTOS
158 DE AQUINO, ALLAN JOHN VALENTIN
159 DE AQUINO, ALVIN NIÑO VALENTIN
160 DE GUZMAN, KRISTINE MAE ANGELES
161 DE GUZMAN, VANJOE RUFO
162 DE JESUS, JOEL ABACAN
163 DE LOS SANTOS, LOVILLA ROXANNE BAYARONG
164 DEFACTO, NOHYNEZA NAVARRA
165 DELA CRUZ, ROWELL ANTHONY BERNAL
166 DELA CRUZ, RUBI JEAN AMOR CALIVA
167 DELA PEÑA, NATHANIEL OCAMPO
168 DELGADO, MA DAPHNE RACHELLE RONQUILLO
169 DELLOSA, JULIAN GUALBERTO GAERLAN
170 DELLOSA, NIKKI VANESSA LACSON
171 DEMANDANTE, DOVE ABAY
172 DENOSTA, IDA FIDELIS ENERO
173 DIDELES, KRISTI MARIE JOIE FERNANDEZ
174 DILIGENCIA, CLARE VILLANUEVA
175 DINGLASA, JOANN TARROZA
176 DIOQUINO, MACHELLI CARLOS
177 DIPASUPIL, MA ANTHONETTE SEGUI
178 DIVINA, MARY ALMIRA CASER
179 DOLLETE, JUNEVER VILLASPIN
180 DOMINADO, KRISTINE JOY DUPLON
181 DULAY, SHEREEN PANERGO
182 DULCE, JOYCE BERNADETTE DELA CRUZ
183 DULNUAN, ANNIE LOU PANYAG
184 DUMBRIQUE, JASON SOMOGOD
185 EDUARDO, SIGRID VILLANUEVA
186 EMATA, AN-AN PABLITA OBASA
187 ENCARNACION, RAYMOND ANYAYAHAN
188 ENRICUSO, RAYMUND ALAIN STA ANA
189 ESCASURA, MARIAN IRENE CAPILI
190 ESPERANZA, ARNOLD APILADO
191 EVANGELISTA, ANNE LOUISE VILLEGAS
192 EVANGELISTA, MARIFLOR HERNANDEZ
193 FABRO, ROCEL AQUINO
194 FAJARDO, KARREN LOU VILLAROYA
195 FAUSTINO, RENESON DAVID DELA CRUZ
196 FELICIANO, JOEL IBE
197 FELIPRADA, REYNA JOY GADIAN
198 FELIX, CHRISTOPHER JOHN JR VICTORIA
199 FERNAN, JANET KAREN SEVILLE
200 FERNANDEZ, RICHELLU CRYSTAL WILSON
201 FERNANDEZ, SHARON BOHOS
202 FERNANDO, JOSE III ZANTUA
203 FERRAS, JESSICA VIADO
204 FLORES, CARLO MALBAS
205 FLORES, ELOISA BALLARAN
206 FLORES, KAREN ANN RUIZ
207 FLORES, KAREN STEPHANIE MAYO
208 FORTUNO, JULIUS HENRY SORIANO
209 FRANCISCO, FRITZIE HANNAH AMOR
210 FRANY, ERLANY ARZANAN
211 GABAT, RAMON JR REYES
212 GABATINO, MARIA ASUNCION CARANDANG
213 GABUYO, AM KAROLINE VALENCIA
214 GADON, RUZEL CHRIS MORANTE
215 GAGALAC, MARIA FAMELA CATAPANG
216 GALVAN, IRVIN LORRIE PITAPIT
217 GAMEZ, MA NADEZNA SANCHEZ
218 GARCIA, ELVIN DORONILA
219 GARCIA, MERICHELE MASAYON
220 GARCIA, PAULO JASON MENGHAMAL
221 GARCIA, RIZA ALVIA
222 GARINGARAO, GENESIS CABANISAS
223 GARRIDO, MARILYN BALO
224 GENERILLO, ARVIN ACABADO
225 GENILO, RUFFY ALLAN VALLEJO
226 GERNALE, GERLANE LYN LACABA
227 GERTOS, RYAN NILE ADLAWON
228 GIMENA, MARY YOLANDA LABENIA
229 GLORIA, MARK RYAN ASERON
230 GO, DAVID RIZARDO
231 GONGON, PASCUAL BAQUE
232 GONZALES, ANN YSABEL ALONZO
233 GRIENGO, JOHN KENNETH
234 GUANSING, JAY P SALVADOR
235 GUANZON, NESLEN PUA
236 GUIBONE, MARY ELLEDINE REYES
237 GUILLERMO, SHERYL VALDEZ
238 GUINTO, MARIA KARLA LACSON
239 GUINTO, THERESE ANNE INGCO
240 GUIYAB, MANUEL JR SIONGCO
241 HADJI, FAHDA RAIZA JOE
242 HEBREO, ANGELITA ROMA PANALIGAN
243 HINOJALES, JOAMA PRIL TULOT
244 HIPOLITO, MAJESSA CRISSAN FRANCISCO
245 HIZON, KRISTINE ANNE SAPICO
246 HONTANOSAS, JAY EDWARDE ORILLANEDA
247 IGNACIO, MARCELINA CRUZ
248 ILIGAN, JASMIN ABAYON
249 IMPERIAL, KATHLEEN ROSE PARCO
250 INSIGNE, SEAN MAGTOTO
251 ISMAEL, ALICIA ONG
252 ISMAEL, MOHREIN VI HAMAD
253 ISON, CHRISTINE STEPHANIE CABIGTING
254 ITURRALDE, FREDERICK CANINIT
255 JACINTO, CECILIO JR LAGGUI
256 JAGOLINO, FRANCIS PAUL VALENZUELA
257 JANER, CHRISTINA MARGARITA CANON
258 JAO, MARILOU CABANTAC
259 JARALES, JANICE VILLAROYA
260 JARANILLA, JOSIE MAE DEMAVIBAS
261 JOCHICO, MELBEN ANGEL SEMILLANO
262 JOCSON-KIAT, LESLIE SUSANA BAUTISTA
263 JOPIA, VENUS SANTOS
264 JOSE, VIEL POPERA
265 JOTIC, JOANNE TORRES
266 JUCOM, JAYSON TABAO
267 JULHANI, ALMID TORRES
268 JUPLI, AL-WIDZRIN MOHAMMAD
269 KANEKO, SACHIKO DAVASOL
270 KANICO, MESHEL GODINEZ
271 KANNO, MARIA NATHALIE YUKI AMABLE
272 LACHICA, DANIEL JOHN DINEROS
273 LADOT, JONNIE LEE LAROZA
274 LAGUMBAY, PAMELA TORREJOS
275 LAGUNA, CHERRYLYN RESTRIVERA
276 LAO, JAN MICHAEL TAN
277 LAPATING-FANTILAGA, ROLINA PACARDO
278 LAPUZ, AMABELLE VILLANUEVA
279 LAPUZ, DEBBIE ALLEN DELOS REYES
280 LASTIERRE, MELANIE MONARCA
281 LATIZA, GRIZEL GAY SANTIAGO
282 LAZO, HOWARD JOSE HERULETH MANGA
283 LAZO, MARIJOY DIOKNO
284 LEE, JENNIFER CARIÑO
285 LEPROZO, JANICE MARABUT
286 LERIT, LYLE CHRISTIAN SANTIAGO
287 LIANZON, CELESTIAL CALIM
288 LIBARNES, ELISE BIANCA BAY
289 LIBOON, JOANNE ROSAIRE CRESPO
290 LIMBAGA, MARTY TANGCO
291 LIMJOCO, NOA ALEXANDRA DEANG
292 LINTAG, MARIA EISA JONSON
293 LIWANAG, NOEMI LYNNE SIRILAN
294 LIZADES, LIEZEL IWAG
295 LLAVE, KAREL GALEN ABELEDA
296 LOPEZ, DANIELLE LYNN ANSON
297 LOPEZ, GLORY ROSE LAZAGA
298 LOZADA, KATHY RESANO
299 LUISTRO, JOASH AGUILAR
300 LUMAPAS, MINNIE SHERYL FUA
301 LUZA, APRIL KRISTINE CALLA
302 MABAQUIAO, JENNA RELLOSO
303 MABOLO, ROMELE CAPAMBI
304 MACAGAAN, NASHEBA LIMBA
305 MACAILING, MARIA ETHEL LADIGOHON
306 MAGALIT, SHANTA CARLEEN BELONIO
307 MAGHIRANG, CHERYLL GESMUNDO
308 MAGLAYA, ROZAIDA ANNA NOVIERA
309 MAGMANLAC, ALEXANDER SOLIS
310 MAGONCIA, MARC FRANCES BONGCAWIL
311 MAGTOTO, KATHRINA TULLAO
312 MALAZARTE, DERBY JAKE MAMUGAY
313 MALIBIRAN, CARL-LINNI QUERUBIN
314 MAMONGCARA, ROHAYMAH-NORJIMA UMPAR
315 MANALOTO, PRINCESS CANLAS
316 MANAYAO, JOENNA MARIA IKBALA
317 MANDAL, NAE-ANNE VARONA
318 MANISAN, GEOPETER LAPLAP
319 MARCO, AMORY NEIL DOMINGO
320 MARQUILLERO, MAE MARECEL CERBO
321 MASACOTE, KRISTINE MARIE DUREZA
322 MATEO, VICTOR CESAR MA QUINITIO
323 MATILDO, IVY MARIE ROSALADA
324 MATINONG, RHODA MAE ALFONSA SONIDO
325 MEDINA, MICHAEL BENEDICTO
326 MEDINA, VON ANDRE MEJICO
327 MEGINO, MICHELLE AGUSTIN
328 MENDIGUARIN, EMMA MAUREEN MONTEMAYOR
329 MENDOZA, ARABELLA RODRIGUEZ
330 MENDOZA, SWEDEN MONTON
331 MIRAFLOR, LAMPEL LIWAYWAY REOMA
332 MIRANDA, MICHAEL HALLARE
333 MOLINA, MARY AKENO
334 MOMVILLE, JACQUELINE FRANCES FLORES
335 MON, KARRELL JARLOC
336 MONTERONA, DEBBIE PASCUAL
337 MORATIN, JAN CAROLINE TAROQUIN
338 MORGADO, HAZEL CASTASUS
339 MOSATALLA, JENNY COLINARES
340 MUSA, DARYL PANGOLIMA
341 MUÑOZ, ANTONIO LORENZO FULO
342 NAHYUNAN, RONIEREY BONGTIWON
343 NAMI, MINERVA DUTERTE
344 NARAVAL, REY CARLO GOROSPE
345 NATIVIDAD, DEVIE ANN QUESTIN
346 NAVARRO, MELANIE CARAYAG
347 NEBIT, EASTHER ROSE AUNGON
348 NEMEÑO, DENISE FAITH QUIRONG
349 NERVA, KRISTINA JESIKA MILABO
350 NGELANGEL, THOMAS JASON CHAKING APOLINAR
351 NICOL-GILLEGO, MARIA SARAH BAJARO
352 NOBLEFRANCA, LOU ANTHONY ELESTERIO
353 NOHAY, DECILLIONAIRE MAGSOMBOL
354 NON, MARNELLI CLAIRE DIAMANTE
355 NOVELOSO, EDEL ARIS BAUZON
356 OBACH, FAITH TUBORO
357 OBEÑA-ENCARNACION, CRIZA CLARE ASTUDILLO
358 OLIVAR, BLAZINE PAULINE TOBONGBANUA
359 OMAÑA, JAMES CAGUIOA
360 OPIÑA, MARIE KRISTINE AGCAOILI
361 ORLANDA, KRISTEL MAE MAJAL MOSCA
362 ORTEGA, AVA MAY VALMORIA
363 ORTIZ, ANGELA CAMILLE CASTILLON
364 OSOTEO, EUNICIA MARTINEZ
365 OYAO, RASHELLE MAE CABRAHAN
366 PABELICO, CHRISTIE ANNE ISABELO
367 PACOL, AL-WAHIB CALI
368 PACQUING, LEO FRANCIS UBUNGEN
369 PADILLA, MARILOU VERGARA
370 PADILLA, WALTER JAY VILLAVERDE
371 PAESTE, ROSCHELLE BETONIO
372 PAGDILAO, OLIVER ALVIAR
373 PAGUNSAN, ALAN GERARD SALAZAR
374 PAJIJI, MUSRIF JAMALUDDIN
375 PALADA, HARRY DOMINGO
376 PALMARIO, ROCHELLE NILO
377 PAMO, CHERRY MAE POBRE
378 PANAGSAGAN, FRENCHE TIONGSON
379 PANGAN, PINKY DOMINGO
380 PARAGAS, ANNE LOURDES SEE
381 PARAYAO, ELSA MASILANG
382 PARAYNO, VICTOR ARAGDON
383 PARCON, IRIS ANNE STA MARIA
384 PATIÑO, PEDRO ANGELO SALIGUMBA
385 PEDRAJAS, MARITES ESTARES
386 PEDRERA-RICO, GAY ANNE GRANADA
387 PEREZ, ANN CLYDE ELLAGA
388 PEREZ, GALEN CLARK CACHO
389 PEREZ, PAULA PATRICIA PALICTE
390 PERJES, MANUEL ANGELES
391 PERLAS, TONI JEAN PASCUAL
392 PILAPIL, DANICA ANA REDOBLADO
393 PILAR, AILEEN JOY AMANSEC
394 PILAR, MA CATHERINE QUIJANO
395 PILI, LOUVRET PANAGA
396 PINACATE, EIVELYN ROSE REBEBES
397 PINEDA, JOSE MARIE MARTINEZ
398 PINGOL, ARNIE LUNAS
399 PIOLLO, ARMI JUDY APALISOK
400 PONCE, NIMROD PILAPIL
401 PONTIÑOZA, MAY PEARL SANDOVAL
402 PORQUIS, GAEA HANSEL CHAVEZ
403 PRETENCIO, LENIE DELA SIERRA
404 PUENTESPINA, JAN ENRIQUE GUEVARRA
405 PUNO, MARIA ISABEL BEATRIZ LIM
406 PUNO-JUCOM, APPLE MAE SALACUP
407 PURA, MARI-ANN KRISTINE QUIRING
408 PY, GRACE CHRISTIAN SEVILLA
409 QUE, MARY JANE GRIPON
410 QUIAMBAO, HANNAH SHAYNE BELTRAN
411 QUICOY, ALLISON RAMOS
412 RACIMO, JOHN PAUL DE LA CRUZ
413 RAMIREZ, ESTRELLA MOLINA
414 RAMOS, KRIZEL VYRDEE ABRIGO
415 RAMOS, MIGUEL RAFAEL DAVID
416 RAYOS, CARO LYNE MARIE VILLANUEVA
417 RAYOS-LOPEZ, EUNICE KAYE MENCIAS
418 REBORON, ALEJANDRO JR BELARMINO
419 REGALADO, MARIA TERESA LOURDES AZARRAGA
420 REGASPI, GISELLE MORALES
421 RELLOROSA, VANESSA ANNE BASAYSAY
422 REPOLLO, ERNESTO JR JACA
423 REY, SHEENA CHRISTINE GUNOT
424 REYES, GERRY ARANCON
425 REYES, REGINA FE POLICARPIO
426 RIMANDO, RODOLFO JUNIOR OAMIL
427 RIZON, JEAN PIA CABANLIT
428 ROBLES, BENNICE LESLIE HOPE FAMOR
429 ROBLES, MA LOURDES NORBE
430 RODRIGUEZ, PAULINE LARA
431 RODRIGUEZ-PUENTESPINA, GLADYS AVIGAILE MADLANGSAKAY
432 ROMANILLOS, IVY SOLON
433 ROMANO, MARY CORAZON SANTOS
434 ROSARIO, MA ANN CLAIRE SOLIS
435 SAAVEDRA, MA IVY ROZETH LAO
436 SABA, NORBERTO III BACOT
437 SACLANGAN, TRICIA HAZELLE WAKING
438 SAKURAI, YOUKO TAMBIS
439 SALAVER, MARION ARAC
440 SALCEDO-ARESCO, RITCHELLE PADOLINA
441 SALDUA, CHANEL RESONABLE
442 SALIM, MUDIMAR ASPI
443 SALWEN, MARTIN JONATHAN MAURE
444 SAMAIN, SHARIFA MADZDA HASSAN
445 SAMONTE, ANNA LORAINNE LACTAO
446 SAMONTE, CARLO SANTINO BUENAFE
447 SANCHEZ, KIETH ANDREW AYON
448 SANCHEZ, LEMUELL KARLA ARCETA
449 SANEDRIN, BERNARDO UNTALAN
450 SANGUAL, MARY GRACE ESTALANE
451 SANTIAGO, ROWENA BASMAYOR
452 SANTIAGO, SHEREE GRACE BANDIOLA
453 SANTOS, ANGELITA DE GUZMAN
454 SANTOS, JENNYVIE ROSE
455 SANTOS, MARLON MAYORES
456 SARINAS, KARLA LOUSETTE PAGKALIWANGAN
457 SARMIENTO, LEONA CARMEN RODRIGUEZ
458 SERVAS, JERLYN MAUREEN PAMA
459 SILANG, JOEFFERD ISHMAEL VELASCO
460 SOLAS, PRINCESS JESSAN BERNARDO
461 SOLEDAD, FERDINAND AGUADO
462 SOMBRERO, MARIA CRISTINA ANSON
463 SONGCO, GERMAN CORNELIUS BESINGA
464 SORNITO, MARIA AMELIA HEMBRA
465 STA ROSA, KRESNERFE GALVEZ
466 SUBIA, CHRISTINE BACAO
467 SUICO, ALFONSO JR PASCUAL
468 SUMILE-TINGSON, YVETTE YAMUTA
469 TABADA, LUCY JANE ABANILLA
470 TABAJONDA, JENNIFER MACTAL
471 TAILAN-JANOLINO, GLADYS EMPLEO
472 TALEON, JANICE TUPAS
473 TALINES, NAPOLEON RAY ABANIL
474 TAMAYO, ANTONIO NARASINGA NAVARRA
475 TAN, KINGFORD NOLASCO
476 TAN, LANA CORINNE QUIRANTE
477 TAN, LYNNETTE MARIE CASCO
478 TANANGONAN, MARIECAR MARTINEZ
479 TANDUYAN, JONATHAN COLLO
480 TAPPAN, SWEET GARLLIE ALBERT REYES
481 TEJADA, MAE SUZAN BATO
482 TEODORO, JONATHAN LUMAUIG
483 TIDANG, REINA NITA LIZA BAY-AN
484 TITULAR, ERSON GANCHERO
485 TIU, LORENNE IAN PESCASIO
486 TIU, LOUIE JAYSON RICACHO
487 TIU, MARY ANNE CANDAROMA
488 TIU, RICHARD YAO
489 TRIUNFANTE, KAHIL LILY PALCES
490 UGALE, MARIA YVEZ ERIKA PARBO
491 UMALI, ARLENE ILAO
492 UMAR, RIHANNE MISUAREZ
493 UMEREZ, ANGELO ROME ALCALA
494 UMIL, CROMWELL BENJAMIN ARELLANO
495 URIARTE, LARA MARIE REDELOSA
496 UY, ARCHIBALD CONAN ANASYU
497 UY, REUEL CHRISTOPHER YOUNG
498 VALDEZ-BIRALDE, ARIANNE KATE VALENZUELA
499 VALENZUELA, JOANNA MARIE SANGALANG
500 VAQUILAR, ROSEMARIE SIOBAL
501 VELASCO, JON KARL DELGADO
502 VELEZ, MICHELLE TUMADA
503 VERAS, JENNYLYN ESTELLERO
504 VERZOLA, VICTOR MARCO CALUYA
505 VICTA, SARAH MOJICA
506 VICTOR, JOHN MARASIGAN
507 VICTORIANO, KHEREN GARCIA
508 VILLAMOR, SHARON CASTILLO
509 VILLANUEVA, BEN JOHNSON BONGALOS
510 VILLAPAZ, VERNABELLA MAGBANUA
511 VILLEGAS, THARA KRISTELLE COLLADO
512 VIO, RACHEL LOUISE SALIGBON
513 VIRIL, NANETTE CHAVEZ
514 YOROBE, MARI ANNE MAXINO
515 YU, CHRISTINE TRINITY CAHAYAG
516 YU, ROSANNE MAGDALE
517 YUSAY, JULIE CHRISTY REYES
518 YUSON, RONA LIZA VILLARTA
519 ZAPATOS-APOSTOL, PESABETH SARABELLO
520 ZERRUDO, MARIVIC YOGYOG
NOTHING FOLLOWS———————-

MANILA, Philippines – The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 22,760 out of 67,095 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing last December 2011.

PRC said the examination were held in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Nueva Ecija, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga .

The members of the Board of Nursing are Carmencita M. Abaquin, chairman; Leonila A. Faire, Betty F. Merritt, Perla G. Po, Marco Antonio C. Sto.Tomas, Yolanda C. Arugay and Amelia B. Rosales, members.

PRC said that the results were released after 42 working days from the exam date.

Registration for new nurses shall require the following:

• duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal,
• current Community Tax Certificate (cedula),
• 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag),
• 1 piece 1” x 1” picture (colored with white background and complete name tag),
• 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and
• 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and
• to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2012-2015.

PRC said the successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

Full list of successful examinees.

September 17, 2011
Philippine Hip & Knee Society (PHKS) 1st Annual Convention
Theme: Basic Principles and Techniques in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Getting It Right the First Time”
Venue: Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Ortigas Ave. corner ADB Ave., Quezon City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV-BFPdfqJU

How to Sit at a Computer
Regular computer users perform 50,000 to 200,000 keystrokes each day. Under certain circumstances and for vulnerable individuals, frequent computer use that involves awkward postures, repetition, and forceful exertions may be related to nerve, muscle, tendon, and ligament damage.

If you use a computer extensively (several hours each day), many experts recommend that you consider proper workstation layout and posture techniques to minimize your risk of developing injuries of the hand/arm, shoulder, neck, and back.

Overuse injuries develop over time, and may set in more quickly if you spend long hours sitting at a computer at home, as well as at work.

Some doctors find new gadgets, apps, and technology fun; some find them confusing; and others want nothing to do with them. Whichever category you fall into, there’s a good chance that some exciting and important new tools will someday be part of your medical life. Here are some that are changing the practice of medicine.

1) Video Consults on Your Smartphone

Using new technology, some doctors — particularly in rural areas — are doing video office visits. A number of companies have sprung up, such as MDLiveCare, that offer consultations via real-time video.

But mobile video is going even a step further. Faster connections over newer cellular networks — commonly called 3G and 4G, respectively, for third-generation and fourth-generation mobile telecommunications technology (3G and 4G refer to the speed of the network the phone is connected with) — also are enabling wider use of mobile video in healthcare.

Andrew Barbash, MD, head of the neurosciences and stroke program at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, uses the free Google Talk application on his smartphone to conduct video consultations with patients and clinicians in the emergency department when he’s on call but not physically at the hospital. “The mobile phone becomes kind of the enabler,” Barbash says.

Joseph Kim, MD, MPH, curator of MedicalSmartphones.com, believes this is just the beginning. “You will see more patients communicating with doctors via telemedicine,” he says.

2) Tablet Computers

Touch-screen tablet computers are creating a new class of totally cool and incredibly useful gadgets and applications that are helping to make life easier for physicians and their patients.

Let’s face it, Apple’s iPad has taken medicine by storm. Research firm Knowledge Networks reported in March 2011 that 27% of physicians in the United States had a tablet-style computer, or about 5 times the general public’s adoption rate. That study didn’t break down tablet usage by platform or model, but healthcare industry analyst Chilmark Research estimated that 22% of all physicians in the United States were using iPads at the end of 2010 (Sharma C. “mHealth in the Enterprise: Trends, Opportunities and Challenges.” Chilmark Research, November 2010).

Tablets in general and the iPad in particular are more than just oversized smartphones without the phone. They have processing power to rival that of desktop computers. Some of the smaller models — the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the BlackBerry PlayBook — fit into the pocket of a lab coat. And they have touch screens.

“Whenever you’re in a remote environment, it’s much easier to draw things up than to try to explain on the phone,” says Kim.

3) Speech Recognition Programs

Iltifat Husain, MD, Editor-in-Chief and founder of the iMedicalApps.com blog and a new graduate of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, is bullish on speech recognition as a breakthrough technology that makes physicians’ lives easier. “I think that doesn’t get enough play,” he says. It’s already easing the transition to electronic medical records (EMRs) by helping physicians document cases and changing medical transcriptionists into higher-skilled editors. Husain says he is looking forward to the day that Nuance Communications comes out with a version of Dragon Medical speech recognition software that supports real-time voice dictation on mobile phones.

“The beauty of real-time mobile speech recognition is that the physician no longer needs a keyboard,” Husain says. He notes that one company, DrChrono, already makes an EMR specifically for the iPad that includes real-time mobile dictation.

4) Handheld Ultrasound Stethoscope

Goodbye to what has been the symbol of physician care for almost 200 years.

“In 2016, doctors aren’t going to be walking around with stethoscopes,” cardiologist Eric Topol, MD, Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute, Chief Medical Officer of the West Wireless Health Institute in La Jolla, California, and Chief Academic Officer at Scripps Health in San Diego, said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. “There’s a whole lot better technology coming.”

Topol called the handheld ultrasound the “new stethoscope,” something that will become a must-have device for physicians. In 2009, GE Healthcare introduced the Vscan, an ultrasound visualization device that looks like an oversized cell phone with an attached scanning probe.

The Vscan costs about $8000, but that price is expected to come down as the technology improves. Another company, privately held Mobisante, this year gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for a similarly priced ultrasound system that runs on a Windows-based Toshiba smartphone.

5) Smart Bandage

The Holter monitor is also on its way out. Topol has called it, “another obsolete technology, soon to be buried.” It just contains too many wires and is uncomfortable to wear. Instead, Topol said, patients with serious chronic ailments such as congestive heart failure ought to be wearing a “smart bandage,” an adhesive patch containing an array of sensors that measure vital signs.

It’s a technology that patients can even take home with them. Wireless transmitters in the bandage send readings either to a patient’s smartphone or an Internet gateway such as an in-home wireless router, creating what’s known as a “body-area network” that keeps constant tabs on people who might otherwise require hospitalization.

6) Unified Communications

Though cell phones are pretty much ubiquitous in society and smartphones have proliferated in hospitals, far too many clinicians haven’t been able to ditch the old-fashioned pager. But some companies are trying to eliminate the need for multiple devices by promoting what they call unified communications.

For years, Vocera has offered wireless voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) phones that send paging, voice, and text messages to portable handsets within a hospital or clinic. So you can get a portable handset that will still page you but also provide other services, including voice and text messages. In the past couple of years, a Sarasota, Florida-based startup called Voalte (pronounced “volt”) has packaged similar technology to run on the user’s own smartphone, with a single phone number for all communications.

7) Remote Medical Devices and Functions via Smartphone

Some software developers have seized the power of the Apple iOS (iPhone) and Google Android operating systems to design apps that effectively turn smartphones into low-cost medical devices, helping to create a new category of mobile diagnostics.

In June 2010, the FDA cleared DiabetesManager from Baltimore-based WellDoc, a blood glucose measuring system that links to a mobile phone app so patients with type 2 diabetes can collect, track, and share readings with health professionals and learn how to better manage their conditions. Three months later, AgaMatrix of Salem, New Hampshire, won premarket approval for its WaveSense Diabetes app for the iPhone that analyzes data from the device maker’s Jazz glucose monitor.

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have even created a lens-free microscope using a $1.50 digital camera sensor that connects to a smartphone to help remote health workers diagnose malaria in developing countries.

Others have created apps that mimic the functionality of a stethoscope by listening to the heartbeat through a smartphone’s microphone, but that approach doesn’t work for everyone, according to Husain.

“People should be careful when using applications like that,” says Husain. “There is a whole host of variables where you can’t use that.” For example, Husain says it is difficult to get an accurate reading on overweight patients without an external stethoscope attachment.

Technology That’s Changing Medical Care

Some other attention-grabbing technologies include:

Automated Medication Adherence

“Smart” pill bottles can emit light and sound when it’s time to take a pill and send automatic alerts to caregivers if the patient skips a dose. That gives physicians a new way to monitor medication adherence in populations with chronic disease. Automated text messages can serve a similar function. This is such a promising area that biotechnology billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, recently purchased Vitality, maker of the GlowCap wireless Internet-connected medication bottlecap.

9) Electronic Reference Tools and Calculators

Mobile medical reference apps, including Medscape’s, have been around for years, but they’re becoming more timely and functional. In April, Canadian mobile software vendor QxMD apparently made history by releasing an update to its Calculate by QxMD app to incorporate new scientific knowledge about the risk for renal failure and the need for dialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease at the same time a Tufts Medical Center researcher publicly presented the evidence.

Husain is a fan of a free medical translator called MediBabble. “This is a terrific app,” he says, noting that it’s particularly useful in international disaster relief. MediBabble is a history-taking and examination application designed to improve the safety and efficiency of care for non-English-speaking patients.

10) Social Networking

Facebook has captured the imagination of the world, claiming 500 million active users, half of whom log in on any given day. You can be sure that plenty of physicians are among those masses. But where do you go when you want to discuss medicine or simply connect with other doctors?

LinkedIn, a business-focused networking site, has at least 100 million users worldwide, but there are several social and professional networking sites just for healthcare professionals, some of which offer secure communications suitable for colleagues who already know each other to discuss specific cases. (Medscape’s discussion boards are popular landing spots for physicians).

For patients, there’s an emerging field called participatory medicine. A group called the Society for Participatory Medicine defines it as “a cooperative model of healthcare that encourages and expects active involvement by all connected parties (patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, etc.) as integral to the full continuum of care.” Patients facing serious health challenges have been flocking to sites such as Organized Wisdom and PatientsLikeMe.

by: Neil Versel

Mobile Phone Use and Stress, Sleep Disturbances, and Symptoms of Depression among Young Adults – A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background:
Because of the quick development and widespread use of mobile phones, and their vast effect on communication and interactions, it is important to study possible negative health effects of mobile phone exposure. The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether there are associations between psychosocial aspects of mobile phone use and mental health symptoms in a prospective cohort of young adults.

Methods:
The study group consisted of young adults 20–24 years old (n = 4156), who responded to a questionnaire at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Mobile phone exposure variables included frequency of use, but also more qualitative variables: demands on availability, perceived stressfulness of accessibility, being awakened at night by the mobile phone, and personal overuse of the mobile phone. Mental health outcomes included current stress, sleep disorders, and symptoms of depression. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated for cross-sectional and prospective associations between exposure variables and mental health outcomes for men and women separately.

Results:
There were cross-sectional associations between high compared to low mobile phone use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression for the men and women. When excluding respondents reporting mental health symptoms at baseline, high mobile phone use was associated with sleep disturbances and symptoms of depression for the men and symptoms of depression for the women at 1-year follow-up. All qualitative variables had cross-sectional associations with mental health outcomes. In prospective analysis, overuse was associated with stress and sleep disturbances for women, and high accessibility stress was associated with stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression for both men and women.

Conclusions:
High frequency of mobile phone use at baseline was a risk factor for mental health outcomes at 1-year follow-up among the young adults. The risk for reporting mental health symptoms at follow-up was greatest among those who had perceived accessibility via mobile phones to be stressful. Public health prevention strategies focusing on attitudes could include information and advice, helping young adults to set limits for their own and others’ accessibility.

by: Sara Thomée; Annika Härenstam; Mats Hagberg
Posted: 04/19/2011; BMC Public Health. 2011

published   global   comparative  study  on  affordability  and  accessibility  in  higher

education.

Philippines have a 90% literacy rate. If proves that Education is of primary concern

in the  country  Philippines is the largest   English – Speaking  country in the Southeast

Asian region.  English is used as a medium  of instruction in higher education .   Also,

Filipinos are considered one of the most competent English speakers in the world.  It is

known for its highest standard of education, high – caliber education institutions.  The

country is the major exporters of English teachers, nurses, doctors and Skilled workers

abroad.

Apart from competence, cost is also a major consideration in studying .  The culture is

much easy to adopt with.  People are more hospitable and the environment is more open

and less hostile.

Why Philippines?

Philippines is the place to be for foreign students

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”–Confucius

This quote from the famous Chinese philosopher must be true for every student who

wishes to study abroad and attain a winning career. Students should be careful in

choosing which country they will spend their time and money for studying because if they

made a wrong step or move, the journey to success would be difficult for them to take.

The benefits of choosing Philippines

While lots of foreign students are found anywhere in the world—like in US, UK, Germany,

France, Australia, or Japan—No one can ignore studying in the Philippines.

Philippines has one of the best education systems in Asia.

Its is one of the best place for students to study completely in English, at affordable prices

and high quality.

The education system is just so fantastic that Philippines has send hundreds of doctors

and engineers to work in USA, UK , Middle east etc along with other professionals.

Philippines follows the American education system.

For example, Kwon Ka-young, a Korean university student who went to the Philippines last

year to volunteer and study English said: “Studying in the Philippines helped me not only to

improve my English skills but also to become more of a global citizen.” Aside from

Koreans, an increasing number of Americans, Koreans, Taiwanese, Chinese, and other

foreigners also pursue their education in the country.

Why do some 5, 000 foreign students study here in the Philippines? Few countries in Asia

can match the country when it comes to providing quality education and fun at the same

time.

As the world’s 3rd largest English-speaking nation, the Philippines provides huge

knowledge resources, up-to-date instruction, and a multicultural learning atmosphere with

its 93.9% literacy rate. It is home to a number of ISO-certified universities and 275 higher

educational institutions identified as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development.

There are also several international schools in the Philippines which are on American,

British, German, Chinese, French, and Japanese educational tracks.

The business and accounting schools in the country adhere to the US’ Generally Accepted

Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

while the engineering and marine schools are included in the APEC Engineer Registry

and International Maritime Organization (IMO) white list. Students are also guaranteed of

getting training from more than 115, 000 teachers with master’s and doctorate degrees in

the Philippines.

Foreign students do not only get the chance of earning excellent education, but they also

find ways of enjoying their stay in the Philippines. After having serious lessons in their

classrooms, they can relax by swimming, surfing, diving, and snorkeling in numerous

pristine beaches anywhere, or unwind in some of the island’s heritage sites like the man-

made rice terraces, marine parks, mountains, underground rivers, and other tourist

hideaways that depict Asian and European architecture. If these are not the places for

them, they can still enjoy hanging out in countless five-star hotels and restaurants,

entertainment shows, shopping malls, and cafes.

The Philippines is known for its people’s hospitality and joyfulness. Visitors everywhere

marvel at the way they are treated in each place they visit. They also enjoy the number of

festivals that are held for every locality which reflects the country’s rich and diverse culture

and traditions. The Korean student Ka-young added: “One of my greatest curiosities in the

Philippines is why Filipino festivals last for a week because usually, Korean festivals take

place for only two or three days. I enjoyed the fiestas mainly the Ati-atihan, where Koreans

and Filipinos all became one by dancing, singing, and even drinking together.”

Studies also show that it is more affordable to study in the Philippines compared with

other countries offering high quality education. It is because a person can live a modest

lifestyle by only spending US$350 to US$500 a month.

Programs for mobile students

To attract foreigners to pursue their education in the Philippines, the government prepared

some programs to suit the students’ needs.

One of these is the ‘Philippine ESL (English as a Second Language) Tour Program,’ in

which the study of English forms part of a structured tour package. Studying English

becomes more exciting and fun through dynamic and creative ways of learning where

participants get to interact, practice, and use English more often in real-life settings thru

games, outdoor activities, excursions, and immersions. Aside from learning the English

language, participants get to see the beautiful sceneries of the Philippine countryside and

immerse with the local culture.

The duration of English courses vary depending on the needs and objectives of the

student. Modules may range from one week to one month depending on the student’s

level of proficiency. Participants can choose among the 21 bi-authorized English language

learning centers spread all over the country.

The government also issued the Executive Order 285 which authorizes the conversion of

tourist visa category to student visa, or gives out a Special Study Permit for those who wish

to enroll in a non-degree course for less than one (1) year.

Aside from these, the Philippines also made the ‘Visa-Upon-Arrival Program’ where tour

groups and individual travelers from the East Asia, particularly from China, can now apply

for a 14-day visa upon their arrival at any Philippine international airport.

WHY PHILIPPINES

WHY STUDY IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Many parents believe that Philippines is the right place for their children to study because it

offers many good reasons for quality education.

MEDIUM FOR LEARNING ENGLISH

* The world’s third largest English-speaking country

* Highest English literacy rate in Asia

* Mode of instruction in all levels of education

* Widely-used language for business, education,communication and trade

CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

* US System of Education

* Quality medical education as recognized by World Health Organization (WHO),

IMED of ECFMG- USA and silimar other bodies.

* Top Universities renowned worldwide

* Integrated problem-based learning approach

* Modern teaching methods with first-rate facilities

AFFORDABILITY

* Affordable overseas degrees and tuition fees

* Economical accommodation and living expenses

* Excellent and comfortable boarding facilities

* Affordable medical and dental expenses

* Inexpensive travel cost

* Student-assisted visa application

CONDUCIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT

* Warmth, graciousness and hospitality of the Filipinos

* Open and stimulating classroom environment

* Solidarity between students and professors

* Dedicated and friendly school staff and faculty members

* Cultural diversity in the society

* Close proximity to other Asian countries

* Improved shipping facilities and services

* Expanded business centers

* Advanced information technology

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GLOBAL GROWTH

* Better opportunities to secure employment and permanent residency in other

developed countries

* Good opportunity to travel around the world

* Opportunities to make significant contributions to your society and to your country

after graduation

* Education gateway to other countries like the United States of America, the United

Kingdom, Canada, and many others

See more: studymdinphilippines.com

MANILA, Apr 14, 2011 (IPS) – In a country where an estimated 4,500 women die every year due to complications during childbirth, the enactment of a reproductive health (RH) policy is said to be a measure that could save lives.

The Catholic Church has been very vocal in its opposition to a RH policy in the country, but not all religious organisations agree.

In a press conference dubbed ‘To Sin or not to Sin: The Views of Other Churches on RH’, representatives from different faith-based organisations expressed their support for the passage of the highly debated House Bill 4244 or the ‘Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2011’ and its Senate counterpart.

“We support the RH Bill because it is pro-life, it is pro-development and it is pro-poor,” said Bishop Efraim Tendero, of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).

PCEC is the largest network of evangelical Christians in the Philippines and is composed of 25,000 evangelical churches, 66 denominations, and 150 community and mission organisations.

Addressing concerns of the Catholic Church that the bill would promote a “culture of death” by allowing artificial contraceptive methods, Tendero had this to say: “Life begins at fertilisation. Therefore if there is no fertilisation, there is no life yet. The use of artificial contraception is not taking away life because life has not yet started.”

Eduardo V. Manalo, executive minister of Iglesia ni Cristo to the Committee of Population and Family Relations, said that many of society’s worsening ills could be traced to families “growing so large that an increasing number of parents cannot provide the most basic human needs to their families.”

“The Bible states that a parent who does not provide for the needs of his own household is worse than an unbeliever. (I Tim 5:8),” Manalo said. “Since modern methods of contraception – by preventing married couples from having unwanted pregnancies – assist in supporting this Christian principle, we support their use,” according to the statement.

Iglesia ni Cristo is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organisation in the Philippines, and the largest independent church in Asia.

Bishop Rodrigo Tano of the Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood (Interfaith) claimed that if the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) professed to value the dignity of every human person, they should have more respect for human rights.

“To allow the deaths of mothers and babies because of a lack of a national policy is almost criminal,” said Tano, citing figures of maternal and infant deaths in the country.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), maternal deaths in the Philippines are one of the highest in the region. An estimated 11 women die every day in the country due to complications during pregnancy – most of these deaths are preventable. The problem is said to be particularly severe within the Muslim communities in Mindanao, where as many 320 mothers died per 100,000 live births according to the UN.

The Philippines has one of Asia’s fasted-growing populations, which is nearing the 100 million mark.

Interfaith is a gathering of various faith-based organisations, whose members include Iglesia ni Cristo, evangelical protestant churches, Roman Catholic individuals, and Muslim groups in Mindanao.

Tano also said that he was disturbed by the use of ambiguous terms, the lack of clarity in medical terms, and claims of the CBCP that there is no relation between population size and poverty.

“We should go by evidence and not by ecclesiastical declarations,” said Tano. “Evidence shows that families are unable to maintain their income, expenditures and savings as their size increases. The incidence of child labour also rises as family size increases.”

“When talking about issues of morality, let us look at the context of the Philippines and the context of the world,” suggested Rommel Linatoc, of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). The NCCP is a fellowship of 10 Protestant and non-Roman Catholic denominations, and 10 service-oriented organisations in the Philippines. It represents close to 12 million adherents.

Linatoc expressed his support for the bill saying that it would affirm a better quality of life for families and ensure better health for women.

Ernesto Pernia, of the University of the Philippines School of Economics and a representative of Catholics for Reproductive Health (CRH), agreed that there is a morality issue that needed to be addressed.

“Our bishops in CBCP can not say that practicing RH is sinful in the Philippines, but it is not in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Ireland and Italy because Catholics there practice family planning as a matter of course,” Pernia said. “The Catholic Church does not stand in the way of the government promoting or implementing a population policy.”

CRH is an alliance of Filipino Catholics advocating for the passage of the reproductive health bill and fighting for Filipinos’ right to reproductive health services.

Pernia pointed out that the Philippines is the only Catholic country that has not addressed its population issue. He added that the having a reproductive health policy would promote human development and a “life of dignity” rather than a “life of misery”, which is what many people who cannot properly care for their children are currently facing.

Ramon San Pascual of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), said that churches support the passage of the RH bill as they know their members would benefit from it.

“We do not understand why some leaders of the Catholic Church are so stubborn that they refuse to see the issue in the perspective of their parishioners who in fact clamour for RH education and services,” said San Pascual.

Around 80 percent of the Philippines population is Catholic – and the Catholic Church sanctions only natural family planning methods.

Meanwhile, Pernia says that there were many priests, nuns and theologians who supported the bill as individuals but were still afraid to come out openly in support of it.

Following reports of the recent resumption of dialogue between the government and the Catholic hierarchy on RH, Elizabeth Angsioco, national chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) said that other religions and women’s groups in the country deserve to be heard.

“The President should be reminded that the country is not 100 percent Catholic. It is only right that he listens to other religious leaders,” Angsioco said. By Kara Santos