Philippine College of Surgeons

Username:

Password:

Forgot Password? Click Here | SIGN UP

History And Milestones Of Philippine College Of Surgeons

The Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) was organized by a small group of thirty-five distinguished pioneering surgeons led by Dr. Gregorio T. Singian on September 12, 1936. Upon the approval of its by-laws on October 10, 1936, the organization embarked on its avowed mission of elevating the standards of surgical practice in the country. It aimed at the attainment of greatness through unselfish men dedicated to service, especially the healing of patients, and in the further unceasing search for the elusive surgical secrets that benefit humankind, and the continuous professional update of its members.

The Charter Fellows of the PCS include: Drs. Honoria Acosta-Sison, Rufino Abriol, Valentin Afable, Conrado Ayuyao, Alfredo Baens, Miguel Canizares, Gervasio Cuyugan, Aurelio Dayrit, Facundo Esquivel, Januario Estrada, Sr., Gumersindo Garcia, Rudolfo Gonzales, Fortunato Guerrero, Nicanor Jacinto, Ricardo Jara, Alfredo Jocson, Enrique Lopez, Rafael Ma. Moreta, Paul Palencia, Carmelo Reyes, Baldomero Roxas, Guillermo Rustia, Luis Santos, Victor Sevilla, Gregorio Singian, Castor Surla, Manuel Tuazon, Basilio Valdez, Antonio Vasquez, Gerardo Vasquez, Herminio Velarde, Sr., Augusto Villarama, and Francisco Villaroman. The recorgnized Founder and First President was Dr. Gregorio Singian.

The Board of Regents met regularly until August 29, 1941 when World War II temporarily interrupted its activities. After the war, with normal conditions being slowly re-established, the first regular scientific meeting was held on March 30, 1946 at the Guanzon Memorial Hall of the Philippine General Hospital. In July of that year, the first medical specialty journal called the Philippine Journal of Surgery was published. The journal was adopted by other surgical specialties until it was finally named the Philippine Journal of Surgical Specialties (PJSS), a name still being used up to the present time. There was no looking back for the PCS from then on.

The Milestones include:

1947 December	First Philippine Surgical Congress under the auspices of the PCS at the Philippine General Hospital and University of Sto. Tomas Hospital.
1949 December	Election of Dr. Baldomero Roxas as the first Filipino Honorary Fellow of the PCS.
1950 December	Election of Dr. Howard Naffziger, FACS, as the first foreign Honorary Fellow of the PCS.
1955 March	Philippine Journal of Surgery was renamed Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, having been adopted as the official journal of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.
1958 January	The Journal was adopted as the official publication of the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology and Bronchoesophagology.
1959 January	The Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology was renamed Philippine Journal of Surgery and Surgical Specialties.
December 5	PCS awards diplomas to first accredited hospitals, Manila Hotel.
1960 November 30	PCS admitted into International Federation of Surgical Colleges.
1961 December 13	First Gregorio T. Singian Lecture delivered by Dr. Carmelo Reyes.
	First local PCS chapter is organized.
1973 December 1	First PCS-Mead Johnson Surgical Research Award.
1975 May 30-31	First PCS Midyear Convention held in Bacolod City.
1976 November 8	Joint PCS Surgical Specialties Training Accreditation Council is organized.
1977 June 9-11	First Constitutional Convention held in Baguio City.
October	First PCS-United Laboratories Residents’ Night Scientific Research Paper Contest.
1978 June	First Residency Scholarship Grants awarded.
December	First Surgical Technology Contest held.
1979 January	Creation of the Surgical Training Committee.
April	Launching of PCS Foundation, Inc. at Manila Polo Club.
1980 January	Creation of the Committee on Trauma, Committee on Cancer and Committee on Mutual Aid Plan (Fellows Assistance Plan).
June 12	Cornerstone laying for PCS Building, EDSA, QC.
December	First Memorial Oration in honor of Dr. Jose Y. Fores was delivered by Dr. Enrique M. Garcia, FPCS.
1981 February 25	First issue of PCS Newsletter in newspaper format.
February 27	Start of Wet Clinics later to be under the Committee on Surgery in Unvisited Regions for Education (SURE), conducted in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
April 21	PCS received NSDB Certificate No. 81 F-07 as a Foundation.
May 1	PCS in TV feature on "How to Detect Cancer".
May 11	PCS poster on "Who Should Do Your Operation?" circulated to all Fellows.
May 26	Trauma Seminar for Metrocom, Metropolitan Police Officers.
August 15	Construction of PCS Building began.
December 7-10	37^th Annual Convention; Surgical Congress by Specialty Societies; Awarding of Living Founders, Senior Fellows and Past Presidents.
1982 July 9	Joint PCS-Philippine Society of Pathologists Symposium on Standard Nomenclature of Breast Tumors.
August 1	First Floor of PCS building completed.
December 6-9	38^th Annual Convention; First Surgical Animal Research Contest; Surgical Technology Contest revived.
December 6	Presentation of Guidelines on Surgeons’ Fees (Relative Values).
December 7	PCS elections providing for at least one Regent each to represent the chapters in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
1983 January 3	Creation of the Committee on Surgical Research; Cyanamid Philippines and Davis & Geck provides grant for the PCS Board Room.
May 9	Approval of a new Editorial Board of the PJSS.
June 15-July 13	First Postgraduate Course for Surgical Residents, Bayanihan Hall, United Laboratories.
December	First Breakfast Conference in Annual Convention Dr. Lloyd M. Nyhus is conferred PCS Honorary Fellowship. Professor Tan Sri G.B. Ong delivers 4^th Memorial Oration. PCS Library receives two sets of book-bounded issues of PJSS (1946-1983).
1984 May 18-19	Midyear Convention and Ratification of Amended PCS By-Laws and Election Code.
July 6-8	2^nd Postgraduate Course for Surgical Residents, Audio-visual Room, Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu City.
August 11	Completion of 2^nd and 3^rd floors of PCS Building.
December 1-2	40^th Annual Convention. Proxy voting not allowed in elections.
1985 February 4	Approval of amended Administrative Manual.
May 11	Approval of Revised Accreditation Requirements of Residency Programs in General Surgery.
September 30	Approval of re-arrangement of PCS Hymn.
December 4	PCS building blessed by Monsignor Nico Bautista.
December 5	41^st Annual Convention; PCS Hymn first sung at Opening Ceremonies.
1986 February	Rules governing affiliate societies approved for inclusion in Administrative Manual.
May 8-10	12 ^th Midyear Convention, Philippine Plaza Hotel; Dr.Jose Ma. Lucas, FPCS wins prize for slogan "Torch of Science, Light of Life".
June	PCS supports "Alay sa Kawal Project of Pres. Corazon C. Aquino.
Jun 4-6	4^th Postgraduate Course for Surgical Residents, Bayanihan Hall, United Laboratories.
November 30	42^nd Annual Convention and 5^th Surgical Congress, Grand Ballroom, Philippine Plaza Hotel with Pres. Corazon C. Aquino as Guest of Honor.
1987 March 2	Granting of amnesty to Fellows who have been delinquent in the payment of annual dues.
March 18-21	5^th Postgraduate Course for Surgical Residents, New Bayanihan Hall, United Laboratories.
April 1	Philippine Surgeons Charity Foundation (PSC) thru its President, Dr. Sariel Ablaza, donates initial funds to PCS Scholarship Program.
April 4	Creation of Ad-Hoc Committee to "Study Surgical Manpower Needs in the Philippines".
April 25	First Trauma Poster Contest with theme: "Ikaw at ang Sakuna".
May 14	PCS-PSC Memorandum of Agreement is approved.
May 15-16	Midyear Convention, Hyatt Terraces Hotel, Baguio City.
December 7-9	43^rd Annual Convention, Grand Ballroom, Philippine Plaza Hotel.
1988 February 1	Creation of an organization of all PCS Scholars.
April 16	Proposal for hosting of Midyear Convention by PCS Chapters was entertained.
May 6-7	14^th Midyear Convention, Cebu Plaza Hotel, Cebu City.
July 4	Approval for the use of a point value system for the existing requirements for a 4 year accredited training program in General Surgery to be used by the Committee on Accreditation.
September 27	Signing of MOA between PCS and Chief of Staff, AFP, Gen. Renato de Villa, granting Free Surgical Services for AFP and INP personnel injured in the line of duty.
October 3	Approving the publication in the PCS Newsletter of the names of all applicants for PCS Fellowship.
December 3	PCS-Philippine Board of Surgery Workshop on Residency Training, Manila Midtown Hotel.
December 5-7	44^th Annual Convention, Philippine Plaza Hotel.
1989 January 9	Creation of Liaison Committee with Department of Health (DOH).
May 5-6	15^th Midyear Convention, Davao Inter-Continental Inn, Davao City.
June 2	Creation of Ad-Hoc Committee on Legislative Liaison.
June 23	First PCS Oncology Rounds at St. Luke’s Medical Center.
June 30-July 2	7^th Postgraduate Course for Surgical Residents, Bayanihan Hall, United Laboratories.
November 29	45^th Annual Convention, Philippine Plaza Hotel.
December 18	Joint Board Meeting, PCS and Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA), Manila Hotel.
1990 February 2	Revival of PCS-SURE project.
March 27	Formation of the Joint Council for Head and Neck Surgery.
May 3	Approval of Rules and Guidelines for foreign physicians practicing medicine in the Philippines under "Medical Mission" programs.
May 4-5	16^th Midyear Convention, Hyatt Terraces Hotel, Baguio City.
June	PCS grants request of DOH to give Specialty Board Certifying Examinations for DOH physicians who passed the DOH Medical Specialist Qualifying Examination in Surgery as well a graduates of DOH-accredited Residency Training Programs in Surgery.
June 20-26	8^th Postgraduate Course in Surgery, Bayanihan Hall, United Laboratories. DOH physicians in attendance.
December 10-12	46^th Annual Convention, Philippine Plaza Hotel; First Surgical Poster Session Contest; First report on the PCS Trauma Registry; Conferment of PCS Honorary Fellowships on Sir Roy Y. Calne and Dr. David C. Sabiston, Jr.

	Search By Name:

	Search By Specialty:

Subcribe to PCS Newsletter by
submitting the form below: