THE BEGINNING OF AN IDEA

In the first quarter of 2002, Dr. Abraham L. Gonzales, then one of the first ENTs practicing in Bicol and member of the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery (PSO-HNS)-Southern Luzon Chapter, floated the idea among his fellow Bicolano members, of creating a separate PSO-HNS chapter for those practicing in the various provinces of the Bicol region. The response was an overwhelming affirmative. Consequently, he drafted a letter addressed to the PSO-HNS national president, Dr. Edgardo Rodriguez, Jr., informing him of the plan of the Bicolano ENTs to request for their own chapter, and the reasons behind it. The letter was signed by the practicing ENT Fellows in the Bicol region and formally endorsed to Dr. Rodriguez during the PSO-HNS Midyear convention in April that same year. Dr. Rodriguez agreed in principle with their plan and promised to present it to the PSO- HNS executive committee members (now the Board of Trustees) for evaluation.

The wholehearted support of Dr. Rodriguez, to whom the Bicol chapter will always be indebted and the enthusiasm, as well as the persuasive argument of the Bicol team won the members over. The executive committee unanimously approved the creation of a separate chapter and furthermore issued a board resolution to its effect, approved by all the members present, hence, the PSO-HNS Bicol chapter was born.

THE CREATION OF THE CHAPTER

At the meeting of all the members during the 47th PSO-HNS Annual Convention on Nov. 30, 2002, Dr. Gonzales officially requested for the creation of the PSO-HNS Bicol chapter citing the following reasons: (a) being part of the Southern Luzon chapter, they were obliged to attend meetings and other activities in CALABARZON (Region IV), which entailed tedious 400-450 km trips from Bicol (Region V); (b) they spoke a different dialect; and (c) having their own chapter would foster a greater camaraderie among the Bicolano members, and enhance their practice in the region. The first set of officers was also presented.

When it was first created, the Bicol Chapter had seven members with bright prospects ahead of them namely, Dr. Abraham Gonzales (Founding President), Dr. Felipe Federico Pio, Jr., Dr. Diosdado Uy, Dr. Conrado Donato Pabico, Jr., Dr. Neil Aldrine Peñaflor, Dr. Philip Dionisio Roa, and Dr. Pio Nebres. Now it has 21 members and a colorful history to boot, woven with joys, laughter, triumphs, trials, peaks, troughs and a whole slew of activities — medical missions, advocacies, family day celebrations, trainings, seminars, continuing education, inductions of officers and members, Christmas parties, annual and midyear conventions, and even team building activities overseas.  The Bicol Chapter has come a long way.