FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

DR. NICANOR REYES MEDICAL FOUNDATION

HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN THE PHILIPPINES

BIOETHICS 1: 1E- GROUP 2

MEMBERS:

Caballes, Jeremy May P.

Cai, Jilliany T.
Calica, Irene V.
Caῆas, Nokia Mari R.
Canlas, Jeverleen C.
Carisma, Reighngold A.
Chua, Charleen H.
Co, Milca Flor B.
Cordova, Janrev A.
Cruel, Jullienne Eymard F.
Cruz, Mark Justine A.
Danganan, Levin Ace A.
De Castro, Neena Katrell B.
HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN THE PHILIPPINES

The history of medicine in the Philippines tackles the folk medicinal practices and the
medical applications used in Philippine society from the prehistoric times to the period when the
Spaniards were able to set a firm foothold on the islands of the Philippines for over 300 years,
then to the fifty-year American colonial period, and up to the establishment of the Philippine
Republic of the present. It likewise talks about the different discoveries or contributions handed
to us by the different world-renowned Filipino doctors here in the Philippines and abroad.

Knowledge on how the practice of medicine began here in the Philippines is very vital for
us, medical students. It will give us a broader and deeper understanding about the practice of
medicine here in our country. This will enable us to comprehend the reason behind the variety
of ancient practices which are still apparent in most provinces in the country.

A. HISTORICAL PERIODS

Pre-colonial Period

This is the period before the Spaniards were able to colonize the islands of the
Philippines. The practice of medicine in this period is a primitive one.
 includes magico-religious elements, such as beliefs in evil spirits and sorcery as causes
of illnesses
 involves Filipino traditional healers who believe that the universe and humankind are
interlinked and intertwined---that whatever happens in the universe has an effect on
humankind and vice versa
o recognizes that the two should be in harmony and peace at all times for any
disruption of this basic positive relationship will lead to illness and death
 believes that all things on earth and the universe are composed of the four basic
elements of earth, wind, fire and water; each conveying its own characteristics and
manifestations
o recognizes that the interrelation of elements must be balanced to be healthy and
to have peace of mind, for any imbalance among these four elements may
contribute to sickness of an individual.
 Supreme Beings are also one of the basis of sickness
o believe that sickness is a punishment from a deity or deities, so to heal a person,
they pray and offer different rituals
o some worship specific deities like “Bathala” a supreme god for the Tagalog,
“Laon or Abba” for the Visayan, “Ikasi” of Zambal, Gugurang for the people of
Bicol and “Kabunian” of Ilocano and Ifugao.
o others also worship the moon, stars, caves, mountains, rivers, plants and trees.
Some creatures are being worship too like the bird, crow, tortoise, crocodile and
other things they believed has value and connected to their lives
 variation of animistic practices occurs in different ethnic groups
o magic, chants and prayers are often the key features
o practitioners were highly respected (and some feared) in the community for they
they provide the spiritual and traditional life of the community
 healers
 midwife (hilot)
  Shaman
 witches and warlocks (mangkukulam)
 babaylans
 tribal historians and wizened elders
o belief of witchcraft (kulam) and mythical creatures
 attributed the causes of diseases to: “Aswang”; Witches or
“mangkukulam”; Manggagaway; Dwarves or “Dwende”; Omens or
“Kutob”; Curse or “Sumpa”; Evil spirits or “Masasamang ispiritu”.
 diagnostic procedures were through the use of tawas, eggs, anting-anting, herbs,
candles, spit and other substances readily available
 use of herbs as the main treatment modality
o rely on the knowledge imparted by their ancestors regarding herbal medicine
o Herbolarios or curanderos had broad knowledge of the therapeutic properties of
many medicinal plants and the ones who make antidotes for snake bites and
other kind of poisoning
o wounds were treated by application of leaves and bark of trees

Non-medical traditional healers or folk doctors in the Philippines:

1. Babaylan
o are believed to be a woman who had been possessed by a spirit, or who had
dreams or had encountered life-altering experiences, or a woman who has
inherited the role to become a "mystical woman" from an elder babaylan
o community leaders, warriors, community defenders, priestesses, healers,
sages and seers
2. Albularyo ("herbalist")
o the "general practitioner" and the "primary dispenser of healthcare" in the
hierarchy of traditional folk doctors in the Philippines
o knowledgeable in the use of medicinal herbs
o common folk diagnosis is that patients become sick due to supernatural
"illness-causers" such as a duwende (dwarf), a nuno, a lamang-lupa (a
"creature from the earth or underground or under the soil"), a tikbalang, or
a kapre
o usually includes forms of prayers, such as bulong ("whispering" prayers)
or orasyon (oration or "prayer recitation"), while treating patients
3. Manghihilot
o uses massaging techniques to treat sprains, fractures, and other similar
conditions that affect the skeletal system and the muscular system, including
ligaments
o performs massage and healing sessions under the influence of “powerful”
amulets, “empowered” cane, or a “Nazarene garb”.
o chiropractic techniques utilizes “symbolic patterns” reminiscent of the shape
of the cross of the Christ, of crown of thorns, and of hands and feet nailed to
the cross
4. Magpapaanak (folk “midwife”)
o does prenatal visits and check- ups to pregnant mothers
o delivers babies and performs the ritual called suob (a form of “aroma therapy”
performed while placed under a cloak)
5. Mangluluop
 o makes a diagnosis based on the resulting appearance of a burned
concoction
o refers and sends the ill person to the albularyo, the medico, or the
manghihilot for further treatment
6. Manghihila
o uses the technique known as panghihila (the “pulling”), wherein the patient is
rubbed with coconut oil accompanied by the use of a mirror, strips of
cellophane paper that were used as wrappers of cigarette boxes, strips of
banana frond or wrappings of medicinal leaves
o type of “pull” felt during massage serves as basis of what causes the ailment
7. Mangtatawas
o determines the cause and nature of illnesses through the use of potassium
alum, locally known as tawas as one of the primary ingredients
o other materials used in the diagnostic procedure are candles, eggs, mirrors,
plain paper, and paper used for rolling cigarettes
8. Mediko
o folk doctor and a specialist that combines folk medicine and some techniques
used in western medicine
o prescribes medications and at times uses acupuncture to treat ailments
9. Faith healer
o comes from spiritist groups, diviners or from persons who were previously
saved from illnesses or death and had encountered epiphanies or mystical
experiences who became convinced that they were destined to help sick
people after receiving healing powers bestowed upon them by the Holy Spirit
or other supernatural being
o some are psychic healers (heal patients remotely), whisperers of prayers
(whispers prayers over the affected part of the body of the patient), prayer
blowers (blows prayers on affected areas of the patient’s body), anointers
that rub saliva over the affected area of the patient, healers who hovers
crucifixes and icons on the body of the patient, and psychic surgeons (folk
surgeons who performs “surgery” on a patient without the use of surgical
tools)
10. Cordilleras shaman
o heals ailments based on the beliefs of people collectively known as the
Igorots
o believe in rituals that involve offering of prayers and sacrificial animals, belief
in supreme deities or supreme beings, less ranked deities, intermediation by
seers or human mediums, and pleasing and appeasing the anito (spirits of
the dead, ancestral spirits or spirits from nature) to prevent them from
inducing diseases and misfortunes, sacrifices, feasts and dances were
performed as a form of thanksgiving and as entertainment for gods and
goddesses.

Mythical creatures acknowledged by in the Philippines:

1. Aswang
o also called shape-shifters
o are human-like by day but transform into different monstrous forms to harass
and eat awake humans at night, especially pregnant women who are about to
give birth
o can be detected by the scent of ripe jackfruit
2. Tiyanak
o creatures which imitate the form of a child
o usually takes the form of a newborn baby and cries like one in the jungle to
attract unwary travelers
o once picked up by the victim, reverts to its true form and attacks the victim
3. Tikbalang
o a half-man and half-horse creature
o has a horse head, the body of a human but with the feet of a horse
o travels at night to rape female mortals (will then give birth to a tikbalang)
o believed to cause travelers to lose their way particularly in mountainous or
forest areas
o are very playful with people and usually make a person imagine things that
are not real (sometimes making a person crazy)
4. Mananaggal
o literally means "one that removes"
o usually an attractive woman by day
o at night, upper body detaches from her lower body
o utters a special demonic prayer that applies some kind of oil on all of its body
parts before the detachment
o bat-like wings sprout out from its back, and it uses its lone tongue to feed on
human blood and flesh (usually that of unborn babies)
5. Mangkukulam
o derived from the word kulam which means bewitchment/magic spell
o are witches, wizards, bruho (male), and bruha (female)
o sorcerers who cast evil spells to humans
o have red eyes (believed that one should not look directly on these eyes or
one will catch a spell)
o recites spells and mixes potions or uses dolls
o centered on the islands of Siquijor, Western Samar, Sorsogon, and Leyte
6. Mambabarang
o a witch who uses insects and spirits to enter the body of any person they hate
o ordinary human beings with black magic who torture and later kill their victims
by infesting their bodies with insects
o also referred to as voodoo
7. Kapre
o often described as giant-like and hairy, wearing lionclothes (or bahag) and
smoking tobaccos inhabiting trees particularly the balete and old acacia or
mango trees
o are not particularly evil; just love playing pranks on people and would
sometimes look for friendship with mortals
8. Duwende
o are little creatures who can provide good fortune or bad fate to humans
o known to be either good and mischievous depending on how homeowners
treat them
o usually come out at 12 noon for an hour and during the night
9. Sigbin
o walks backward with its head lowered between its legs, resembles hornless
goat, emits very nauseating smell, possesses a pair of very large ears which
are capable of clapping like a pair of hands
o are said to come out at night to suck blood of victims from their shadows
 o claimed to issue forth from its lair during Holy week, looking for children that it
will kill for the heart, which is made into an amulet

Colonial Period

Spanish Occupation (1565 -1898)

It took more than 30 years after the death of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 for the
Spaniards to successfully build colonies in the Philippines. Spaniards were intrigued by these
primitive means of healthcare. They believed that the natives, as they called Filipinos, must be
taught the western ways of health.

HOSPITAL REAL

Hospital Real was the first hospital in Philippines that built in Cebu year 1565. The
hospital was built to cater the needs of Spanish army and navy. It was a royal hospital,
funded by King Philip II and the Spanish government, yet it was beset by numerous
problems, including finances. There was a constant need for doctors, nurses, and chaplains.
The hospital continued its operations through the next centuries until the earthquake of
1863, which demolished almost all of the stone buildings in Manila. The hospital was rebuilt
as a one-story building outside the city walls.

HOSPITAL DE NATURALES

Hospitals were developed as early as 1577. The first hospital to be developed during
the Spanish colonization was Hospital de Santa Ana de Naturales. It was built through the
efforts of a Franciscan priest, Father Juan Clemente. It was made of nipa and cane and it
consisted of two large rooms. The first hospital built mainly for the natives was founded in
1603 by the Franciscans in the village of Dilao (Paco, Manila at the present).

HOSPITAL DE LA MISERACORDIA

After the fire of 1603, it was decided that the original site of the Hospital de Naturales
be turned over to the Brotherhood of Santa Misericordia. The Hospital de la Misericordia
was built for the care of the sick servants and slaves of the Spaniards. As they were refused
admission at Hospital Real, Spanish and mestizo women were also treated at this facility.

HOSPITAL OF SAN GABRIEL

In 1589, the Hospital de San Gabriel was created for the Chinese. A building of brick
and stone, the hospital was built with financial assistance from the Governor-General
Santiago de Vera who supported the Dominicans’ efforts to convert the Chinese to
Catholicism. October 20, 1774, the Hospital of San Gabriel was closed.

OTHER MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

The Hospital of San Jose was built in Cavite in 1591 by the Order of San Juan de
Dios for the care of sailors. Another institution was built in Cañacao in 1871 and was
managed by the Sisters of Charity. The Hospital of Basilan, built as a naval hospital, was
quite unique in the Orient as it was built entirely on the water.

EPIDEMICS

One of the great epidemics that stuck the Philippines during the Hispanic era was
smallpox. After Edward Jenner discovered an empirical approach to smallpox vaccination in
1798, King Charles IV of Spain ordered an expedition to spread the knowledge of vaccine in
his colonies. The expedition occurred on Maria Pita ship led Francisco de Balmis at around
1803. After the expedition travelled to countries in South America, it reached Philippines in
1805. Balmis guided the Spanish authorities in Manila on how to perpetuate the vaccine
through the Institute of Vaccination and Corps of Vaccinators.

HOSPITAL DE SAN LAZARO: Four Centuries of Service

The Hospital de San Lazaro, in honor of the patron saint of lepers. The name was
given after the hospital undertook the care of 150 lepers sent to the Philippines by the
Japanese emperor Iemitsu in 1632 at the time of Governor-General Juan Nino de Tabora.
This “gift” was viewed as an act of spite against the Church for its growing influence over the
Japanese empire.

There were Spaniards who studied the healing properties of medicinal plants in the
Philippines. Some of them were:

1. Fr. Francisco Ignacio Alcina – Historia natural del sitio, fetilidad y calidad de las
isles e indios de Bisayas (1669). He studied the fertility and the characteristics of
the Visayan Islands.
2. Fr. Jose de Valencia – Flora Filipina: en la que con minuciosidad de describen las
raices y hierbas, sus figures, sitios en donde se crian y sus virtudes medicinales.
He described in great detail the medicinal qualities of various roots and herbs found
in the Philippines and the places where it grew.
3. Fr. Pablo Clain – Remedios faciles para diferentes enfermedades (1712). It offered
easy remedies for different illnesses and gave tips on how to differentiate those
illnesses following the practice of natives.
4. Fr. Juan Delgado – Historia general, sacroprofana, politica y natural de las Islas
Poniente llamadas Filipinas (1754). It discussed the medicinal properties of a
number of Philippine trees, palms, herbs, and vines.
5. Fr. Fernando de Sta. Maria – Medicinas caseras para Consuelo de los pobres
indios. It was a manual on household remedies used by the natives

Spaniards implemented the Christian concept of charity and care for the sick. The
responsibility of taking care of the sick was shared by the Church and the State. The role of
the State was in constructing hospitals which must be found in all towns for the Spaniards
and the natives as well. The role of the Church was in taking care of the sick. Hospitals were
 ordered to be established near churches, where the religious could easily come to the care
of the sick.

The government during the Spanish era established different offices to govern the
public health of their colonies. These are the Superior Council of Health Inspection, General
Inspection for Welfare and Sanitation, Institute of Vaccination, Corp of Vaccinators, and
Direction for Maritime Sanitation for the Port of Manila.

The Superior Council of Health was composed of the Governor General, Director
General for Civil Administration and doctors from Unibersidad de Santo Tomas. Its function
is to advice the Governor General on public health matters. In 1889, this office proposed
advices that focused mainly on environmental cleanliness and cholera prevention.

Health education was introduced to the Philippines during the late 1800s. In 1871, the
Spanish government granted the petition of the University of Santo Tomas to establish a
College of Medicine and Pharmacy. The first medical school was erected in Intramuros and
was patterned after the universities of Spain.

In June 23, 1898, the Department of Public Works, Education and Hygiene (currently
known as Department of Public works and Highways, Department of Education, and
Department of Health, respectively) was formally proclaimed by President Emilio Aguinaldo.

American Occupation (1898-1946)

The need for immediate medical attention for American troops stationed in the
Philippines led to the establishment of the Board of Health in 1898 with the aim of protecting
the health of American soldiers, as well as in attempting to improve health and sanitation in
Manila. By 1899, the Board was abolished and Doctor Guy Edie was appointed
Commissioner of Health, through whom began the system of birth, marriage, and death
registrations for Filipinos that is still used today.

During the following years, various epidemics and infectious diseases such as
cholera, tuberculosis, and malaria spread rapidly throughout the country, in large part due to
poverty, poor hygiene, contaminated water supply, and a lack of health education. Of note is
the cholera epidemic of 1902 to 1905, considered to be the worst epidemic in Philippine
history due to the high mortality rate. Around two hundred thousand people died due to the
illness, 66 000 of whom were children. During this time, many Filipinos were also rendered
homeless due to the recently re-established Board of Health for the Philippines Islands
calling for the burning of infected nipa huts and disinfection of houses made of wood in an
effort to quell the spread of the disease (Government Order 66).

At around this time, the Manila Medical Society and later the Philippine Island Medical
Association were established (1902 and 1903, respectively), initially with the aim of
increasing efficiency in delivering medical assistance from the American Red Cross, and
later in establishing hospitals, medical schools, research laboratories for vaccine
development, and even in health education for the public. Hospitals established include St.
Paul’s Hospital in 1905 and Mary Johnston Hospital in 1906.
 By 1908, the Philippine Legislature authorized Act No. 1870, known as the University
Act. This necessitated the founding of the University of the Philippines for the purpose of
giving “advanced instruction” in various fields such as in the sciences and philosophy, which
then eventually led to the establishment of the Philippine Medical School (now known as the
University of the Philippines College of Medicine). In 1910, The Philippine General Hospital
was established, and the first dental school, the Colegio Dental de Lyceo de Manila, was
established in 1912. This was also the year where the Philippine Medical School produced
its first graduates, with Doctor Maria Paz Mendoza Guazon being the first woman to
graduate from the college.

Public health administration had become a greater concern during the subsequent
years. More hospitals had been established, more attention was given to public health
personnel training, and more specialties in medicine were formed. In particular was the
founding of the National Mental Hospital in 1925 to avoid overcrowding in the San Lazaro
Hospital in Manila where most cases of patients with mental illness were admitted.

Maternal and child health had also become of great concern during this time. High
infantile mortality rate due to the disease known as beri-beri led to the invention of Tiki-tiki
as a counter-measure.

Japanese Occupation (1942-1945)

During the Japanese occupation, the Imperial Japanese Government ordered the
bombing of nearly all hospitals and medical libraries in the country, leaving very few
hospitals for Filipinos to use. Other hospitals, such as the Quezon Institute, were
commandeered for use of the Japanese army. Patients were sent home or evacuated to
much smaller hospitals. Prisoners of war and Filipino soldiers faced deprivation of food,
water, and medical assistance as a consequence of this.

The Imperial Government introduced various policies that centralized all medical
programs and put private medical institutions under government control, with strong efforts
to eradicate the spread of malaria. Commissioner Claro M. Recto served as head of the
Department of Education, Health, and Public Welfare. It was not until 1947 when President
Manuel Roxas called for the creation of the Department of Health, where the Office of the
Secretary, Bureau of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Hospitals, and all City Health
Departments were located.

Post-colonial/ Contemporary Period

Significant Events:

1947

 Department of Public Health and Welfare was reorganized and was changed to
Department of Health (DOH)
1950

 Through Executive Order No. 392, second reorganization of DOH was done

1951
 Rural Healthcare Unit was established
 Establishment of different Medical Schools
 FEU -1952
 UE - 1956
 Cebu Institute of Medicine – 1957

1958
 Two Undersecretaries were created: Undersecretary of Health and Medical Services
and Undersecretary of Special Services
 Formation of eight regional health offices as health services were decentralized to
regional, provincial and municipal levels.

1960
 Creation of specialty boards: Obstetrics Specialty Boards, Philippine Society of
General Practitioners, and College of Physicians Board of Medicine

1969
 Philippine Medical Care Act of 1969 was approved

1970
 The Restructured Health Care Delivery System classified health services into:
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels

1972
 Renaming of DOH to Ministry of Health
*First minister of the Ministry of Health: Clemente Gatmaitan
 Regional offices increased from eight to twelve
 R.A. 6245 Dangerous Drugs Act (but it was revised on 2002: R.A. 9165)

1973
 Acupuncturists were recognized by the DOH

1976
 Government immunization program (90% rate attained in 1979)

1980
 Launching of National TB Program
1981
 Nat'l reference lab for HIV testing, coordinating center for antimicrobial resistance
surveillance and reference center for problematic infectious and tropical diseases

1982
 Creation of BFAD (Ensures the safety and purity of food, drugs, medical devices and
cosmetics)
 Integrated Provincial Health Office was created to reorganize the Ministry of Health
through the Executive No. 851
 Health Education and Manpower Development Service was established

1986-1987
 Through the Executive Order No. 119, the Ministry of Health was changed to its
former name- Department of Health
 Five offices, Chief of Staff, Public Health Services, Standard and regulations, and
Management Service were places under the Secretary of Health
 NCR, CAR and ARMM regions were added to the 12 regional health offices
 The Philippine Society of Teachers in Family Medicine was recognized as an
academic society by the APMC

Aug. 4, 1988 - the first successful liver transplant performed

1989
 Philippine National Drug Formula published
*the basic component of the national drug policy which seeks to bring about the
availability of safe, quality and affordable drugs to the public

1991-1993
 Full Implementation of Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991)
 Different Health Projects were launched (National Micronutrient Campaign, Disaster
Management, Urban Health and Nutrition Project, Traditional Medicine, Doctors to
the Barrios Program and “Let’s DOH it!”)
 National Graduate School for the Health Sciences and National Institute of Health
was created (1993)

May 28, 1994 - first heart transplant in the country by Dr. George Garcia at Makati Medical
Center

1995
 Replacement of Medicare Act of 1969 by the National Health Insurance Act of 1995

1999
 Executive Order 102 ordered the alignment of the functions and operations of DOH
with the provisions of Administrative Code 1987 and RA 7160
  Launching of the Health Sector Reform Agenda of the Philippines 1999-2004 and the
National Objectives for Health

2000
 Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA) was institutionalized

2001
 Administrative Order 37 was signed by Sec. Manuel Dayrit on July 13, 2001

2003
 Administrative Order 50 paved the way to the establishment of the One-Script
Systems Improvement Program to target priority public health programs
 Fiscal autonomy was given to 68 DOH-retained hospitals that allowed 100%
retention and use of hospital income to improve health facilities

2005
 Launching of FOURmula ONE for Health (F1) as a blueprint of reform
implementation (F1 was created to address issues of inequity in Philippine health
system)

2006
 DOH was awarded by Presidential Anti-Graft Corruption as the number one agency
to fight corruption
 According to Pulse Asia 3rd Quarter Survey, DOH ranked first among government
agencies in terms of national studies

2007

 Issuance of Four Administrative Orders in support of the establishment of OSS

Licensure System for the Hospitals

AO 2007-0021 Harmonization ans Streamlining of the Licensure System for

Hospitals

AO 2007-0022 Violations Under the OSS Licensure Systems for Hospitals

AO 2007-0023 Schedule of Fees for the OSS Licensure System for Hospitals

AO 2007-0024 Guidelines for the Licensure of DOH Hospitals- The Technical

Coordination Team (TACT) was created

 The Sector-wde Development Approach for Health (SDAH) was operationalized on

Nov. 15, 2007

2008
  The Maternal, Neonatal, and Child health and Nutritional Strategy (MNCHN) was
established

 Republic Act No. 9502 (Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of
2008 made quality medicines more accessible to every Filipino

2010

 Universal Health Care (UHC) reform agenda was established

B. DISCOVERIES

 Proceso Gabriel
o Established the first Filipino-owned private bacteriological laboratory
o Manufactured an autogenous vaccine, which will be the first biological product in
the country.
 Dr. Purificacion Lahoz-Verzosa
o First physician outside North America to learn and practice orthomolecular
medicine.
o Discovery of megavitamins and trace minerals in the treatment of mental illness
and other degenerative diseases found their way to the Philippines.
o Founded the Philippine Schizophrenia Foundation
 Jose Rodriguez
o Filipino scientist and researcher.
o Invented methods of controlling Hansen’s Disease (leprosy).
o His leprosy control program was instituted in the Philippines and
other Asian countries.
o His leprosy research is often referenced and has been published around the
world.
 Dr. Fe del Mundo
o Invented the medical incubator.
o first Asian student in Harvard’s School of medicine.
o credited for a jaundice relieving device along with the improvised medical
incubator.
 Dr. Abelardo Aguilar
o Erythromycin is an antibiotic derived from Streptomyces erythreus
o discovered the bacterium Streptomyces erythreus.
o the Ilonggo doctor/scientist
o Unfortunately,his U.S employer in Eli Lilli Co. owned the drug and didn’t give him
any credit for his discovery.
 Rolando dela Cruz
o won the gold medal for his “DeBCC” anti-cancer cream at the International
Inventor’s Forum.
o The “DeBCC” cream, developed from cashew nuts (Annacardium occidentale),
and other local herbs, is a treatment intended specifically for basal skin
carcinoma (BSC)
  Dr. Enrique Ostrea
o Developed the method for detecting drug use by pregnant females.
o Doctors use his method worldwide in diagnosing drug dependency in infants.
 Dr. Lourdes Cruz
o made scientific contributions to the biochemistry field of conotoxins
 Dr. Benjamin Cabrera
o developed innovations in drug treatments against diseases caused by
mosquitoes and agricultural soil.
 Dr. Thelma Tupasi
o nationally and internationally known medical doctor and researcher who heads
the Makati Medical Center’s Infectious Diseases Section.
o significant contributions to medical science that includes landmark studies in
tuberculosis and its prevalence in different parts of the Philippines; multi-drug
resistance TB and its directly observed therapy.
 Felicita Fojas
o retired pharmaceutical researcher from the Department of Science and
Technology’s Industrial Technology Development Institute.
o commended for her significant research works on the chemistry and biological
activity of Philippine medicinal plant.
o Results of her researches are recorded in scientific and reputable journals.
o Two of her nationally and internationally accepted handbooks are Signs of
Toxicity and Lethal Dose (LD50) of some Medicinal Plants.
 Zelda Zablan
o social scientist—professor and researcher at UP Diliman Population Institute,
honored for her dedication to research on population program evaluation,
operations research, program monitoring, reporting and referral system tailored
in fertility, reproductive/maternal/child health.
o recognized for her analysis of mortality differentials and trends/determinants of
family planning practices which was used to help improve reproductive health
service delivery in the country.
 Dr. Alfredo Galvez
o Lunasin is described as an amino acid sequence of a soybean (Glycine max)
seed polypeptide. Subsequent research by Dr. Alfredo F. Galvez identified the
peptide as a subunit of the cotyledon-specific 2S albumin.
o Discovered Lunasin’s biological and cancer-preventive activity.

C. NOTABLE PERSONALITIES

First Women Physicians of the Philippines

Dr. Honoria Acosta-Sison (1888-1970)

 First Filipina to become a doctor
 Mother of Philippine Obstetrics
 Finished her medical studies in Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1909
 Worked as an assistant in obstetrics in the Philippine General Hospital
 Became a faculty member of the University of the Philippines in 1914
 by 1940 was professor of obstetrics and gynecology and head of the Department of
Obstetrics
  Known internationally for her research on trophoblastic diseases and toximias of
pregnancy
 Established normal pelvimetry among Filipino Women and cephalometry among Filipino
newborns
 Author of a textbook of obstetrics for nurses and the chapter Diseases of the Chorion,
Hydatidiform Mole, Syncytiona, and Choriocarcinoma in the twelfth edition of Greenhill’s
Obstetrics

Dr. Olivia Salamanca (1889-1913)

 Also known as the Pioneer Woman Physician of the Philippines
 Second Filipina to become a doctor, right after Dr. Honoria Acosta-Sison
 Finished her medical studies in Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1910
 Served as the first secretary of the Philippine Antituberculosis Society
 Died of tuberculosis in 1913 at the age of 24

Dr. Maria Paz Mendoza-Guazon (1884-1967)

 In 1912, she was the first woman to graduate from the University of the Philippines
College of Medicine
 First woman to be a member of the Board of Regents
 Known for her researches in pathology and likewise known for her philanthropic work
 First Filipino physician to write about choriocarcinomas as seen from the autopsy
table
 First to publish autopsy findings of bangungut
 First Filipino woman to attain full professorship rank at the University of the
Philippines in 1927
Sources:
 Calvo, J.M.A. Philippine History of Medicine. Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/doc/ 106062165/Philippine-History-of-Medicine
 Chen, C.P. (2006). Invasion of the Philippine Islands. World War II Database. Retrieved
from http://ww2db.com/battle_ spec.php?battle_id=46
 Del Rosario, S. S. (2016). PMA Legacy. Retrieved from
https://www.philippinemedicalassociation.org/ pma-history.php
 Joven, A.E. Imperial Medicine And Indigenous Adaptation: Public Health, Campaigns
And Disease Control In The Philippines During The Japanese Occupation Period.
Retrieved from http://user.keio.ac.jp/~aaasuzuki/ BDMH/ASHM/Sheet/2E-
ChuaPhlippines1.htm
 Lewis, M. J. & MacPherson, K. L. (2007). Public Health in Asia and the Pacific:
Historical and Comparative Perspectives. Routledge..
 Department of Health. (2016). DOH Through the Years. Retrieved from
http://www.doh.gov.ph/milestones
 National Center for Mental Health. About NCMH: History. Retrieved from
http://www.ncmh.gov.ph/#history
 http://sntpost.stii.dost.gov.ph/NewPOST/JanMar2006/NRCP_honor_11_outstanding_Fil
ipino_researchers.html
 http://definitelyfilipino.com/blog/top-12-filipino-inventions-you-might-not-know/
 http://www.fgil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Proceso_Gabriel
 http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Purificacion_Lahoz_Verzosa
 http://filipinoinventionsanddiscoveries.blogspot.com/2013/09/lunasins-biological-and-
medical.html
 (1970), Obituary. The Journal of The Asian federation of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, 1: 179–183. doi:10.1111/j.1447-0756.1970.tb00151.x
 Alonza, E. (1981). The Diary of Olivia Salamanca MD 1889-1913. Transactions of
the National Academy of Science and Technology, 3, 28-47.
 Halili-Jao, MD, Nina. (2010). Hail the First Female Pinoy Doctors. The Philippine
Star. Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/allure/562919/hail-first-female-pinoy-
doctors
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