Affiliate Organization Profile

Dedicated group of orthodontists founded the Association of Philippine Orthodontists in 1979

Today, the organization has close to 140 members

Since the early 1970s, Philippine orthodontists have relied on a professional forum to enhance and better the specialty of orthodontics in the Philippines.

Drs. Vicente Siojo and Luz Macapanpan sought to establish this forum for all formally trained orthodontic professionals in Manila. On Feb. 1, 1971, this idea became a reality with the first meeting of the Philippine Orthodontic Study Club. All the qualified orthodontists joined the study club: Drs. Hypatia Bernardo, Juanito Castañeda, Luz Macapanpan, Gloria Punzalan, Juan Quejada, Ermelinda Galang, Vicente Siojo, Eugenio Villanueva and Virginia Peñaloza.

The establishment of the Philippine Orthodontic Study Club was an important first step in the emergence and continued development of the field of orthodontics in the country. The members met monthly to exchange ideas, discuss and consult cases, standardize fees and consider other matters relevant to orthodontic practice in the Philippines. Early on, the group discussed the growing demand for orthodontic treatment among Filipino patients and the resulting rise in the number of general dental practitioners performing corrective orthodontics. Because of this forum, the orthodontists tackled the issue.

On March14, 1979, the study club formally organized into the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO). The group’s declaration of intention states:  “The members of the Philippine Orthodontic Study Club, ever aware of their responsibility to the public and the profession, and the need to safeguard the interests of the specialty of orthodontics, to enhance the standard of the specialty, and to promote its advancement, decided unanimously to formally organize themselves into the Association of Philippine Orthodontists.”

At the same time, the APO founded the Philippine Board of Orthodontics to accredit orthodontic specialists and to safeguard the well-being of the patients. The Board gave its first certification examinations June 1, 1981.

The APO, which became an affiliate organization of the WFO in1995, held its 1st National Orthodontic Congress August 24-26, 1998. In August 2000, the APO sent out its first issue of the Philippine Journal of Orthodontics. This same year, the APO held its 2nd National Orthodontic Congress. The APO will hold its 6th Biennial National Orthodontic Congress August 4-5, 2008, in Makati City.

Growing from a group of nine original members, the APO now has close to 140 members.

The objectives of the Association of Philippine Orthodontists are:

1. To promote the continuing study of orthodontics by its members for the advancement of this special field and its recognition as a distinct and distinguished branch of dentistry;
2. To stimulate, promote and support the spirit of self-improvement and research among the students and practitioners of orthodontics;
3. To cooperate with the Philippine Dental Association and its chapters and affiliates, with other medical and para-medical organizations, boards of dental specialties, and civic and governmental associations in the furtherance of the aims of dentistry in general, and orthodontics in particular, for the benefit of our people;
4. To work with the Board of Dentistry and with the deans of various dental colleges in the country in setting up meaningful courses of study in undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate orthodontics;
5. Through its Board of Orthodontics, to manage, control and conduct examinations for testing the qualifications of orthodontists practicing in the Philippines and to confer certificates upon those who meet the requirements of the Boards;
6. To recognize and laud the contributions of persons; whether in the dental field or not, to the advancement of orthodontics in the Philippines; and
7. To seek, eventually, for the recognition of Philippine orthodontics in the councils of international orthodontic organizations.

 
Officers of the Association of Philippine Orthodontists

Dr. Katherine Ong, president

Dr. Jose Manuel Rivera, president-elect

Dr. Robert Eustaquio, vice president

Dr. Martin Antonio Reyes, secretary

Dr. Roberto Tan, treasurer

Dr. Marina Lu Tan, auditor

Directors

Dr. Patricia Claparols

Dr. Crisanta Santayana

Dr. Laarni Serraon

Dr. Rose Liobing Sia

Dr. Catherine Veneracion-Juliano

Technical Committee

Dr. Santos Francis Mulles

Publications Committee

Dr. Melanie Yapson Bergonio

Bylaws and Judicial Committee

Dr. Renato Africa

PDA Liaison

Dr.  Lorenza Salonga