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TOOTH DECAY, HINDI OKAY Dr. Karen G. Almonte Chairman, Oral Health Awareness

The challenge of strengthening the oral health awareness in our country is heightened by the reality that majority of the Filipinos have tooth decay and gum problems. The Department of Health has conducted a series of studies on oral health status of the Filipinos and it is very frustrating to know that throughout the years, the prevalence rates has been climbing. Based on “Oral Care U & A: Market Understanding Study on Middle East and Asia” conducted by an International pharmaceutical company, majority of Filipinos, aged 35 – 60, are denture wearers

With this alarming situation, the Philippine Dental Association under the leadership of Dr. Arleen R. Reyes made ORAL HEALTH AWARENESS PROMOTION a priority project.

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The oral health problems in our country cannot be solved in a short period of time, in fact this is a lifelong commitment to our countrymen.

Inspired by “YOSI KADIRI”, the Department of Health campaign against smoking, which made a big impact to the public, the Oral Health Awareness Promotion Committee, came up with our very own tagline – TOOTH DECAY, HINDI OKAY. This will be our “battle cry” as we execute our campaign. This tagline projects a catchy, statement “para sa masa” as we want to make an impact to the public.

We aim to stress the importance of giving attention to oral health as part of our overall health care. It is our responsibility, as dentists to instill this in the mind of every Filipino. The key to prevention is through proper oral health care information dissemination.

The Oral Health Awareness Promotion Committee aims to

implement effective methods in promoting oral health awareness to the public through the collaborative efforts of the local chapters and affiliates with the local government units and agencies.

Posters and tarpaulins are posted in strategic locations and videos are consistently played in LRT and MRT stations. Large streamers are also posted along Marcos Hi-way and Evangelista St. Santolan Pasig City. These are all made possible with the help of Santolan Barangay Captain Briccio Ramos, who also helped with our collaboration with LRTA. We would like to thank the LRT Administration for working with us on our advocacy.

This is replicated by 100 chapters and affiliates of the Philippine Dental Association nationwide.

Let us work together in uplifting the Oral Health Status of every FILIPINO.

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Stay the Course!

As we reach the 7th month of this administrative year, I constantly reflect on the challenges that we have continually been facing and the successes that came out of those challenges. I realized that I have so much more activities and projects to accomplish, and time is running out on me. The theme this year, “Driven for Excellence”, truly moved and pushed all of us to work beyond our limits.

We have remained focused on implementing programs in the past seven months with emphasis on Oral Health Awareness, Continuing Dental Education, Campaign Against Illegal Practice, Public Health, intensifying International relations, Research, and Membership Campaign. The next five months will still see more ground works prepared for fulfillment in the next administrative years to come. They may not come into fruition during my term, but I remain intent in laying the seeds for harvest in the future.

The Publication which is very close to my heart, as I once was an Editor- in Chief, will finally see a digital copy beginning on its first issue for this administrative year. I would like to thank the whole Editorial Staff for successfully seeing through the first paperless issue of the PDA Bulletin.

I see from the near distant future the end of my term as your president. I will remain looking at the finish line with my goals and objectives as my aspirations. I may falter and stumble, but I will surely get up and finish this race.

I will stay the course.

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Updates on PRC Card Renewal Dr. Alejandro H. Donesa Jr. News Editor, PDA Bulletin 2018-2019

In pursuit of professional excellence, R.A.10912, the Continuing Professional Development of 2016 also called the CPD law was passed. It mandates all professionals to engage in different training programs and earn CPD points which will be used for the renewal of their Professional Identification card, with a three – year validity renewable on the applicant’s birth month. Recently, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has required that renewals must be first applied and processed online.

Here’s a run through on how to go about the online process. First, you have to create your profile by filling out and completing the registration form posted in the PRC website. Make sure that the first and last name is exactly the same as those printed

Photo copied from an internet blog, credits to the owner on your existing PRC ID.

Once you have finished the registration template, your application details will be displayed. A camera icon will also be seen in the corner. Click the button and upload your good quality photo. Make sure to have a white background and wear a top with a collar. After completing the entire process, you may now proceed to the renewal option on the web. Select your Profession and enter your 7-digit PRC License Number then click the “proceed” button. Select PRC Office from the drop-down menu where you wish to apply for renewal. Choose an appointment date then select your preferred payment option at the

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bottom. If you will pay at the PRC cashier, there is no processing or transaction fee to be paid. However, if you will consider any of the e-payment options, there will be a service fee of P45.00. After choosing a payment option, a confirmation window will appear with a Reference Number. Make sure to have a copy of your reference number since you will need to present this when you pay at your selected payment channel. Once you have made the payment, go back online and verify your status by clicking the “Existing Transactions” tab beside the “Profile” tab. Click the “Print Claiming Stub” button. After this, you may now print your renewal form. On your appointment date, proceed to the PRC Office you selected in the appointment page. Make sure to bring your Renewal Form and CPE certificates. Applicants who are unable to comply with the required CPD credit units shall only be allowed to renew their PRC ID upon

execution of an affidavit of undertaking to complete the required CPD credit units for the next compliance period. The issues and controversies about this law continue. Various petitions and allegations are up to repel it, but these should not affect our eagerness to learn and grow as professionals. As the cliché goes, education is a continuous process, especially for us, allied health care providers. We need to be always updated in order to treat our patients effectively. Globalization is fast approaching, we must have the courage to step up and be driven in promoting and developing ourselves as competent doctors.

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Photo copied from the PRC Website

Dr. Jocelyn M. Manabat Chairman, PDA Socials

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – it has always been said, especially when shared and experienced with our less privileged brothers and sisters who need love the most.

On December 6, 2018, the Philippine Dental Association held its Christmas Party with an attendance of more than 250 members, led by PDA President, Dr. Arleen R. Reyes, the PDA Executive Board from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, chapter presidents, chairmen of various committees and other members.

This year’s theme, “Sharing a night with the Elderly” was made possible by the yours truly, PDA Socials Committee Chairman, and Christmas Party Committee Co- Chairman- Dr. Cheryl del Rosario.

Like the Christmas party held last year entitled, “An Evening with the Street Children”, I deemed it more significant to celebrate the association’s party not just within us dentists but to add meaning to the celebration by sharing the event with other members of our community.

The PDA Christmas Party “Sharing a night with the Elderly”

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It was the PDA president’s request that we can celebrate it with the elderly this time, not just to have dinner with them but also to have them entertained and feel the festivity of the night. This has been successful due to the initiative of our hardworking Dr. Christopher Malahat, committee member, who facilitated the invitation and transportation of our 40 senior citizens of San Roque Senior Citizens Association of Marikina City.

The venue, Movie Stars Cafe in Quezon City, was a perfect place, with their in-house talents wearing different costumes for the “lights show” as Opening Salvo, and also just as perfect for the party contest for our colleagues, dubbed “ Idol Ko, Keri Ko , the Impersonation Singing Contest”, Chaired by Dr. Oppen Viudez, which fully entertained everybody.

No Christmas party is complete without the traditional exchange of gifts, and just like last year, all PDA officers , Committee

Chairman and members present voluntarily brought gifts and gave them out to our senior guests.

The launching of the PDA’s Oral Health Awareness poster “ Tooth Decay, Hindi Okay” was held, as well as the announcement and awarding of the 15th NDHM T-shirt Design Contest.

The program concluded with a the fun filled parlor games Chaired by Dr. Carmella Pedroso together with Dr. Jerika Manabat.

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The PDA-NADTI joint scientific sessions during the 19th NADTI Dental Trade

Erwin Rodriguez NADTI President The recently concluded PDA-NADTI joint scientific sessions during the 19th NADTI Dental Trade Exhibition last September 25-27, 2018 was a milestone as it brought together the expertise of both Dentists and Dental Trade associations into one event. It was attended by over 5000 dental professionals and with 270 exhibit booths comprised of over 100 dental companies. It was the first NADTI event to earn CPD points as well as to officially host dental trade partners from Europe and Turkey.

NADTI was organized by dental traders in the year 2000 to primarily address the need to professionalize the dental trade and to conduct events that create selling opportunities for its members. The biggest of such events has been the NADTI Annual Dental Trade show which was on its 19th run this year. The Annual NADTI dental trade fair has been traditionally a trade exhibition. However, through the changing needs of the dental industry the event also needed to showcase new innovations in the dental field. Partnering with PDA has enabled us to deliver upcoming innovations in dental technology and practice thru a professionally run and accredited scientific session. Working with the PDA has taught us a lot of insights and a deeper understanding of how the professional dental organization operates. NADTI has gained a lot of experience on how scientific sessions are conducted. On the other hand, we were also able to

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share our trade exhibits experiences with the PDA.

Moving forward, the partnership between PDA and NADTI is testament that thru a joint project, the PDA-NADTI scientific sessions will deliver positive and genuine progress for the Dental Profession. NADTI looks forward to more collaborative projects with the PDA as we try to expand the reach of professional dental trade to more dentists. Aside from this we are also in mutual agreement with the PDA to support the association’s drive against illegal practice and DIY orthodontics by informing NADTI members to only sell to licensed dental professionals.

Mutual support is the key factor. That is why we encourage all dental professionals to support your professional dental organization the PHILIPPINE DENTAL ASSOCIATION and NADTI your NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DENTAL TRADERS. Both

organizations are now working hand in hand, determined to bring dental practice to the 21st century.

The New PDA ID Dr. Allan L. Banta Chairman, PDA ID Committee

In 2017, under the term of Philippine Dental Association President Dr. Mark Villalobos, thru the initiative of the Membership Committee Chairperson, Dr. Alvin Laxamana, and the Chairman on PDA ID, Dr. Iraida Ruffy de Leon, the association launched the PDA Interactive ID System. The aim was to establish an ID system that will be used in conventions, area and regional conferences so that the members’ Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points will be

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automatically posted. With this system, members can download their convention certificates, pay registration fees and check previous payments . As of October 12, 2018, we have released 11, 498 IDs.

On May 13-17, 2019, the PDA will be conducting its 110th PDA Annual Convention. It is the goal of the Membership Committee to issue the PDA ID to all active and incoming members before the said convention. In line with this, the PDA Membership Committee formulated these guidelines and procedures for your reference. General Guidelines and Procedures: 1. Each member need to update all personal information and photo in their PDA Accounts by logging in at www.pda.com.ph/mcp/login to facilitate the issuance of the PDA ID; Username: 00PRC NUMBER Ex. 0012345 Password : Last name PRC Number Ex. reyes0012345 or pda0012345 (if invalid, please message the PDA ID Committee thru FB Messenger)

2. Each member shall coordinate with their Chapter Presidents once the PDA Accounts have been updated; 3. The Chapter Presidents shall fill-up the PDA ID Application Form and submit it to the Secretariat of the Philippine Dental Association at Ayala Avenue corner Kamagong Street, Makati City and wait for the release of the PDA ID; 4. Once the PDA IDs have been released, it is the responsibility of the Chapter Presidents to distribute the IDs to their members. The Chapter President shall return the PDA ID Application Form to the PDA Secretariat with proof of receipt by the members; 5. For Provincial Chapters: a. The PDA ID Committee shall be will facilitate assistance during Area Convention and Regional Conferences to facilitate the issuance of the PDA ID; b. It is imperative that the members have already updated their PDA Accounts prior to the scheduled Area Convention and Regional Conferences.

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6. The initial issuance of the PDA ID is free. However, for lost IDs, there is a replacement fee of Three Hundred Pesos (Php. 300.00); Issues on Faded Ids: the committee had meetings with the company where the printers and inks were purchased, incidentally the same company where PDA’s equipment for ID were bought for the past 9 years. This maybe the results of improper handling of the ID, it should not be placed in moist area , and avoid exposing to heat. PDA president Dr. Arleen R. Reyes , announced that the PDA will replace it for FREE, just return the faded IDs . For more information, email pdamem1908@gmail.com or send Message to the PDA ID Committee chairman thru FB Messenger.

OATHTAKING OF NEW DENTISTS Dr. Stephen B. Almonte PDA President -Elect

PDA welcomes the new

dental board passers as the

President, Dr. Arleen R. Reyes

administered the Oath of

Membership last January 15 at the

PICC. Almost 800 New Dental

Professionals took their oath led

by the Board Topnotcher from the

University of the Philippines, Dr.

Michelle P. Robledo, who

delivered her response with such

humility that the only advantage of

being number one was the

privilege to deliver the response.

Salute to you Dr. Robledo!

Congratulations everyone, this is

just the beginning, the best is yet

to come. Special thanks to the new

dentists who registered to the

110th PDA Annual Convention.

Mabuhay ang Dentistang Filipino!

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The 15th National Dental

Health Month, dubbed as NDHM

Kinse, was launched last February

1, 2019, with an Open House at the

newly renovated PDA Building,

followed by a Grand Opening

Ceremony at the SM Mall of Asia

Music Hall. Simultaneous activities

are happening now all over the

Philippines. Kudos to the working

team of Dr. Alvin Laxamana, the

very innovative and hardworking

chairman and to the PDA President

and the whole Executive Board.

PROCLAMATION NO. 559

DECLARING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

The calendar for the Month long celebration of NDHM Kinse

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Dr. Christine T. Valerio 110th PDA Secretary General “Progress at the tip of your fingers”. This is what the PDA 110th Annual Convention is all about. Through the initiative of our hardworking PDA President-Elect, Dr. Stephen B. Almonte, the first PDA online registration and online payment system was launched last October 2018, in conjunction with the PDA Website and Membership system spearheaded by Dr. Alvin Laxamana in 2017 during the term of Dr. Mark Villalobos. Technology at its finest, when information need not be printed but comes handy through our mobile phones, tablets and laptop computers. The 110th PDA Annual Convention is the biggest Dental Exhibition in the Philippines, with

more than 500 Booths and more than 80 Lectures during the Scientific Session on May 13-17, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center. The Convention features both high caliber local and foreign lecturers who will share their knowledge and expertise in their respective field of specialization. Our featured lecturer for the Pre-congress or the Dr. Primo Gonzales Memorial Lecture, is Dr. John Sorensen PhD FACP who will lecture on “PREDICTABLE EXCELLENCE IN ESTHETIC FIXED PROSTHODONTICS” on May 12, 2019 at Function Room 1 in SMX. Pre-Registration for the pre-congress is until March 31 at 1,000 Php only. You must be a registered delegate to attend the pre-congress. For more info, contact your chapter president-elect.

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PDA Blood Letting “Pansagip Dugong Alay”

Dr. Delia Leny Tumang Chairman, Blood Letting Committee

I am a Hero. I donate blood. I save lives. Truly our committee stood by this statement as we describe our work as fulfilling especially when you are able to help. Last January 25, during the Dugong Bayani Awards held at Hotel Rembrandt , PDA was recipient of the Apolinario Mabini Award by the Department of Health Philippine Blood Center for 130 bags of blood donated to the PBC. For the past year, PDA has been sending blood donations to

the DOH Philippine Blood Center and to the Philippine Red Cross. This fiscal year, in fulfillment of our commitment, the committee work continuously with bloodletting events from September 2018 to March 2019, expanding from NCR to far north in Baguio City and Ilocos Norte and to Lipa Batangas in the south targeting for a higher award next year.

The Editorial Board

Dr. Marie Arlene Christine T. Valerio Editor in Chief

Dr. Peter Cating Dr. Mariusse Chars R. Esquillo

Associate Editors

Dr. Alejandro H. Donesa Jr. Dr. Rei Gabriel G. Escudero

Dr. Francis D. Paraiso News Editors

Dr. Shiela V. Lunasco Circulation Manager

Dr. Michael R. Baybay Advertising Manager

A printed copy of the PDA Bulletin with full article coverage will be

distributed during the 110th Annual Convention this May 13-17, 2019 at

the SMX Convention Center.

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The Greater Luzon Convention 2018 The Philippine Dental Association recently hosted the PDA Greater Luzon Area Convention and Presidents’ Midyear Review last November 7-9, 2018 at the PICC. The organizing committee, the same team who gave you the PDA Luzon Convention last January 2018, led by PDA Vice President for Luzon South Dr. Jose Angelo G. Militante and Executive Vice President Dr. Alvin Laxamana, started its preparation on the early part of the administrative year of PDA President Dr. Arleen Reyes with a promise and a challenge to make the next PDA Luzon Area Convention a better one. The organizing committee named it, “The PDA Greater Luzon Area Convention”, with the objective to make it bigger and to address minor flaws from the previous. They promoted #TGLC2018 as their tagline on all publicity campaign. As always, they boasted on the quality of the scientific

lectures. According to Dr. Militante the topics of the said convention were carefully chosen and were requested personally to the lecturers, thus the topics were all new with sound scientific evidence. The convention featured two foreign lecturers who gave lectures on HIV Pathology and Digital Imaging. A medical doctor from World Health Organization (WHO) and Regional Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) gave a lecture on antibiotic stewardship and its current protocols and 11 of the best lecturers of the PDA gave interesting topics on the different fields of dentistry. This year’s Luzon Convention also paved the way for first ever Dental Hygienists and Dental Technologists Forum lead by Dr. Christine Valerio on the morning of

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November 9, 2018, it was attended by 42 Dental Hygienists and Technologists, with three lectures given by Dr. Juan Vicente Jaurigue, Dr. Cheun Lai Chung and Dr. Soledad Navarro. In the afternoon, the PDA Speakers’ Bureau Energy Summit led by Dr. Ricky Gatbonton was held. The summit was attended by 80 of the PDA’s most sought after senior and young lecturers. Dr. Lourdes Salvacion and Mr. Aldem Salvana gave lectures meant to improve the lecture techniques, presentation and stage personality of the PDA Speakers Bureau lecturers. During the Opening Ceremonies chaired by Dr. Marian Palmos last November 7, 2018, the invited guest speaker, former Senator and Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Allan Peter Cayetano, stressed the importance of dentists and its role in General Health. He also encouraged the Filipino Dentists to learn more and participate in learning programs to fully enhance and exemplify their skills in the global arena. The General Chairman, Dr. Militante, in his welcome speech gave the importance of the three elements in

organizing a successful convention, which are proper planning, being flexible in the current demands and choosing the right people for the right job. He also acknowledged his team for their relentless sacrifice and enthusiasm. The three-day convention passed thru the seamless CPD system which was used in the previous Luzon Convention, now with more than 3400 delegates led by the registration committee, Dr. Rosita Mendoza, and a total of 182 booths led by Dr. Emmanuel Centeno. In the post evaluation meeting, the evaluation committee chairman, Dr. Jonas Anonuevo, presented his report with reactions such as “Congratulations, Huge Success and Will be Expecting the next one”. PDA President conveyed her utmost thanks and congratulations to the whole organizing committee for keeping their promise and meeting up with the challenge of The PDA Greater Luzon Convention. Full article will be published in print at the PDA Bulletin which will be distributed in May 2019 during the 110th PDA Annual Convention.