PDS-Central Luzon Chapter activities and festivities in December

Roberto Manlapig, MD, FPDS

December was a busy month for the PDS-Central Luzon Chapter. The first activity was a roundtable discussion held on December 5, 2008 at the Herbs and Greens in San Fernando, Pampanga, where PDS President Dr. Georgina Pastorfide presented the results of a study on Efficacy and Safety on the Use of Calcipotriol + Betamethasone dipropionate in Psoriasis. In attendance were members from Pampanga, Bataan , Zambales and Bulacan.

December 7 was a red-letter day for the PDS-CLC members, not because it was the day of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar dela Hoya fight, but rather, the first official Christmas party of the Chapter. Also held at Herbs and Greens, the event was graced by several members from the different provinces. The gathering was begun with a very interesting lecture on the Anti-aging Effects of Coffee Berry by Dr. Benjamin Bince, followed by a lecture on Acne by Dr. Julie Wong-Pabico. The talks were followed by a hearty, delectable lunch.

In the same event, an election of a new set of officers was held. Dr. Nilo Rivera was elevated as CLC President, resulting from Dr. Juliet Macarayo’s election to the PDS Board of Directors. Drs. Carmen Menchu Liwanag and Dr. Robert Manlapig became the new Vice-President and Treasurer, respectively, while Dr. Maria Teresa S. Tolosa remained Secretary of the Chapter.

As has been traditional in Christmas parties, there were parlor games and gifts were raffled off. Everybody had a good time and went home with a smile. Capping the activities for 2008 was a lecture on HPV and Cervical Cancer by Dr. Ricardo Manalastas, held at Cookbook Kitchen.