Fellow orthodontists and distinguished guests,

Good evening to all of you.
It seemed so recent when I reluctantly accepted the post of Chair of the Philippine Board of Orthodontics. Following in the footsteps of the most esteemed orthodontists in the Philippines, I was wary if I could take the job and accomplish what they did in the past.

Yet, the enormous strides made during the past decade namely , the Passage of the Philippine Dental Act of 2007, the availability of two to three year university-based orthodontic programs in the Philippines and the adoption of the World Federation of Orthodontists’ (WFO) Guidelines on Postgraduate Training by the PBO truly set the stage for the realization of several of PBO’s goals. Thus, the past couple of years were actually not as tough as I envisioned them to be.

As part of PBO’s Mission to REDEFINE THE LANDSCAPE OF PHILIPPINE ORTHODONTICS, our efforts have been focused on fulfilling PBO’s goal of being at par with WFO member organizations.
In terms of the inroads we have made, I can proudly announce that a record number of examinees from various university based training programs have successfully completed various phases of the certification process:
There was one examinee who successfully completed the Phase I examinations given last November.
There were a total of 22 passers during the 2013 and 2014 Phase 2 written examinations. They are now eligible to apply for Associate Membership in the APO. They may also proceed to take the Phase III or IV examinations upon completion of required cases.

On the one hand, we had one successful examinee who completed the Phase IV examinations of the PBO. This is Dr. Rosanna Sanchez. Later this evening, she will conferred diplomate status as a testament to her commitment to excellence in the field of Orthodontics.

Even if the PBO officially closed examinations to non-graduates of university based training programs, there was still a sizeable increase in the number of applicants for the written exams. This signified the growing awareness for the need to be certified by APO’s official examination arm. There are, after all, distinct advantages to being affiliated with both the APO and the PBO.

Today, all graduate orthodontic students who are enrolled at PBO-accredited university programs are eligible to apply for “dues-free” student membership in the World Federation of Orthodontists. As of this moment, conditional accreditation has only been extended to two institutions, the University of the Philippines and Centro Escolar University Orthodontic Training programs. Hopefully, when Dr. Hernandez, takes the helm, we will have more universities enjoying the PBO seal of approval.

Let me remind all of you that only graduates of accredited orthodontic institutions are exempt from taking the Phase 1 of the PBO examinations (refer to PBO exam primer). Graduates of non-accredited institutions cannot be student members of the WFO and will have to undergo Phase 1 oral interviews and dexterity examinations before proceeding to the Phase 2 written examinations.

Through its website (www.pbo.ph) and other information campaigns, the PBO is actively working to encourage the public to seek orthodontic treatment from qualified practitioners. Working behind the scenes, the board has been closely monitoring unauthorized claims, false marketing schemes and illegal practitioners in order to protect the interests of the general public.

As we work hand in hand with APO in our quest for excellence in our chosen field, we again encourage all the rest of the members to join us at the PBO. Being recognized as a diplomate is feat which must be aspired for by every Filipino orthodontist! Let us all aim high and work towards being the BEST we can ever be.

Lastly, I would like to thank my officers and committee heads who have sacrificed so much of their time, effort and resources to make PBO a force to contend with. Though still a small group, we have gained the respect of most and aspire for even greater heights as we move on to 2015. I wish my successor, Dr. Marianne Hernandez, the best of luck, as she continues the hard work that all of our predecessors have done to put PBO where it is today.

Mabuhay ang PBO and thank you to all of you for your unrelenting support!