THE ORIGIN OF PHILPPINE ASSOCIATION OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS, INC.
By: Mr. Luis M. Ibarra, RRT, MBA, MPA
The Association of X-Ray Technicians in the Philippines was conceived in 19554 with primary objectives of uniting X-Ray Technicians into one umbrella, both from the government and private institutions. The objectives of the association are: to promote their general welfare, and to upgrade the Practice of Radiologic Technology so as to meet the standard for the protection of Life, Health and Property.
The President of the first association was then a MSGT at the V. Luna General Hospital, Armed Forces of the Philippines (now the AFP Medical Center). He is MSGT Gilberto Palomique, who became the officer in charge of the 2nd school of Radiologic Technology in the country – The Marian College which later on renamed as Emilio Aguinaldo College. He headed the association from 1954 to 1957.
In 1958 to 1963, the association was inactive and died a natural death. In 1964, our forbears realized the importance of unity, and once again they made the association alive making it more active. For the second time, MSGT Gilberto Palomique was elected president with a term of office from 1964 to 1966.
During the Association’s Convention in the later part of 1966 an election was conducted. Mr. Jose Querido won the presidency with a term of office of one (1) year . So that in 1967 another election was held and SSGT Norberto A. Palomo was elected as president. Mr. Palomo was also a military man, who later on became the principal of the Family Clinic and Hospital School of Radiologic Technology (FCHSRT). Consultant of the Radiation Health Office (RHS), Department of Health (DOH), faculty of Martinez Memorial Colleges of Radiologic Technology, and Dean of the College of Radiologic Technology of the Good Samaritan College, Cabanatuan City up to his retirement in 2002, Mr. PAlomo has been awarded as the outstanding Professional in the Field of Radiologic Technology by the Professional Regulation Commission. In the year 1998 even after his retirement, Mr. Palomo is very active Radiologic Technologists, having been a member of the Sub Technical Panel for Radiologic Technology Education of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED).
In 1973, varied problems plagued the Radiologic Technologists and there emerged three societies. The Philippine Society of Medical Radiologic Technologists (PHISMERT) with Mr. Norberto A. Palomo as President, the Philippine Society of Radiologic Technologsts (PSRT) with Mr. Gilberto Palomique as president and the Philippine Institute of Radiologic Technologists (PIRT) with Mr. Almario Lutap was also a member of AFP with the rank of MSGT. You will notice that the three presidents of the societies were all from the V. Luna General Hospital Armed Forces of the Philippines.
With the kind of interventions of cool-headed advisers for Radiologic Technology like Dr. Jose T. Gaffud of the Philippine College of Radiology, Dr. Celia Anatalio of the Radiation Health Office, department of Health, dr. Tranquilino Elicano Jr., of the Philippine Cancer Institute, and others, the three warring associations were fused into one society which is now the Philippine Association of Radiologic Technologists, Inc. (PART) and Mr. Gilbert Palomique was installed as president.
The term of office of elected officers of the association was for one year 1974 to 1975, Mr. Jose Cervantes of the Philippine Heart Center was elected president. Mr. Cervantes is now in the United States and presently the president of the Fil- American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
Mr. Santos Ragasa, the Chief tech of the Manila Health Department was elected president for the year 1975-1976. Mr. Ragasa was very instrumental in the passage of R.A.7431 having actively participated in different committee hearings both the house of representative (congress) and the Senate in professionalizing the practice of Radiologic Technology in the Philippines.
For the year 1976 to 1977 a prolific young Radiologic Technologists was elected in the person of Mr. Alfonso Abrigo. Mr. Abrigo was a product of the first School of Radiologic Technology in the country, the (FCHRT) and later on became one of the most successful Filipino in the West Coast of United States. He had successfully put p his own company of Tele-imaging in the US. Mr. Abrigo has passed away.
For the year 1977-1978, Mr. Benito Ringor of Dagupan became president. He had also passed away.
In 1978-1980, Mr. Gabriel Mendoza, the then Chief Tech of Singian General Hospital near Malacanan Palace became the president. Mr. Mendoza became the OIC of the College of Radiologic Technology of the Perpetual Help College, Binan, Laguna until his demise.
Mr. Bernardo Ramos was elected president in 1980-1981.
And in 1981 to 1982, Mr. Felix Castillo, then the OIC of St. Jude College of Radiologic Technology was elected as president. Mr. Castillo is now in the US as a fulfilled practicing radiologic Technologist.
In the year 1982-1983, Mr. Norberto P. Daan, who was then the chief technologist of the Social Security System Medical Department, became the president. He is now in Toronto, Canada as a Radiologic Technologist.
For a call of duty, Mr. Cervantes was once again elected as president in 1983 to 1985 until his departure for US.
The year 1986-1988 is another term for Mr. Santos Ragasa of the Manila Health Department.
In 1989 up 2000, Mr. Jack C. Lappay of St. Jude College then was elected president of the Association. He is the longest term president of the association. It is in his incumbency that the radiologic technology was professionalized with the passage of R.A. 7431 which was signed by President Corazon C. Aquino into law. Mr. Lappay is now an honorable member of the Board of Radiologic Technology.
At present the president of the Philippine Association of Radiologic Technologists, Inc., is Mr. Rolando Banares, the Chief Technologist of Martinez Memorial Hospital and Ospital ng Tondo.
After passing the Board Examination of the Radiologic Technology, during the oath taking ceremony, all the passers are required to take oath as member of the only accredited professional organization of radiologic technologists in the Philippines by the professional regulation commission- The Philippine Association of Radiologic Technologists, Inc.
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