Last December 18, 2014, seven loyal sons of the Phi Kappa Mu once again graced the UPMAS Homecoming Ball Awards for Outstanding Alumni as Brods Florante Perez Gonzaga, Φ1953; Florencio Morente Pineda, Φ1959; Romeo Pilotin Ariniego, Φ1967; Abundio Asis Balgos, Φ1976; Julian Jose Munson Esteban, Φ1984B; Arnel Monteloyola Joaquin, Φ 1984B; and Virgilio Reginald Mata Acain, Jr., Φ2000 received their respective citations.
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Florante Perez Gonzaga, MD, Φ1953 (Distinguished Alumnus Award)
Brod Florante is a renowned expert in Reproductive medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Asia-Pacific region. He was able to train internationally and even held various key positions in scientific societies in the Philippines and abroad, including: Temporary Adviser in the Scientific Session on the Ovulatory Cycle at the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland (June-September, 1966); President, Philippine Society of Climacteric Medicine (1998); President of Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines (1997-present), and Board of Trustees in Philippine Society for the Study of Overweight and Obesity; Philippine Representative, Asia Pacific Federation of Menopause Societies (1998-2000). He was the founding president of the Philippine Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (1994).
Brod Florante was successful in establishing the section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) and the Menopause Clinic in UP-PGH, which pioneered post residency fellowship training in REI in the country. He was able to publish numerous local and international researches and authored and co-authored in several textbooks, reference manuals and clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).
Some of the awards he garnered for his invaluable contributions to the practice of medicine in the country and to the UP community include: UPMASA Professorial Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology (1991-1992), Elena Tan Professorial Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology (1994-1995), Honoria Acosta Sison Award for Research from the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (November 1996), Award from the Chancellor, UP Manila (June 20,1997), and in 1998, the highest distinction as Baldomero Roxas Awardee of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. In 2007, he was also given the Expert Award by the Medical City. In the said hospital, he established the Women’s Health Care Clinic and served as chairman of its Obstetrics and Gynecology department for many years.
Brod Florante’s eagerness to learn and help the country did not halt him to bring back home his newly acquired knowledge after his trainings. He served the UP College of Medicine well until his retirement and is a professor emeritus.
Florencio Morente Pineda, MD, Φ1959 (Special Citation: Katapatan sa UPMAS Award)
Brod Tos is the class president of 1963 and became the UPMAS president in 1988. He is a gastroenterologist and founded the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology. In 2009, he became the UPMAS Executive Director, a position he accepted because of his dedication as an alumnus of UPCM and his desire to be of service to the society. He has been the Executive Director of UPMAS since then.
Brod Tos not only helps in overseeing the activities of UPMAS but also spends time to meet with the UPMASA officials to discuss on how the UPMAS and UPMASA can work together for the benefit of the alumni and the college. The KATAPATAN SA UPMAS AWARD recognizes his commitment and loyalty to the ideals of the Society.
Romeo Pilotin Ariniego, MD, Φ1967 (Outstanding Educator)
Brod Romy is one of the most well-respected and most outstanding doctors in the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLSHSI) recognized by his students, fellow faculty members, and colleagues in the medical profession. His students would always refer to him with respect, admiration, and affection whenever talking about “Doc RA” despite his notorious strictness whenever doing his teaching rounds. He is known as a caring and concerned mentor who does not hesitate in helping students in need. His home and extensive medicine library has been made open to scholars who need a place to stay, browse references, and want to learn personally the different medical concepts from him. In fact, he has already donated the said home to DLSHSI to be used by generations of students to come.
His leadership abilities were on full display as he served as dean of the DLS-HSI College of Medicine and various top positions in the DLS-HSI and the DLS-HSI University Medical Center, including a stint as its vice president and assistant medical director, respectively.
As fitting tribute to his contributions to the medical education of students of DLSHSI, the newly constructed medical library, has been named after him, the Romeo P. Ariniego MD Library. He recalls how he relied on borrowed materials from the medical library himself as a student.
He is also a topnotch cardiologist, trusted and consulted by the residents of Cavite. His clinics are known to have the longest of queues at the De La Salle University Medical Center.
The administration of DLS-HSI and various organizations outside the campus have recognized his excellence as an educator, as he was awarded with Outstanding Citizen in Health Education and Delivery by Vigan City in 2005 and Distinguished Teacher Award by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) recently in 2013.
Abundio Asis Balgos, MD, Φ1976 (Outstanding in Medical Service)
Brod Bunds joined the faculty of the Department of Physiology, UP College of Medicine, as clinical assistant professor of the pulmonary section and attending physician at PGH. He went to University of California-San Diego for post-doctoral fellowship in pulmonary physiology and to National Taiwan University and Cleveland in Ohio, for further post-doctoral training.
He resumed teaching at UPCM, with the academic rank of professor 6, a Tolete-Velcek Professor of Medicine. He was an Associate Dean for Planning and Research and Vice Chancellor for Research of UP Manila. An outstanding graduate of UPCM where he was the first Clemente Gatmaitan awardee, Brod Bunds has done laudable work as a physician, professor, researcher, writer, and community worker. He has received several other prestigious awards, among them the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Ten Outstanding Scientists in 1995; Most Distinguished Teacher and Most Distinguished Fellow in Research in 1998, and Most Outstanding Fellow in 2005, all three from the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP). He recently received a Distinguished Alumnus award for Public Health promotion from the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA).
To further promote public health, Brod Bunds has done pioneering research in diverse areas such as the effects of cigarette smoke in mucociliary clearance in mice, and pulmonary function effect of chronic exposure of rice mill workers to rice grain dust.
In the clinics, he has done studies on myocardial infarction scoring, bronchial asthma, COPD (or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), community-acquired pneumonia, septic shock, and ventilator weaning.
Brod Bunds has twenty-two published papers and abstracts and several other unpublished studies promoting public health. He is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) – Philippine chapter, of which he is past international governor. Now vice-president of the PCCP, Dr. Balgos is active in community work, serving the medical needs of indigent patients in Metro Manila in his home of Capiz.
Julian Jose Munson Esteban, MD, Φ1984B (Family of the Year award)
The Esteban family with brods Julian Jose Munson Esteban, MD, Φ1984B (rightmost), and Jose Antonio Esteban Habana, Φ2014 (fifth from right).
Brod Julian belongs to the very first batch of students in the Intarmed Program of the UPCM, selected from the best of the very best. After graduating in 1989, he finished his residency in Internal Medicine at the UP-PGH and at the University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center, USA. He completed his cardiovascular and interventional cardiovascular fellowship both at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He likewise completed a Master of Science in Clinical Research Design and Biostatistics at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Medical School where he also practices cardiology.
Arnel Monteloyola Joaquin, MD, Φ1984B (Outstanding Educator)
Brod Arnel graduated in 1989 and completed his Internal Medicine program from Wayne State University and a Geriatric Fellowship at UCLA School of Medicine. He joined the Charles Drew University/UCLA School of Medicine in 1995 and took over as the Chief of Geriatric Medicine in 1998. He also became the Program Director for the Geriatric Fellowship Program which was the second largest program in Southern California (2nd only to UCLA). Brod Arnel has trained more than 40 Geriatric Fellows and hundreds of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine residents. As the principal investigator, Brod Arnel obtained a $2M grant to train Geriatric Fellows, mental health providers, and dentists from the Bureau of Health Professions/Health Resource and Services Administration (BHP/HRSA), US Department of Health Human Services from 2002. Over the span of his 12 year career at Drew/UCLA School of Medicine, Brod Arnel has secured more than $7M in research training and service grants for Drew/UCLA School of Medicine. He also participated in grant reviews for BHP/HRSA and California Geriatric Education Center. During his term as the Chief Geriatrics, his division grew from 5 to more than 20 faculty members. In 2002, the Geriatrics Services at King/Drew Medical Center was recognized as one of America’s Best in the US in Geriatrics (ranked 28th) by the US News and World Report (July 2002). Brod Arnel’s Geriatric Program included a dedicated inpatient geriatric unit which served many indigent seniors of South Central Los Angeles.
Brod Arnel has several publications and has reviewed papers for JAGS, the Journal of the National Medical Association (NMA), and Biologist.
He keeps himself active in the community by serving as board member as well as officer of various community groups, including the Los Angeles Police Foundation, Filipino Veterans Foundations, Filipino-American Service Group, Veterans Administration Advisory Council, the Philippine Medical Association of Southern California, and the UPMASA Southern California chapter among others.
Major Virgilio Reginald Mata Acain, MD, Φ2000 (Special Citation for Medical Service)
Brod Verge is one of the Filipino peacekeepers who were involved in the recent Syrian Conflict. Serving as the Commanding Medical Officer of one of the United Nations hospitals, he is part of the military unit that was involved in the infamous standoff at the Golan Heights of Syria. Consequently, he was recently awarded the Presidential Citation Badge by no less than President Aquino. His is a kind of service that goes beyond healing the poor and sickly: he does so with his own life on the lines.
He had his humble beginnings as an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical School scholar. After graduating from the UP College of Medicine, he went on to serve with the Philippine Army, taking on dangerous assignments in Visayas and Western Mindanao. Taking his learnings from the college, he entered the United Nations and tended to the medical needs of Filipino soldiers as well as the impoverished and displaced refugees overseas.
Brod Verge is a well-decorated soldier–under his belt are countless merits and commendations bestowed by the Armed Forces. He has held leadership positions in military hospitals. For conducting medical missions and relief operations, he has received the Military Civic Action Medal. Indeed, Brod Verge’s dedication and service gives honor to his dear alma mater – and he deserves the recognition.
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Congratulations brods!
source: U.P. Medical Alumni Society citations
