The PMA Journal and the PMA News

In 1902, the Bulletin of the Manila Medical Society, the very own
publication of the Manila Medical Society was founded. It was the result of
the increasing interest of the local physicians in medical research. This
publication was realized due to the aid granted by The Philippine General
Hospital. It was made the official organ of the association which serve to link
the members of the profession and an avenue to showcase the work of local
physicians. Moreover, the publication was devoted to the progress of medical
science and the interest of the medical profession of the Philippine Islands.
Initially, the journal came out monthly and the publication was disrupted at
the start of World War I and during Japanese occupation. In 1921, it was
names the Journal of the Philippine Island Medical Association (JPMA).
In the early issues of the journal (Volume II, III, IV) it was published in
English and Spanish. Later, the journal was solely written in English with few
exceptions. Along with the changing of the name of the Philippines Island
Medical Association to Philippine Medical Association, the name of the Journal
was also named the Journal of the Philippine Medical Association starting
with the January 1940 issue.
The association annual membership fee which was Php24.00 initially
was mostly spent for the production of the Journal. However, the following
year, the allocation for the journal out of the membership fee was reduced to

Php10.00. With the rising cost of publication of the Journal, the annual
membership fee was increased to Php30.00 in 1978.
The following were the ones who manage the Journal:
1. Dr. Pedro Chanco first business manager until 1949 (resigned)
2. Dr. Trinidad p. Pesigan business manager 1949-1953.
3. Adbureau a private entity which the Executive Council
appointed to manage the journal in order to increase the income
of the Association and make the journal came out in time in
1955. It is an advertising company managed by Mr. F. P. Villegas
which was also appointed as the business manager and publisher
during this time. They would undertake the publishing and
soliciting of ads and to supply 2500 copies of the Journal every
month. This set up did not work. By the recommendation of the
Committee headed by Dr. Ramon Y. Atienza the contract with the
Adbureau was terminated in 1957. This termination is due
failure of the company to comply to the agreed terms and
condition (failure to publish in time and failure to remit 15%
advertising commission to the PMA).
4. Dr. Alberto Romualdez assumed the position in 1957.
In the succeeding years , the treasurer of the Association served as the
business manager of the publication.

In the last few years, the rising cost of publication in comparison with
the previous years. In the last two years and in the early part of 1982, the
Journal was adversely affected by the controversy in the management of the

PMA Printing Press so that when Dr. Constantino A. Nunez took over the
Executive Council, he appointed Dr. Eduardo R. de la Cruz as Editor-in-Chief
of the Journal and concurrently the manager of the Printing Press. This move
was an attempt to make the printing press of the PMA a viable undertaking.
Much emphasis was placed by the administration of Dr. Nunez on this
particular service of the PMA because of the increasing complaints of the
members that the journal was not coming out on time and some were not
even receiving any issues at all.
The journal starting with the June-July issue of 1982 was increased in
size from 7x10x8x11.5 to conform to the current international standard. The
format of presentation was changed to make it more readable both from the
general practitioners and the specialty groups. The Journal contains feature
articles, original papers, reviews, abstracts, reports of clinical trials, referrals
by correspondence, presentation of controversial issues in medicine under
the Point of View Section, book reviews, sections on communication, and
opinions of members and membership information section. A total of 13,000
copies are being published every two months, with 13,000 copies of PMA
News being printed in between issues. Among the members of JPMA Board
are the editors-in-chief of the journals of affiliate specialty societies.
The role of the Journal in the continuing medical education program of
the PMA and as a link of the membership of the Association with the PMA
Secretariat has come to a point where any change or any flaw in its
publication does not escape the critical observation of the members. Its

significance in the dissemination of medical information had already been

established.
The Philippine Medical Association journal was sometime used not only
for the dissemination of medical technology and information to the members
but also as a forum for the presentation of issues that the Association was
pushing for implementation and legislation. It is an accepted fact that the
JPMA played a significant role in the eventual establishment of the Philippine
Medical School now College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, and
the creation of the Department of Health. It is sometimes used in taking up
controversial matters, so that in 1962, an inquiry was made as to who was
responsible for the editorials in the Journal. Dr. Samia, the then editor-in-chief
replied that it was the responsibility of the Editorial Board because the board
determines whether the editorial conformed with the policies of the
Association or not. He further added that editorials could be controversial but
they should not contradict the policies of the Association. For the same
reason, in 1965, the Executive Council discussed the possibility of editorial
censorship. The consensus was, however, against the censorships long as
the author signs and acknowledges it. The Executive Council upheld the view
that ht Philippines was a free society and controversies could not be avoided.
The Journal has also been used as a forum for the discussion of critical
issues affecting the profession and the public. Several strong criticism
against socialized medicine, for instance, appeared in the Journal in 1959
and a year later the editorial on the same theme stated that socialization of

medicine may be one of the many insidious manifestation of the socialistcommunist that is dangerously engulfing most of the people of the world.
The physicians who value their citizenship must recognize the fact and must
take a firm stand in the fight against socialized medicine on a much more
aggressive and broader scale.
Project and programs of the different administration were presented in
the Journal and in the PMA News so that members could be well-informed. In
the promotion of its indigency program, a PMA President wrote in the Journal
that the image of the Physicians in the Philippines had gone down in the eyes
of the public and this was largely because the medical profession has not
been identified with community betterment. He Urged that the doctors
identify themselves in a moment of service through which they would
enjoy greater prestige for the profession.
The Journal of the PMA has frequently carried editorial and articles of
national importance such as articles urging young physicians to go into rural
practice out of a sense of patriotism and service.
A Department of Health physician, Dr. Cristobal Santiago, once wrote
about the dangers faced by practitioners in rural areas some of our
colleagues feel insecure against kidnappers and ransom seekers, not to
mention dissidents. His article was entitled Practice of Medicine in Rural
Areas, JPMA, 30 September 1954. He went on to ask for protection for
physicians practicing in remote countryside.

Side by side with the development of the PMA is the increasing

complexities of internal communication. Much attention is now being focused
in the direction particularly considering the poor communication facilities
that exist in many places of the country. The Journal was used and is
currently being used to carry organizational messages to its members,
although this role is now being relegated primarily to the PMA News. Any
amendment to the constitution of the PMA must first be deliberated upon by
the House of Delegates. The purpose of this is to ensure that the significant
majority of the members would be properly informed.
The PMA News which was started in 1962 was designated to improved
the internal communication system of this large association composed of
chapters geographically scattered. This second publication deals primarily
with current events within the organization while the Journal handles
professional developments and continuing medical education.

The Current PMA Publications Officers 2014

Chairman: Mardave S. Martinez, M.D.

Co-Chairman: Maria Christina H. Ventura, M.D.

All Board of Governors:

Arnold Cachapero Yu, M.D.
Ponciano F. Aberin Jr., M.D.

Arnel M. Asio, M.D.

Subcommittee:

Journal:
Chairman: Jose Britanio S. Pujalte Jr., M.D.
Co-Chairman: Arturo E. Mendoza

Newsletter :
Editor-In-Chief: Mardave S. Martinez, M.D.
Associate Editor: Maria Christina H. Ventura, M.D.
Ponciano F. Aberin Jr., M.D.
Contributing Editors: Irineo C. Bernardo III, M.D.
Dures Fe E. Taguyana, M.D.

THE PMA JOURNAL AND THE PMA NEWS

A written report
In partial fulfillment of the requirements in
Islamic Perspectives and
The History of Medicine

Presented to
Atty. Musacala S. Ampaso, DM, MPA

Jutba, Abegail Jane L.

Naranjo, Noel Neil
Mindanao State University College of Medicine
Class 2017