(1888PressRelease)
August 23, 2007 - Days into the event, the local weather bureau predicted heavy rains and thunderstorms until days after Psorphil's 2nd anniversary on August 18, 2007. The night of August 17 till the dawn of August 18 was scary as rain continuously poured in the country brought about by the typhoon—Egay. The morning was cloudy with scattered rain showers and a few thunderstorms. Suddenly, rain stopped at about 9am that gave the organizers a chance to go and organize the venue. Sponsors came one after the other to set up their booths. Suddenly, rain fell again before noon and kept the sky heavy and dark till around 2pm. It was almost unbelievable that this event will ever push through. But members kept their hopes and spirits high that GOD will take care of the event.
The registration was set at 2pm. And just a handful of members came until 2:30. Suddenly, members and guests came one after the other. What a relief that by 3pm, the venue was almost full. Despite the heavy rains and thunderstorms that flooded a greater part of the country, members from the province were present to celebrate with us.
What was fascinating was, people were dressed up to the nines—gowns and suits. The invitations indicated that the event was formal. The reason behind was to give our members reasons to dress up as most of us are socially alienated and aloof. What a sight to behold, event the doctors were in gowns and formal Barong Tagalog.
Pre-Conference with Sponsors
A very solemn music of IL Divo's "Lord's Prayer" opened the activities followed by the Philippine National Anthem at around 3:30pm. Mylou Casanova, a senior moderator of the Psorphil Online Community gave a welcome speech to the members and guests. The brief talks given by managers of LEO Pharma, Schering Plough , Galderma, Wyeth, VSRC+Clinics, Carica and Fern-C. The other sponsors who were present were Bonifacio Global City, Bridges Bookstore, and United Laboratories
National Psoriasis Conference 2007 (NPC-2K7)
Keynote Speaker – Remigdio Olveda, MD of RITM represented Department of Health Secretary Duque.
Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and the Psoriasis Community – Arnelfa Paliza, MD, FPDS
Destination: Philippines, A problem-focused Medical Tourism for Psoriasis – Vermen Verallo-Rowell, MD, FPDS
A Focus on Nutrition: Food Supplements and Psoriasis – Ma. Teresita Gabriel, MD, FPDS
Psoriasis Update: The Metabolic Syndrome Link: Ma. Lorna F. Frez, MD, FPDS
A Focus on Treatment: Treating a Patient with Compassion and Enthusiasm, Filomena Montinola, MD, FPDS
Mr. Jojo Reyes of BDO (moderator) and Jing Castañeda of ABS-CBN (member) stood in as the master of ceremonies of the NPC-2K7
The Launching of the Psoriasis Livelihood Assistance Network (PLANET)
Right after the sumptuous dinner, Sofia, an upcoming singer making waves in the national recording industry opened the launching of the PLANET with a couple of songs participated in by member Barry who did the percussions.
Celebrity Host Yayo Aguila and member Ed De Guzman engaged the audience with their flair in hosting the program.
Jeff Lok, from the regional office of LEO Pharma gave a brief remark as the event's main presentor.
Ana Baluyot performed electrifying song numbers that ushered in the Awards night, one of the highlights of the event wherein Psorphil members were chosen by members to receive various awards and recognitions. The film-festival format made the part a truly entertaining one as awardees received their awards wearing gowns and formal suits—very much like the Oscar's and the local movie awards' Night.
And the 2007 Psorphil Award goes to.....
Funniest Member: Elyott
Friendliest Member: Kathy
Most Active in Posting: Jojo & Pong
Most Active in EB: Richelle
Most Encouraging Member: Maria Blanca
Most Supportive Member: Jojo
Most Inspiring Member: Liza & Riza
Volunteer of the Year: Jon & Raymond
Youth of the Year: Pong
Female Face of the Night: Layden
Male Face of the Night: Jojo
Member of the Year: Liza
Moderators' Award: Krisma
Presidential Award: Art
Trophies and plaques presentors were Barry and Margarita - who flew in all the way from Kuwait to be part of the celebrations.
This was followed by the launching and awarding of the first batch of PLANET grantees. All five awardees come from NSAPPI and its hospital-psor-club members. Dr. Arnelfa Paliza presented the winners with their livelihood certificates.
As part of my closing speech, we pre-launched other upcoming projects like the World Psoriasis Day and the Walk into National New Realization (WINNER) - our national information/education campaign. Part of the WINNER project is the HUG-ME Campaign where members of the psoriasis community (wearing shirts with HUG ME… I'm not contagious) will be hugged by famous local celebrities and whose photos will be published on newspapers and hopefully seen on television. Psorphil thinks that this is the most effective way for our "Psoriasis is not contagious" campaign to be heard across the country as celebrities could lend us the strongest voice in our campaign.
The showing of the Psorphil Video that chronicled the growth of Psorphil, drew much enthusiasm form the crowd as they look forward to bigger and more successful events. Thanks to Mr. Adrian Ramirez who directed the night's show/launching.
Party Time
With the music of a very talented band – Hardy Amies Band, members and guests literally hang-it-loose as everyone danced the night away. Revered doctors gamely stayed and grooved with the members of the community.
Sumptuous Food, Well-meaning Family and Friends, Good Music. It was a night filled with fun and good purpose – a truly memorable day to celebrate Psorphil's second anniversary-"Turning Hurts into Halos, Scars into Stars". To all who came, Thank you very much! To everyone, see you next year.
Josef de Guzman
President/CEO
Psoriasis Philippines
telefax: +6328334303
mobile: +639273820525
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