CPR czar is new prexy
by Gynna P. Gagelonia
Dr. Orlando Bugarin, who goes by the moniker “Probinsyanong MD”, secured the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) presidency, by raking in the highest number of votes in the July 12-13, 2020 PHA electronic polls.
Thus, the Balanga City-based Bugarin will now lead the 1,924-member PHA. He was part of the pioneering team of the CPR-ReadyPH.21 Campaign "To bring CPR to Every Filipino Home" established by PHA in 2015.
Others re-elected to a new mandate were: Drs. Gilbert Vilela, vice president; Jude Erric Cinco, secretary; Ronald Cuyco, treasurer; Rodney Jimenez, director 1. Elected as directors 2 and 3, respectively were: Drs. Walid Amil and Luigi Pierre Segundo. Their tenure officially started on July 15, 2020 and ends on June 30, 2021.
“Out of the 1,302 PHA members who are eligible to vote, 906 or 70 percent cast their votes”, Dr. Nannette Rey, chair of the PHA Nominations Committee, said via Microsoft Teams (MS Teams).
The announcement of the election results were made during the virtual PHA Business Meeting at the Marco Polo Hotel, Meralco Ave., Pasig City on July 14, 2020. The official turnover of the PHA baton by PHA President Dr. Aurelia Leus to Bugarin and the new PHA Board of Directors’ Oath taking rites ensued.
Past PHA President Dr. Cesar Recto III swore Bugarin into office in the presence of his family — wife Dr. Maricar Banzon-Bugarin and sons Joseph and Joshua. Bugarin administered the oath of the four officers — Vilela, Cinco, Jimenez and Leus who were in the venue. Cuyco, Amil and Segundo were inducted online, while the rest of the officers, PHA members and staff witnessed the historic event.
As immediate past president, Leus is part of the incumbent Board which has two lay officers — VP for External Affairs Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe and VP for Finance Romeo Cruz — who are presidential appointees.
“Out of the 1,302 PHA members who are eligible to vote, 906 or 70 percent cast their votes”, Dr. Nannette Rey, chair of the PHA Nominations Committee, said via MS Teams.
The announcement of the election results were made during the virtual PHA Business Meeting at the Marco Polo Hotel, Meralco Ave., Pasig City on July 14, 2020. The official turnover of the PHA baton by PHA President Dr. Aurelia Leus to Bugarin and the new PHA Board of Directors’ Oath taking rites ensued.
The road to the PHA presidency takes six to seven years.
An aspiring PHA director on year one is endorsed by a past president or a member of the Board. As a general rule, you start at Director 3 and gradually, you go up the ladder after making it to the yearly PHA polls. The tradition allows you to experience all the aspects of PHA operations until you become president
The PHA 2020 elections which had been due to take place in May was moved to July 12 and 13, 2020, more than a month after the lifting of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
