Chairman
Crisostomo T. Malabanan, Jr., MD
Staff
Romulo N. Aguilar, MD
Maya Fe N. Darjuan, MD
Melchor R. Gabriel, MD
Jose David F. Marin, Jr., MD
Victorino D. Perlas, Jr., MD
Dante Noel P. Perez, MD

HISTORY

Although the medical course was added to the curricular offerings of the Manila Central University (Manila Central Colleges) in 1947 under the leadership of Dr. Alfredo Guerrero, it took Dean Ramon Macasaet the second dean, to split the Department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat. Such reorganization gave MCU the distinction of being the first Medical College to separate the two specialties in both the teaching areas and hospital services. Thus, a separate Department of Ophthalmology was established in 1954.

To ensure quality training for clerks, interns and residents in this specific field of medicine, the administration of the College of Medicine and Hospital saw to it than distinguished practitioners from the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital manned the Department of Ophthalmology.

In early 1950’s, Dr. Ongsiako, former Chairman of the Makati Medical Center Eye Department, organized and headed the department with two distinguished faculty members. In the late 50’s the department was headed by Dr. Edgardo Caparas. Members of the staff included well know practitioners like Drs. Jesus V. Tamesis, Sr., Victor Nanagas, Vicente dela Paz and Ulysses Carbajal.

At that time, the basic instruments for refraction and diagnosis were provided for in the Dispensary. Slit lamp (biomicroscope) and basic surgical instruments for cataract extraction were also provided. The training included rotation of residents and medical students at the EENT Services of Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, the former North General Hospital.

Dr. Jose Marin (former chairperson of ophthalmology of JRMH in 1985 and presently the chairman of FEU) chaired the Department in the 60’s. His faculty staff included the distinguished Drs. Fernando Capulla and Neva Arribas.

From 1970 and 1980, Dr. Mario Aquino, Chairman Emeritus Institute of Ophthalmology at St. Luke’s Medical Center headed the department. Members of his staff were Drs. Jose Mayo III, Zenaida Igle-Paz, Erlinda Bautista, Evelyn Cortes and Salvador Salceda (past Medical Director of UP-PGH)

During Dr. Aquino’s term, instruments and equipments such as American optical chair, stand and phoroptor were acquired by the department.

Dr. Jose T.D. Mayo III headed the Department from 1981 to 1987 with Drs. Victorino D. Perlas Jr., Carlo Magno Torres and Rommel Litao as additional members of his staff.

In 1983, Dr. Victorino D. Perlas, Jr., then a resident-trainee, presented a paper entitled “Bilateral White Pupil” during the MCU-FDTMF Resident Case Presentation Contest. The paper won first prize. Dr. Perlas also made a primer on a scientific research entitled “The relevance of Cyclopegics in Corneal Foreign Body Management” and followed this with the same study on 574 cases. The result of this study was presented at the Annual Convention of the Philippine Society of Ophthalmology at Westin Philippine Plaza in 1985. Dr. Perlas presented another research paper in 1984 entitled “Visual Rehabilitation of Aphasic Patients – A Ten Year Study”. These two works of Dr. Perlas were published in the Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology (official Journal of the Philippine Society of Ophthalmology) and the Philippine Scientific Journal, a medical Journal of MCU-FDTMF, College of Medicine.

In 1986, the photography section was opened. The Department sent its staff for training by the chief photographer of the Philippine Eye Research Institute of the UP-PGH. During this time an operating microscope, Topcon OM-70 was purchased for use at the Operating Room.

The years 1988 to 1989, the incumbency of Dr. Victorino D. Perlas, Jr. as chairperson of the Department. Staff members included Ophthalmologists, Dr. Francis Ferdinand Cid, Romulo N. Aguilar, Edward Dennis Cruz, Evelyn Santos Morabe, Conrad Talamayan and Crisostomo T. Malabanan, Jr. It was during this year that Extracapsular Cataract Extraction with Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Implantation started and became more frequent. Meanwhile, Dr. Talamayan, a resident, presented a paper entitled “A Breakthrough in Pterygium Management”.

During Dr. Perlas incumbency he coordinated closely with the Association of the Philippine Ophthalmologist in America (APOA). The residents and staff was also given a chance to work at a flying eye hospital (ORBIS) complete with modern operating theater, sophisticated diagnostic equipment and a conference room with video monitors manned by world renowned ophthalmic surgeons working on interesting and complicated eye cases of indigent patients.

It was also during the term of Dr. Perlas that the Department was formally accredited by the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology which was headed then by Drs. Jose Marin Sr. and Jose Valenzuela. Dr. Perlas got an acquisition for subspecialty books, journals and received a donation of $10,000.00 from APOA for research and professorial chair lecturers. The department was given a separate office. The official logo of the Department was also conceived. Dr. Perlas contributed an article, which was included in the Emergency Room Manual.

The years 1989 to 1991 saw the incumbency of Dr. Francis Ferdinand Cid with additional staff Drs. Benjamin Gavino and Raul Cruz. During Dr. Cid’s term, a surgical outreach mission by Dr. Ulysses Carbajal, Rizal Pangilinan, Antonio Say and Vicente dela Paz was done at MCU Hospital. Drs. Pangilinan and Carbajal are alumni of the MCU-FDT Medical Foundation. Through Dr. Rizal Pangilinan, the APOA donated a Wecker Operating Microscope and a Zeis Biomicroscope. The MCU administration also procured a Friedmann Visual field analyzer, an instrument used for visual field screening of glaucoma. A cataract set and a gas sterilizer were also bought. To be able to purchase a computer for record and research purposed, the Department sponsored a movie premier to raise funds.

Dr. Raul Cruz was appointed Chairman during the years 1991 to 1994 with additional staff Drs. Carmelina Magat, Melchor R. Gabriel and Jose David Marin Jr. Dr. Cruz was also active in medial surgical outreach missions through coordination with APOA, APA, the Golden Acres, Resources for the Blind, Inc., Lion’s Club, the MCU Department of Family and Community Medicine at Bagong Silang. Surgeries were performed at MCU Hospital, Pampanga, Isabela, Ilocos, Bacolod, Aklan, Ozamis City, Palawan, Mindoro and Bicol. These activities were coordinated with the Philippine Society of Ophthalmology (PSO) and the Department of Health (DOH) in their campaign to reduce the cataract backlog in the country. During the incumbency of Dr. Cruz, the Department was also re-accredited by the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Noel P. Perez, a resident of the department, presented a case report in 1993 entitled “Vogt Koyonagi Harada Syndrome”. Dr. Jan Idalyne Carbajal-Giron, another resident, joined the case report contest in 1994 with her paper entitled “Hidden Time Bomb – Malignant Choroidal Melanoma”. Both case reports were adjudged First and Third place respectively by the Consultants.

In 1995 the department saw the incumbency of Dr. Romulo N. Aguilar with staffs Dr. Crisostomo T. Malabanan, Jr., Victorino D. Perlas, Jr., Melchor R. Gabriel, Dennis Cruz and Jose David F. Marin, Jr. Like his predecessors, Dr. Aguilar coordinated with the Department of Health and the PSO on their medical outreach programs.

In 1998, as Chair, Dr. Crisostomo T. Malabanan Jr. was able to secure an operating Microscope the Topcon OM – 75, the Alcon Phaco-Vitrectomy machine (Universal 2) and the Biometer (A-Scan). It is also during his time that the Problem Based Learning has been introduced. The incumbent chairman since 2000, Dr. Jose David F. Marin Jr. was able to computerize the department, secure a dynamic octopus computerized perimeter, an RF machine and has produced four postgraduate courses with the 50th Golden Anniversary Celebration falling on the 4th. He is also responsible for the Department Accreditation by the PBO regarding its Resident Physician Trainee up to 2008. There was also an integration of the curriculum of the College of Optometry to the Eye Department.

At present, the new chairman is Dr. Crisostomo T. Malabanan Jr. The out-patient and subspecialty clinic is now located at the new hospital building. Its latest acquisition is the New Leica Operating microscope and an A-Scan ultrasound. It is also a resource center of the International Association of Cataract Lens Educators (IACLE) with its home office in Australia. It has produced 23 graduates in residency training program and seven diplomates with two graduates awaiting the final oral examination given to be given by the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology (PBO). Four of these diplomates had undergone subspecialty training namely: Dr. Noel Perez underwent fellowship training at the Eye Referral Center under the well known Glaucoma Specialist Dr. Manuel Agulto; Dr. Alejandro Caiña underwent preceptorship training under the Philippine Father of Uveitis Dr. Romeo Fajardo and his son Moises. He was also an observer at the Uveitis Clinic at the UP-PGH for 2 years. Dr. Victorino D. Perlas, Jr. on the other hand,also underwent surgical preceptorship in Sweden from a well known international lecturer and trainer in plastic and aesthetic surgery, Dr. Gregorio dela Cruz. He was also an observer at the Plastic and Lacrimal Orbit Clinic at the UP-PGH under Dr. Leonardo Mangubat, the Section Chief; Dr. Mary Ann Yasay-Luis had finished her training in Oculoplasty in Hawaii, USA under Dr. George Camara. There are five first prizes the residents had won during the past Resident Case Report and Research Paper contest.

There are several activities the department is currently involve with at present namely: the yearly celebration of sight saving month of August, the series of medical and surgical mission at the MCU and at President Diosdado Macapagal Hospital sponsored by the Resources for the Blind, Inc., Ephehta, Oblates Fathers of USA which was made possible by Dr. Neva P. Arribas, etc.; the series of monthly lectures given by board examiners of PBO; participation in the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO) Eye Quiz together with hosting its scientific events and participation in the MCU Foundation Poster exhibits.

Future plans are to acquire YAG and Argon laser to update the service of the OPD and training of the residents. Next year, MCU will establish a Visual Science Center that will combine the Eye department and the College of Optometry.