-The year was 1947. The Board of Trustees of the Manila Central Colleges, in the spirit of public service, decided to acquire the facilities of the defunct Afable College of Medicine, including the Manila General Hospital. Thus, came the birth of the College of Medicine of the Manila Central Colleges, later known as the MCU together with the Department of Surgery.
At that time medical director was Dr. Fortunato Guerrero who served concurrently as the first chairperson of the Department of Surgery. He occupied the position from 1947 to 1953. The first surgical residency graduates under him were Drs. Jesus Lizardo and Rodolfo Lontoc. Dr. Guerrero was replaced as department chair by Dr. Francisco Guzman who held the position from 1953 to 1955.
Dr. Jaime Aquino took over as chairperson of the department in 1955. Prior to his appointment as head of the Department of Surgery Dr. Aquino was the chief resident of the department and the chief of clinics. In 1955 he was sent by the administration to the United States for specialized studies and observation in the modern practice of surgery. Upon his return Dr. Aquino was given the position vacated by Dr. Guzman. It was to be the longest chairmanship in the history of MCU as Dr. Aquino headed the department for 30 years from 1955 to 1985. What was more amazing was that at one time Dr. Aquino who up to the present, is an active consultant of the department.
Among the graduates who finished their residency under Dr. Jaime Aquino were the following: Dr. Mario Leyba, Dr. Synteke Demonteverde, Dr. Manuel Dijamco, Dr. Damaso de Castro, Dr. Francisco Rodriguez, Dr. Rogelio Arizala, Dr. Vicente Alfajora, Dr. Manuel Rivera, Dr. Rogelio Alvarade, Dr. James Albarastine, Dr. Juan Hernandez, Dr. Florencio Castillo, Dr. Manuel Lagman, Dr. Paterno Encarnacion, Dr. Florian Limjoco, and Dr. Mario Sevilla.
During Dr. Aquino’s term, the department was affiliated with several hospitals ( North General Hospital, V. Luna Hospital, Veteran’s Memorial Hospital) where clerks and interns of MCUH could rotate. Together with Dr. Aquino were other surgeons who were responsible for training the students and surgical residents.
1968 marked an important milestone in the history of the Department. The Residency Training Program was accredited by the Philippine College of Surgeons.
Dr. Ponciano Bernardo, Jr. occupied the chairmanship from Chairman 1985-1994. Prior to his appointment as department chairperson, Dr. Bernardo was the Chief of Clinics since 1947. It was during his term that the department saw numerous changes. Realizing the increasing trend towards subspecialty in surgery. Dr. Bernardo slowly acquired the services of various specialists in the field. Surgery was divided into the different subspecialties: Neurosurgery headed by Dr. Jesus Lazaro, Plastic Surgery headed by Dr. Rosauro Cabailo, Head and Neck surgery headed by Henry Falcotelo, Pediatric Surgery headed by Dr. Leonardo Cua, TCVS headed by Dr. Antonio Cabigas, Orthopedic Surgery headed by Dr. Vedasto Lim, Colo-rectal Surgery headed by Dr. Alberto Roxas and Urology headed by Dr. Ponciano Bernardo, Jr.
The surgical office, which previously was situated in the Medical Director’s Office, was transferred to the office of the chief of clinics. Under Dr. Bernardo the department deemed it fit to have its own training officer whose role was to directly oversee the training of surgical residents. Dr. Rosauro Cabailo was the first training officer from 1985-1989. He was succeeded by Dr. Herminio Hernandez from 1989 to 1992. The post is presently being held by Dr. Ramon Abella. It was also during Dr. Bernardo’s term that the Department of Anesthesia was separated from the Department of Surgery in the hospital.
During the term of Dr. Bernardo, the number of surgical residents was increased from one per year to two residents per year. During his incumbency, graduates of the residency program starting from the batch of Dr. Henry Falcotelo, Ramon Abella (presently the training officer) and Norman Garcia were able to pass consistently in the exams given by the Philippine Board of Surgery.
Other changes/ improvements during Dr. Bernardo’s term were as follows: acquisition of a set of cystoscope-resectoscope, audio-visual equipment for teaching, video-lap, and upgrading of the department’s library. Another important accomplishment under Dr. Bernardo was the holding of weekly conferences, monthly Journal Club, yearly postgraduate courses and the annual research contest among the surgical residents. As a result of the thrust toward experimental research, the department was able to consistently win in the annual interdepartmental resident’s research contest.
The history of the department would not be complete without mentioning Dr. Sergio Brillantes, presently head of the General Surgery section, who inspired the surgical residents in their quest for skills and theoretical knowledge.
Dr. Vedasto Lim succeeded Dr. Bernardo. Under him, the Department of Surgery continues to grow. The Residency Training Program is undergoing some vital changes as it was modified from the previous 4-year program to 5 years. The Faculty Staff is continually being upgraded. The PBL or problem based learning is being implemented in the College of Medicine. Among the achievements under his term is the establishment of the Surgical Inter-University Research Foundation of which the MCU Department of Surgery is one of the five founding institutions. The department has also gone to surgical missions in the provinces.
With the able leadership of Dr. Vedasto Lim, more dramatic changes are in store for the Department of Surgery.
Vedasto B. Lim, M.D.
Chairperson
| Ramon C. Abella, M.D. |
Jesus A. Lazaro, M.D. |
| Maximino R. Elgar, M.D. |
Rosauro D. Cabailo, M.D. |
| German Jose T. Albano, M.D. |
Cesar V. Luna, M.D. |
| Henry G. Falcotelo, M.D. |
Antonio C. Cabigas, M.D. |
| Paul Arnel R. Andres, M.D. |
Bibly L. Macaya, M.D. |
| Teodie M. Flores, M.D. |
Florencio G. Castillo, M.D. |
| Jaime M. Aquino, M.D. |
Amelia M. Manzon, M.D. |
| Cesar H. Garcia, M.D. |
Bu C. Castro, M.D. |
| Floresto T. Arizala, M.D. |
Daniel L. Ong, M.D. |
| Norman S. Garcia, M.D. |
Dominador M. Chiong |
| Jose D. Bautista, M.D. |
M.D. Aladdino F. Porcuincula, M.D. |
| Herminio A. Hernandez, M.D. |
Enrique C. Collantes M.D. |
| Ponciano M. Bernardo, M.D. |
Elena B. Realubit, M.D. |
| Cesar B. Isidro, M.D. |
Leonardo L. Cua, M.D. |
| Sergio P. Brillantes, M.D. |
Renato C. Tanchoco, Jr., M.D. |
| Carlito D. Dominguez, M.D. |
Ma. Lilybeth R. Tanchoco |
| Rene C. Encarnacion, M.D. |
Erwin Q. Vito Cruz, M.D. |
