President’s Message

APO ushered in the new year with a bang after successfully hosting the 5th Biennial Regional Orthodontic Congress in Boracay last March 5 & 6, 2009. Concurrently, APO also proudly hosted the Asian Pacific Orthodontic Society (APOS) executive committee meeting which was attended by the orthodontic heads of the 15 member countries in the Asian-Pacific region. In addition, the APO luau and the APO Adventure Race all added up in making this event a truly unforgettable experience!

Our General Meetings held every other month are all in line with APO’s thrust to promote professionalism among its members and advance the specialty of Orthodontics through its continuing education efforts. A wide array of topics and speakers highlighting interdisciplinary treatment have been lined up to satisfy everyone’s interests. Attendees to APO’s lectures / conferences are also assured of garnering credit units (to renew one’s dental license) as APO has been accredited by the PRC as a CPE provider.

APO has also been actively supporting the PDA’s endeavours. APO’s Limited Attendance Lecture and Orthodontic Symposium during the 101st PDA Annual Convention last September 22 & 23, 2009 at the SMX Convention Centre were both very well received and attended by a record breaking number of delegates.

Aside from fostering camaraderie and learning, the APO also tries to evoke on its members a sense of social responsibility through its outreach programs. Aside from our affiliation with the Our Lady of Peace Craniofacial Centre for indigent cleft lip and palate patients, we also do a yearly outreach to help specific sectors of our society who are in need. This year’s recipient to the proceeds of our Christmas Charity Ball will be going to the battered children of Saint Mary’s House in Tagaytay.

As we end this year of 2009, I would like to encourage everyone to be active participants in all of APO’s lined up activities for 2010. Rest assured, the APO Board will continue to work hard for the benefit of all of its members and for the upliftment of the Orthodontic profession as a whole. Thank you for continually supporting all of APO’s endeavours… Mabuhay tayong lahat!

Dr. Jose Manuel R. Rivera
APO President, 2008-2010