Phi Kappa Mu

Phi Kappa Mu
ΦΚΜ
Founded August 1933
University of the Philippines
Type College, Medical
Scope University of the Philippines College of Medicine
Colors Black and Gold
Symbol Fraternity seal
Chapters 1
Headquarters University of the Philippines College of Medicine
Manila, Manila
Philippines
Homepage http://www.phikappamu.com

Phi Kappa Mu (ΦΚΜ) is a fraternity based in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. The Greek letters ΦΚΜ stands for Fraternity of the College of Medicine.

Founded on August 1933, it is the oldest medical fraternity in the Philippines. The fraternity was conceived to foster brotherhood, academic excellence, leadership and service to the community among the medical students of the University of the Philippines.[1]

History

The Phi Kappa Mu Founders

In 1933, Nicanor Padilla, Jr., Jose Barcelona, Leopoldo Vergel de Dios, Benito Reverente, and Jesus T. Mendoza then members of the Class of 1936 of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, initiated the founding of the fraternity. They met with Luis Torres Jr., Jose Barcelona, and Antonio Cañiza of the intern's class; Nicasio Sahagun of the senior's class; Enrique Garcia and Victor Nañagas of the lower years. By the time the fraternity was formally created, there were thirty-five charter members.[1]

The name Phi Kappa Mu was conceived by Luis Torres Jr. who along with Jose Barcelona were among the first Filipino members of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. The constitution and by-laws were created through the efforts of Leopoldo Vergel de Dios. The fraternity song was composed by Cesar Villafuerte and Herminio Velarde, Jr. in 1939.[1]

Numerous luminaries emerged from the Fraternity's membership, several of whom were conferred by the UP College of Medicine as those who made lasting contributions to the practice of Medicine in the Philippines. The list includes Florentino Herrera Φ37, first Chancellor of UP Manila, and founder of the UP School of Health Sciences; Quintin Gomez Φ40, Father of Modern Anesthesiology in the country; Luis Mabilangan Φ47, an institution in the field of Philippine Pediatrics; Ramon Abarquez, Jr., Φ48 eminent cardiologist and developer of the dynamic exercise ECG test; Guillermo Damian Φ48, Father of Rehabilitation Medicine in the Philippines and the founder of the College of Allied Medical Professions of the UP; Alendry Caviles Φ49, leading hematologist and immunologist; Romeo Espiritu Φ49, leader in Ophthalmology; Manuel Macapinlac Φ50, eminent teacher and researcher in biochemistry and nutrition; George Viterbo Φ50, model community doctor; Augusto Litonjua Φ52, Father of Philippine Endocrinology; Antonio Limson Φ53, eminent teacher-researcher; Benigno Agbayani Φ54 eminent allergologist and researcher; and Alfredo Ticzon Ramirez Φ56, Father of Burn Burn Surgery in the Philippines. The 5th Chancellor of University of the Philippines - Manila: [2001 - 2003]. The 1973 T.O.Y.M. - 'Ten Outstanding Young Man' of the Philippines. The Burn Center of Philippine General Hospital is named after him. [Alfredo Ticzon Ramirez M.D.] - 'Alfredo T. Ramirez M.D. Burn Center' of Philippine General Hospital - University of The Philippines. Alfredo is one of 'The Four Finest Bred' physician of 'The History of Philippine Medicine'. Alfredo was one of the past Dean of University of the Philippines College of Medicine. He worked for 'Fire Prevention Month' in the Philippines which was approved in Presidential Order during the time of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the country's president. He was also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons an alumnus of Tufts University in United States of America where he took his Master of Science in Burn Medicine.

"Operation Blood Brothers" was organized in 1971, spearheaded by Prospero Tuaño. These bloodletting campaign were intended to replenish the constantly inadequate depots of the Philippine General Hospital Blood Banks. But on August 21 of that year, "Operation Blood Brother" spelled the difference between surviving and dying for the victims of the Plaza Miranda Bombing who suddenly thronged in PGH.

In 1996, the PHIKAPPAMU.COM and the Phi Network were created, resulting in the massive mobilization of Phi Kappa Mu members around the world. The Phi Kappa Mu Alumni Association in North America was created in 1998. The name was later changed to Phi Kappa Mu International. The Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity Permanent Endowment Fund, was initiated and is currently the largest endowment fund within the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America -Permanent Endowmend Fund. The Fund contributed to various scholarships and infrastructure projects in the UP College of Medicine.

In 2007, the OPERA program, a financial support program for indigent pediatric surgical patients was established. In the same year the Empowerment through Mobility project, a partnership between the Fraternity and Free Wheelchair Mission, was launched. Over a thousand wheelchairs were distributed among the needy, less-abled Filipinos.

Diamonds in the Rough, a nationwide search for outstanding community rural doctors was launched in 2008 to recognize young doctors serving depressed and underserved communities in the country, and highlight their selfless efforts to help these areas.

The Phi Seal

A seven-cornered golden sunburst with the Greek letters ΦΚΜ across the middle. Above it is the staff of Aesculapius flanked by the letters U and P which stand for University of the Philippines. Below the Greek letters is its founding year-1933 and the name of the College of Medicine.

Notable members

References

  1. 1 2 3 Abaya, Antonio; Jose Acuin, Abraham Lo Jr, Teodoro Gonzales Jr, Jose Fonacier Jr, Ernesto Valdez Jr (1983). Fifty Years Gold. Manila. p. 9. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
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