Association of Philippine Orthodontists - History of The APO

History of The APO

APO's formation can be traced to the 1970s, during an era when then there were only eight formally-trained orthodontic practitioners in Metro Manila. Dr. Vicente R. Siojo, a University of Adelaide and Raymond Begg student, and Dr. Luz C. Macapanpan, a University of Illinois graduate who both saw the need to gather all the orthodontists to address common concerns.

On February 1, 1971, Dr. Vicente R. Siojo, Dr. Luz C. Macapanpan, Dr. Hypatia V. Bernardo; Dr. Juan E. Quejada; Dr. Juanito R. Castañeda; Dr. Ermelinda S. Galang; Dr. Gloria E. Punzalan and Dr. Eugenio Villanueva. met at Fort Bonifacio to formally set up the Philippine Orthodontic Study Club (POSC).

The establishment of the Orthodontic Study Club turned out to be an important first step in the emergence and continued development of the field of orthodontics in the country. Its members conferred monthly to exchange ideas, discuss and consult cases, standardize fees and consider other matters relevant to orthodontic practice and the consequent increase in number of general dental practitioners performing corrective orthodontics was brought forward and tackled.

On March 14, 1979, at the Marco Polo Restaurant, Makati, Metro Manila, the Philippine Orthodontic Study Club held its last regular meeting and convened its first organizational meeting of the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO). The members present during this historic meeting were: Dr. Macapanpan, Dr. Hypatia V. Bernardo; Dr. Juan E. Quejada; Dr. Juanito R. Castañeda; Dr. Ermelinda S. Galang; Dr. Gloria E. Punzalan; Dr. Patricia Claparols, and Dr. Renato T. Africa; Dr. Luz C. Macapanpan was elected President, and Dr. Juan E. Quejada, Secretary.

A resolution was then adopted:

We, the members of the Philippine Orthodontic Study Club, ever aware of our responsibility to the public and the profession, and the need to safeguard the interests of the specialty of orthodontics; to enhance the standard of the specialty, and to promote its advancement decided unanimously to formally organize ourselves into the Association of Philippine Orthodontists.

In addition, an arm of the Association was formed, called the Philippine Board of Orthodontics, which would serve to accredit orthodontic specialists, in order to ensure some measure of self-imposed control, that the dignity and prestige of orthodontics be upheld, and that the well-being of the dental patient be safeguarded.

On September 30, 1980, the first organization with a corresponding board in a specialty of dentistry in the Philippines, the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO) and the Philippine Board of Orthodontics (PBO), was formally inaugurated at ceremonies held at the Manila Hotel. The Charter officers and members were inducted by Chief Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma.