In 1967, in the nation’s capital, a group of spirited Filipino Physicians founded an ethnic medical society now known as the Philippine Medical Association of Metropolitan Washington.

The story goes that Dr. Ramon Angeles, a surgeon, and Dr. Rafael Lee, then a resident physician, met at Dr. Elias Umali’s office to formally create our medical association. They were later joined by Drs. Mario and Esther Ordonez from nearby Virginia and the event was celebrated with a party at Ramon Angeles home in Oxon Hill, Maryland. It was attended also by Drs. Primo and Aurea Roxas and Magin Quiambao. A few days later, the group contacted Dr. Arturo Monteiro who in subsequent meetings became the group’s ‘spark plug’.

Dr. Umali began to set things in motion. Undaunted by discouraging remarks about unsuccessful similar attempts in the past, he relentlessly campaigned for the idea and endless meetings with other prominent physicians ensued. It was during one of those meetings that the constitution and by-laws were rafted and a date to elect officers was set. 

It was in April 1968 that Dr. Cesar Madarang was elected the Association’s first president along with first and second vice-presidents Drs. Umali and Ramon Angeles respectively. Corresponding secretary was Dr. Aurea Roxas and Recording secretary was Dr. Socorro Palmon. Treasurers were Drs. Primo Roxas and Arturo Uy. Public Relations Officers were Drs. Magin Quiambao and Rafael Lee. The intern and resident Representatives were Drs. Rogelio G. Sion and Rolando J. Santos.

This event caught the attention of the California-based newspaper, The Philippine Mail, which hailed the occasion as a significant and unprecedented achievement of Filipino professionals in Washington, DC.

On May 25, 1968, the first inaugural ball was held at the Washington Hilton. The Association’s charter officers were inducted by no less than the distinguished Philippine Ambassador to the United States, the Honorable Salvador P. Lopez. 

Auspiciously, the PMA-MW was chartered, incorporated and attained tax-exempt status. Since its inception, the PMA has grown in size and expanded its responsibilities beyond the medical community to the Filipino community at large. It also has always maintained its ties with the Philippines.

For its members, it held regular CME meetings with the area hospitals and medical institutions. It provided access to the health and disability insurance to the members and their families and created a foundation for charitable, educational and research causes. To the medical community, the Association was a repository of prominent and distinguished physicians who held important and prestigious positions in state and county medical societies. Some went on to assume high positions in the university 

hospitals, directorships of hospital services, hospices and other health services. To the Filipino community, the Association was a generous giver, steadfast in supporting charitable institutions and area hospitals and continuously collaborating with civic organizations in various affairs and projects. To the Filipinos back home, the PMA-MW was a reliable stalwart in providing free medical care through its annual medical missions as well as a generous donor of textbooks, journals and all manner of educational media not normally available in the Philippines. 

The PMA-MW has also been a powerful political force, rising to prominence during a critical phase in the FMG’s plight in the U.S. When Public Law 94-184 (known as the Visa Qualifying Exam) was passed on October 12, 1976, the PMA-MW rallied and vigorously lobbied Congress to amend a law that mandated that non-permanent residents must pass the equivalence of parts I and II of the National Medical Boards. Thousands of practicing Filipino physicians would have been affected had this amendment not been passed. The endeavor was a great success but prevailing circumstances prompted the formation of the first physician political action group led by Drs.Cesar Madarang and Hernan Reyes who, along with a large delegation of Filipino physicians from all across the United States, lobbied Congress on Sept. 28 and 29, 1977.

It was a rude awakening for Filipino physicians in the US and the PMA-MW takes pride in having one of its prominent leaders at the helm through this crisis. Dr. Madarang was the indefatigable torch bearer, meting with the AMA, the U.S. Congress and the Immigration Service. Finally, on December 29, 1981, after four years and three U.S. presidents, President Ronald Reagan signed PL-116 which favorably amended PL 94-184.

At the height of the controversy surrounding the unfavorable portrayal of Filipino medical graduates in the TV show, Desperate Housewives, the PMA-MW picketed the network’s headquarters in Arlington Virginia demanding an apology and permanently deleting the insulting scene in the show. 

The PMA-MW also successfully lobbied the Dept. of Health in Manila to temporarily suspend provisions in the PRC resolution 2012-668 regarding medical missions that enabled our members to proceed with their plans to conduct foreign medical-surgical missions in underserved areas in the Philippines. This particular resolution sought to require medical malpractice insurance coverage for volunteer health care workers in the Philippines.

In 2012, the PMA-MW was able to provide financial assistance to areas in the Philippines stricken with calamities. Such assistance helped provide basic necessities for the victims in the affected areas. A more concerted collaborative effort was demanded in 2014 in response to the super-typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) which ravaged Leyte province and the rest of the Visayan islands. The PMA partnered with the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition and the Philippine Embassy in supporting the After the Storm Concert at the Kennedy Center, the proceeds of which went to the typhoon relief and rehabilitation. 

Today, as other health care crises loom, the PMA-MW remains a strong and respected influence on the medical and political scenes

Adapted from the PMA Handbook, courtesy of Dr. Alexander Fangonil