Search for top Pinoy doctors on

MANILA, Philippines - The search is on once again for doctors who excel in their field and who opt to stay in far-flung areas instead of seeking high paying jobs abroad.

The Junior Chamber International Senate Philippines (JCISP) announced the start of the search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP) on Saturday.

Antonio Cerilles, JCISP president, said the TOFP award, started in 2007 by then Health Secretary and now Civil Service Commission chairman Francisco Duque III and past JCISP president Senen Quiambao, aims to encourage doctors to remain in the country and serve their fellow Filipinos despite lucrative offers to work in other countries.

JCISP and San Miguel Corp. had signed a memorandum of agreement, including the presentation of a P1.5-million sponsorship check from SMC, for this year’s TOFP search.

Cerilles lauded the entry of SMC as an institutional partner and sponsor for the TOFP, saying this will go a long way in further adding prestige to the annual search whose criteria is based on the tenets of the JCI creed: “Serving and caring for our countrymen are the best works of life.”

“Certainly, SMC’s participation will be a big boost (to) our effort to honor our medical practitioners who excel and continue to serve our fellow kababayans. There is much greater joy and fulfillment in doing good deeds than just earning bigger income,” TOFP chairman Gonzalo Duque said.

TOFP executive director Melandrew Velasco said aside from outstanding doctors in major urban centers, this year’s search will zero in on rural or community doctors who are able and willing to sacrifice and serve our countrymen who have been neglected in terms of proper health care due to the lack of medical practitioners.

For the last five years, the TOFP has earned a special niche in the Philippine JCI history and has joined the league of prestigious Jaycee annual searches and awards like The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) and The Outstanding Filipinos (TOFIL).

Nomination process

Deadline for submission of nominations will be on Oct. 15, 2012.

Accomplished nomination forms together with all supporting documents must be submitted on or before the deadline for proper screening and judging. Nomination forms are available at the office of JCI Senate Philippines, Inc. at the second floor of the JCI Philippines Building along Don Alejandro Roces Avenue in Quezon City.

Forms can also be downloaded at TOFP’s Facebook (Tofp Pinoy Doctors) account. Queries can be addressed to TOFP 2011 Secretariat c/o JCI Sen. Melandrew T. Velasco, TOFP 2011 executive director and 2008 TOFP national chairman.