About PSOD

Board of Directors

From (L to R) Atty. Jose Ochave, Dr. Carmencita Padilla, Cynthia Magdaraog, Dr. Carmelo Alfiler, Dr. Sylvia Estrada, Dr. Amelia Fernandez, Cristina de Leon, Engr. Elpidio Paras, Fr. Many Perez

Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla – Chairperson

Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, is currently Professor of Pediatrics at the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila and Director of the Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health Philippines. She is also the Officer-In-Charge of the Newborn Screening Reference Center. She also Co-Chairs the National Technical Working Group on Newborn Screening at the Department of Health, the National Convener of the Newborn Screening Study Group and the Birth Defects Study Group and the Treasurer of the Philippine Association for the Gifted.

Her contribution to the field of Genetics has been recognized through various awards:

• Philippine Civil Service Commission’s Lingkod Bayan Awardee 2004
• Outstanding Researcher, University of the Philippines Manila, 2005,
• University of the Philippines Manila 2002 Gem for Outstanding Work in Newborn Screening
• Trophy of Excellence for the Most Outstanding Research Group for the Newborn Screening Study Group 2000,
• Most Outstanding alumnus for Community Service (National Level) for the year 1998, given by the UP Alumni Association,
• The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines for Medicine (Medical Genetics) for the year 1994
• Medal for Leadership for the Gerry Roxas Foundation field of Medicine (Medical Genetics) for the year 1994

She has published numerous works in genetic research and is often invited to present her work in conferences and meetings, both locally and internationally. Her works are published in local and international journals such as the Philippine Journal of Pediatrics, Pediatrics International Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Molecular Genetics and Metabolisms, to name a few.

Among her published works are Inherited Disorders of Metabolism in the Newborn: A Guide for Primary Physicians and Implementing and Implementing Newborn Screening A Guide for Coordinators.

Dr. Padilla’s current research thrusts are newborn screening, birth defects, and cancer genetics.

Cynthia K. Magdaraog – President

Cynthia K. Magdaraog is a parent of a patient afflicted with Pompe Disease.

By profession, a businesswoman for 20 years with previous involvement as President and CEO in their family business, Speedway International Garment Co. Inc., a garment exporting business, and Innov8 Academy Inc, an animation training and production studio. Previous to operating these two business enterprises, was a professional manager in the field of human resource development at Bancom Development Corporation, First Nationwide Credit Corporation, Philsa International Placement Corp., and Incentivation Program Philippines Inc. Educated at the Assumption College with a liberal arts degree major in psychology with MBA graduate units at the Ateneo de Manila.

Currently also an active member of the Inner Wheel Club of Makati North for the past 10 years and served as president of the Club Y2007-2008.

Elpidio M. Paras – Vice-President

Mr. Elpidio M. Paras is the grandparent of an MSUD patient.

He is the President and CEO of Parasat Cable TV Inc., UC-1 Corporation, Arriba Telecontact Inc, Paramedix Inc., Cable 21 Technologies, and Pjoes Diner Restaurant.

He was a charter member and past president of the Rotary Club of Metro Cagayan de Oro, past President and Chairman of Philippine Cable TV Association, Vice-President of Cabayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce, Director of A. Brown & Company, Chairman of the board Xavier University, Director of Hagdan sa Pag Uswag Foundation, and Co-Chair RITECC X (IT Council).

Dr. Sylvia C. Estrada – Secretary

Dr. Sylvia C. Estrada is a pediatrician with subspecialty trainings in endocrinology and biochemical genetics (metabolic disorders).

She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics of the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila and a Research Faculty of the National Institutes of Health. She is currently head of the Newborn screening follow-up program of the NSC-NIH and project leader for the long-term follow up of newborns with metabolic and endocrine disorders detected through newborn screening.

Her research interests include pediatric endocrinology, inborn errors of metabolism and newborn screening. Being an advocate for children with special needs, she is also a consultant metabolic specialist for the Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) support group and the Down syndrome Society of the Philippines.

Dr. Amelia Fernandez – Treasurer

Dr. Amelia Fernandez has been a child advocate, both in the academe and in clinical pediatric practice. She has served as chairman of the Dept. of Pediatrics, UP-PGH, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines. Her clinical interest has been in neonatology, with special focus on the promotion and protection of breast-feeding.

As an active member of the Philippine Pediatric Society, she has served as treasurer, vice president and finally president of the Society for two years. She was chosen Outstanding Pediatrician of the Year 2001. Currently, she has been involved in the field of child abuse, principally in the Child Protection Unit of the Phil. General Hospital and is the Secretary-Treasurer of the foundation, CPU-Network. Dr. Fernandez is an Emeritus Fellow of both the Philippine Pediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Jose Maria A. Ochave – Board Member

Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave is the Vice President of United Laboratories, Inc. and Professorial Lecturer II at the Philippine Judicial Academy.

Prior to his joining Unilab, he was Partner at Balane Tamase Alampay Law Office, Executive Director of the Center for Child Advocacy, and pro bono counsel of several government and non-government organizations working on children’s rights. He lectures internationally and locally on intellectual property rights, biotechnology law and policy, technology transfer and children’s rights.

He has been the recipient of scholarships and fellowships from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (Dewitt Fellow), Department of Science and Technology and National Science Development Board.

Fr. Manuel Bernardo Perez S.J., M.D. – Board Member

Fr. Manuel Bernardo Perez, S.J., M.D. is a priest with a doctor in medicine degree.

From 2001-2003, he worked as Chaplain at UP-PGH. He was the past Chairman of the Bioethics Committee and Consultant of Bioethics, Dept. of Medicine at the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH). He was among the members of the Ethics Review Board of the UP-College of Medicine; Ethics Review Board of the Medical City; and National Transplant Ethics Committee of the Department of Health. He was the Medical Director of the Jesuit Residence Infirmary and Loyola House of Studies Infirmary of the Ateneo de Manila University and Ethics Review Board of Johnson and Johnson.

He is presently the Prefect of Health of the Philippine Province Society of Jesus and Minister Jesuit Residence of Ateneo de Manila University.

Dr. Catherine Lynn T. Silao – Board Member

Dr. Catherine Lynn T. Silao is a pediatrician and holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

She is a Clinical Associate Professor of the Department of Pediatrics UP-PGH, Fellow of the Philippine Pediatric Society, Research Associate Professor of the National Institutes of Health Philippines and is presently the Head of the Molecular Genetics Unit of the NIH-Institute of Human Genetics.

Her works have been published in several local and international journals. She was a recipient of the Young Investigators Award given by the Asian Society for Pediatric Research, and the Japan Society of Inborn Errors of Metabolism / Asian Society of Inborn Errors of Metabolism. She also has received recognition awards locally for her work on the molecular aspects of metabolic disorders and was recently awarded the University of the Philippines Centennial Faculty Grant Award (2009).

Cristina De Leon-Hinlo – Board Member

Cristina De Leon – Hinlo, OTRP, MBAH is the owner of Therapy Works, Parañaque, a multi-disciplinary clinic with speech, occupational, physical and aquatic therapy services catering to pediatric and adult population needing rehabilitation.

Sensing the need to bring therapeutic services closer to people living in the province, she helped start Professional Therapy and Education Specialists, a pediatric speech and occupational therapy center located in Dasmarinas, Cavite. She is also one of the founding members of Therapy Centers’ Movement Association, Inc., which, together with the UP-CAMP Alumni Association, spearheaded “Thera-FREE: Libreng Therapy Para Sa Pilipino” in 2002. The goal of this continuous project is to bring quality therapy services to the masses, as well as to promote awareness regarding the benefits of timely rehabili