Cebuana to head ASEAN Federation of Psychiatrists

A Cebu physician was chosen to head the ASEAN Federation of Psychiatry and Mental Health for a two-year term.

Dr. Pureza Trinidad-Oñate was unanimously selected by her Philippine peers for the position.   The presidency is rotated among ASEAN member countries since the federation’s founding in Thailand in 1981.

Turnover rites will be held on Nov. 16-17 in Singapore.

Oñate pratices in Cebu City where she is medical director of the Cebu Perpetual Succour Hospital and president of the Cebu Metro Psychiatry Inc.

Oñate served two terms as president of the Philippine Psychiatric Association in 2000 and 2006.

It’s the turn of the Philippines to lead the organization for the next two years.

Oñate is board certified in the practice of adult, child and adolescent psychiatry. She trained in the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA after finishing a Bachelor of Science (Pre-Med major in Psychology) in the  University of Santo Tomas and a Doctor of Medicine diploma from the Cebu Institute of Medicine.

She is also president of the Cebu Newspaper Workers Foundation and was a Cebu City councilor for sixy years during the term of President Corazon Aquino.

Mayor Rama denies cancer rumor

Saying he can still “run and  shoot”, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama again denied rumors that he had cancer.

He told reporters he joined a three-kilometer run a day before his 58th birthday last Oct. 28 and  played basketball with friends recently.

Rama waved off  talk circulating that he suffered  prostate cancer, a rumor that started when an unnamed caller discussed it in the radio blocktime program of Rep. Tomas Osmena of Cebu City’s south district aired daily over radio dyLA hosted by Nanette Garong.

An obviously unamused Rama shot back at his political rival saying: “Ila gi pasa nako. Makatakod  na diay ang cancer?” (Is cancer already a contagious disease?).

Rama was referring to  Osmeña who battled bladder cancer towards the close of his term as mayor in 2010.

Osmeña said he was given a clean bill of health and declared cancer -free.  He is  currently in the US for a  regular medical check up.

Rama said he is asking the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters Cebu Chapter to investigate the spread of the  “prostate cancer” rumor  was aired over radio in the program of his opponent.

“That’s a very irresponsible accusation. I am calling on the KBP to look into that,” said Rama./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

PJ Garcia: no to voter’s registration extension

The voters’ registration which ended last Oct. 31 should not be extended,  said One Cebu standard beared Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district.

“Filipinos need to be disciplined,” said  Garcia.

He was reacting to the demand of the Kabataan party list for the Commission on Election (Comelec) to re-open the voters registration to enable many first-time voters among the youth to register.

Two years to register or transfer one’s voter’s registartion “ is more than enough time,” he said last Saturday.

However,  his runningmate Boboy Durano, said he favors an extended schedule

Durano said he supports Kabataan party list’s petition to re-open  registration especially for the first-time voters.

Kabataan Party list   petitioned the  Supreme Court on the last day of registration, Oct. 31, to extend voters registration period./Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc