Organization and First Convention of the
Pampanga Dental Society
Pampanga Dental Society
It was in September 1931 that plans were
formulated to organize an association of dentist in Pampanga thru the
initiative of Drs. Claro D. Ayuyao, Alfredo L. Nacu, Horacio D. Luciano and
Thomas L. Yuzon. This plan was realized the following month, and on
October 25, 1931, twenty practicing dentists from different towns of the
province bonded themselves together to form the association. Meeting
place was the former Pampanga Hotel in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Members present on that first meeting were Drs. Horacio D. Luciano and Lauro
Gomez of Angeles; Dr. Claro D. Ayuyao of Magalang; Drs. Alfredo L. Nacu,
Domingo Calma and Roberto Salazar of Guagua; Drs. Ambrosio Baro of San
Fernando; Drs. Hermenegildo de Leon and Mara Gabriel of Arayat; Drs. Adiano
Puno, Santiago Angeles and Graciano Mendoza of Bacolor; Dr. Abelardo Gonzales
of Lubao; Dr. Dominador Evangelista and Dr. Gregorio Gulapa of Candaba; Dr.
Mateo Javier of Mexico; and Dr. Sabas Pingul of Minalin.
In the business
session that was held, the following were elected officers to lead the new
organization:
President - Dr. Tomas L. Yuzon of San Fernando (Deceased)
Vice President - Dr. Graciano Mendoza of Bacolor (Deceased)
Secretary - Dr. Horacio D. Luciano of Angeles
Sub-Secretary - Dr. Dominador Evangelista of Candaba
Treasurer - Dr. Marta Gabriel of Arayat (Deceased)
Sub-Treasurer - Dr. Policarpio Valencia of San Fernando
Directors - Dr. Claro D. Ayuyao of Magalang
Dr. Alfredo L. Nacu of Guagua (Deceased)
Dr. Santiago Angeles of Bacolor (Deceased)
The elected officers also served as the Board of Directors with the President
as Chairman. In this first meeting, the organization was named Pampanga
Dental Association, on a motion by Dr. Alfredo L. Nacu and unanimously approved
by the members. The name "Pampanga Dental Association" was
adopted in 1952, in order to distinguish it from the Philippine Dental
Association when it formally affiliated with his national organization.
The first Pampanga Dental Convention was held in May 1933 which lasted for two
(2) days. The 1st day was at the Municipal Building of San Fernando,
pampanga with lecture and demonstrations given by prominent dentists of Manila
and a reputable physician of Pampanga, namely:
Dr. Eladio R. Aldecoa,
a President of the National Dental Association of the Philippine Islands(now
the Philippine Dental Association) Dr. Tirso Abad, then
Chief of the American Junior Red Cross, Philippine Chapter (now the Philippine
National Red Cross)Dr. Alfredo H. Rivera,
M.D. then Director of the Pampanga Sugar Mills Hospital and a private
Medical Practioner in San Fernando.
The second day of the convention was held in Fort Stotsenberg (now Clark Air
Force Base) at Angeles, Pampanga, thru the courtesy, kindness and cooperation
of Major John L. Shock, then Chief Dental Surgeon of Fort Stotsenberg U.S. Army
Hospital who extended and offered said hospital as place for the demonstrations
and scientific conferences. Dr. Francisco Ramirez gave demonstrations on
prosthetics, while Dr. Restituto Yuzon, a physician of Manila and X-ray
specialist, discussed on the use of X'rays in dentistry.
Luncheon was served after the discussions and in the afternoon Major john L.
Shock gave practical demonstrations on the different phrases of dentistry, as
inlays, cavity preparations, etc. He also showed the different clinics of
the hospital, including the modern dental equipments of the U.S. Army at that
time.
In the evening, a banquet was tendered in Angeles, Pampanga in honor of Major
Schock. At this banquet, physicians and many other prominent
professionals of Manila and Pampanga were present. Dr. Eladio R. Aldecoa
and Dr. Tirso Abad, were guest speakers and emphasized on the need of dentists
in provinces to cooperate with the National Dental Association of the
Philippine Islands.
After the dinner, the Chairman, Dr. T.L. Yuzon extended in behalf of the
Pampanga Dental Society, grateful appreciation and thanks to all who have
attended the banquet and to all who have contributed to the success of that
first Pampanga Dental Convention.
Thus, The PDS became one of the active chapters of the Philippine Dental
Association. The past 54 years it was under the stewardship of active and
prominent dental practioners of Pampanga and it has weathered all the problems
that usually beset any organization and it has remained the vulnerable dental
society that it is today.
FOUNDERS
OTHER HISTORICAL PICTURES
