Makati Medical Center (MMC) list of preferred doctors (2/3/2022)

For the Tricare Accredited MMC Doctors, refer to the list below:

For further clinic information refer to this link: https://www.makatimed.net.ph/doctors-v2/index.php

For member's plan or other coverage concerns and verification, you may contact directly the Customer Service Hotline of Tricare below.

Contact Number: +632-8687-8656 or 1-800-10-4562324

Email Address: support@GLOBAL24NS.com

Tricare accredited MMC Doctors:

1. Abad Santos, Salvador, MD: Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease

2. Acosta, Aser, MD: Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive

3. Agustin, Francisco, MD: Urology

4. Alvarez, Raquel, MD: Neurology

5. Alvarez, Victor, MD: Surgery, Neurosurgery

6. Anson, Jose Maria, MD: Internal Medicine, Nephrology

7. Apostol, Alfred, MD: Internal Medicine, Pulmonology

8. Aypa, Noel, MD: Anesthesiology

9. Baens Araneta, Elaine, MD: Ophthalmology

10. Barrientos, Bernardito, MD: ENT; Surgery, Head and Neck

11. Bernardo, Jasmin Melissa, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

12. Bisquera, Mary Rose, MD: Internal Medicine, Nephrology

13. Bongala, Sonia, MD: Obstetrics & Gynecology

14. Cabalu, Arcalucy, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

15. Campos, Ronald Augustine, MD: Obstetrics & Gynecology; Gynecologic Oncology

16. Capellan, Ma. Leonora, MD: Internal Medicine, Endocrinology

17. Cloma,Rosario, MD: Anesthesiology

18. De Jesus, Celestina, MD: Anesthesiology

19. Diaz, Ramon, Jr., MD: Surgery, Cardiothoracic

20. Dorion- Diaz, Lourdes, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

21. Dy, Jackson, MD: Radiology

22. Dy, Jay, MD: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology

23. Echiverri Villavicencio, Carmenchu, MD: Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease

24. Floro Herbosa, Valerie, MD: Dermatology

25. Gamboa, Arvin Joseph, MD: Anesthesiology

26. Gler, Ma. Tarcela, MD: Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease

27. Gonzales, Ma. Cecilia, MD: Internal Medicine, Endocrinology

28. Gosiengfiao, Katerina, MD: Neurology

29. Grino, Anthony Dexter, MD: Urology

30. Herbosa, Benjamin, MD: Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive

31. Ibay, Emmanuel, MD: ENT

32. Ignacio, Roberto Gerardo, MD: Surgery, Cardiothoracic

33. Jalandoni Cabahug, Ma. Victoria, MD: Pediatrics, Pulmonology

34. Javier, Agripino Beng, MD: Orthopedics; Surgery, Orthopedic

35. Jose, Jennifer Marie, MD: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Urology

36. Joson, Mari Joanne Guerzon, MD: General Medicine

37. Lacson, Stephen Thomas, MD: Dermatology

38. Lagos, Maria Theresa, MD: ENT / Otolaryngology

39. Las, Juancho Alfredo, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

40. Lipana, Joseph Gerard, MD: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

41. Lopez, Gary, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

42. Macapagal, Antonio, MD: Surgery, General

43. Malabanan, Michael Martin, MD: Radiation Oncology

44. Mendoza, Rita, MD: Pediatrics; Pediatrics, Nephrology

45. Nazareth, Stephen, MD: Urology

46. Ocampo, Gregorio, MD: Internal Medicine, Pulmonology

47. Odulio, Orson, MD: Orthopedics; Surgery, Orthopedic

48. Parra, Joseph, MD: Internal Medicine, Oncology

49. Pastores, John Vincent, MD: Surgery, General

50. Reloza, Antonio Vicente, MD: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

51. Sansano, Oliver, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

52. Saulog, Rolando, MD: Urology

53. Sison, May Ortiz, MD: Endocrinology

54. Syki Young, Mae, MD: Obstetrics & Gynecology

55. Vitug Sales, Ma. Imelda Belen, MD: Pediatrics; Pediatrics, Gastroenterology

56. Wenceslao, Edwin Ephraim, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

57. Zarza Geron, Valerie, MD: Internal Medicine, Cardiology

THE SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION - I

Founded in 1964 and initially called the Decade Association until it changed its name in 1967, The Special Forces Association is a non-profit veterans’ fraternal organization located in Fayetteville, North Carolina and officially chartered in the State of North Carolina. Since its founding, the Association has grown to dozens of chapters throughout the world.

The National Association sponsors an annual convention and individual chapters meet in their areas and conduct meetings and social functions for their members. The National Association also publishes a members-only quarterly magazine, “The Drop.” The magazine, the cost of which is included in membership dues, is the primary method of communications with the general membership and depicts the activities of SFA Chapters and individual members, active and NG SF units, and other items which may be of interest to the Association membership. The Association also maintains a website at www.specialforcesassociation.org.

To join the Association, an application must be completed, giving complete information, along with documentary proof of SF qualification, and forwarded to the National Headquarters for approval. Members may choose to associate with a particular Chapter, or join the Association “at large” without any individual Chapter affiliation. Membership applications must be accompanied by check or money order in the appropriate amount. Subsequent annual membership dues are payable each year in October. Life membership is also available.

Membership may be granted to a person who is or has been a member of the United States Army Special Forces, to include the U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Army National Guard, and have been awarded a Prefix “3”, Suffix “S”, 5G or 18 Series Qualification, and if discharged, has received an Honorable Discharge. There is no time requirement for Membership.

The Special Forces Association - II

Mission Statement

The Special Forces Association Serves as the Voice for the Special Forces Community; Perpetuates Special Forces Traditions and Brotherhood; Advances the Public Image of Special Forces and Promotes the General Welfare of the Special Forces Community.

SFA History - A Brief History of How the Special Forces Association was Formed

[As told by COL (Ret) Sully de Fontaine; Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR)]

In May 1964, I came back from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) with my A Team and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group S-2 shop at Fort Bragg, NC. After a week, I was called by the Group Commander, COL Roye, old OSS Soldier and a friend. He assigned me as the commander of Detachment C – Delta, on a temporary status, until a field grader could be made available. So as a Captain, I then took command of Team Delta and my SGM was Gregory Mateo. I had old SF types in the team such as Montgomery, Seyer, Yosich, and many others. With these NCOs around, I had no trouble running the C Unit.

At the end of May, SGM Mateo and a group of NCOs came into my office and presented me with the idea to form an organization for Special Forces members. I agreed with them; after all, organizations were in place for Airborne, OSS, etc. I showed them the monthly newsletter that I had just received from the British, French, and Belgian SAS. SGM Mateo and MSGT Montgomery took the lead and I joined them in presenting the idea to COL Roye. The COL was all for it and told us to go to the 18th Abn Corps for final approval.

When we got together to discuss how to run the organization, many ideas surfaced. They were all NCOs and insisted that ten years in SF assignments should be the base for membership. Other qualifications were presented and accepted: OSS; 8240th Army Unit; Operation White Star. Discussion was also made about what we would call each other. I proposed that we call each other by rank (British influence). I never forgot the reaction to that! Mateo just said, “NO WAY!” There were about 20 of us there at that meeting.

Now I want to say, if credit has to be given to any one individual for the formation of this organization, it should go first of all to “Doc” Montgomery. He succeeded in getting the first By Laws written and accepted by the 18th Abn Corps.

At our second meeting, about 40 of us got together. The name “Decade” was introduced and accepted. We were to be known as the “US Special Forces Decade Club”. (Again, British influence… “Special Forces Club”, London, UK). Discussion went into what numbers should be given to individuals. Here came my surprise when Doc Montgomery came to me and asked me what number I wanted. I said “#7”. He said, “You got it”. To my amazement, they all lined up after me. Mateo #8, Montgomery #9, and so on. One of the reasons that I chose #7 was that I thought that some officers senior to me and qualified for Decade should have the low numbers. I remember presenting a list to Montgomery of who I thought should have the #1 to #6: Herbe Brucker; John Striegel; Pete Walkonski; Louis Conein; Sam Amoto.

Here are some of the names that I remember from the first two meetings, which took place in the day room of Detachment C Delta: Mateo; Montgomery; Seyer; Yosich; Linchoten; Xaiden; Licon; Vukovich; Nolte; Shevchenko; Manuel; Hoskins; Bizaillon; Borkowski; Dean; Fafek; Ruddy; Davis; Grant; Mancuso; Duffield; England; Waugh. Sorry if I missed some. They were all NCOs and none of them took a number below #7.

“IF CREDIT HAS TO BE GIVEN TO ONE INDIVIDUAL FOR THE FORMATION OF THE ORGANIZATION, IT SHOULD GO FIRST TO ‘DOC’ MONTGOMERY”

If I recall correctly, Major “Crafty” Croft arrived and took over the C Team in July 1964 and I took over B-41 and prepared for deployment to RVN. At a third meeting of the organization, I was asked to be the President. I had to decline, since I had just received orders to the 7th SF on a classified mission. Mateo told me that he would keep the ball rolling. But I must say that after that meeting, I lost track of the organization.

In August 1964, I received an “SF Decade Association” certificate dated August 15, 1964, signed by Daniel Weddington, Secretary. I wondered who had changed the name and who the President was. But I felt that the organization was moving ahead, since they were issuing certificates.

After my TDY, I came back to 5th SF, took command of my B Team, and deployed to RVN. Now in the middle of 1965, I heard through the rumor mill that because all of the original members had rotated, the Association was not doing well. That is when I asked Herbe Bruckere to become involved. Herbe was an old friend who after years in the RVN AID program, was ready to go back to Bragg and retire. I explained to Herbe the reason for the Association and told him that he was more than qualified to join. (He was in the OSS from 1943 to 1945; 10th SF from 1952 to 1957’ UW Department from 1957 to 1960; and White Star from 1960 to 1962.) Since Herbe was making his home in Fayetteville, I thought that a steady presence would be the major factor for future success. Herbe told me that he would look into it and keep me posted in the future.

And that is when the Association, for all practical purposes, started to be a viable organization. Herbe and his wife Lilo started a monthly newsletter and put all their efforts to the benefit of the Decade Association. Lilo single handedly typed all the letters and mailed them to the members, at least until 1972. I remember the newsletter of February 1972, because Herbe congratulated me on the birth of my son.

I feel that we do owe a lot to the late Herbe and his wife Lilo. They put their talent and their perseverance into starting the Drop, which is now a revered publication. Herbe started the BBC section based on the WWII communication system that the British Broadcasting Corporation established to communicate with the underground in occupied countries. It later became the “Bugged Bami Bi” beer can for RVN sake.

Clark Air Base now Clark Freeport

By Jim Boyd, USAF(R), RAO Director, Clark Airbase Region - Concise History

“Clark Air Force Base was once upon a time the biggest US base in the world. The base started as Fort Stotenburg in 1903 as an army post. The base holds significant meaning in the history of our country and her people.

On Dec. 8, 1941, Japanese naval and air force struck like clockwork hitting the Philippines. On Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor was bombed. It was at Clark Field, or CAB where news about Pearl Harbor bombing was flashed and later picked up by commercial broadcast. US heavy bomber planes were caught like sitting ducks by Japanese bombers. Because of the sneak attack disaster, the fall of the Philippines was inevitable. On April 16, 1948 while in CAB, Pres. Manuel Roxas during a speech suffered a heart attack and died. During the late 60’s the CAB played a major key role in the conduct of the Vietnam War where combat casualties were airlifted from Vietnam to the Clark Medical Center, in addition to the airlift of supplies, military personnel and logistics. In 1986, Pres. Marcos and his family after the EDSA Revolution were flown by helicopter to CAB and into their voluntary exile to Hawaii effectively ending martial law and 20-year regime.

In 1991, Mt. Pinatubo volcano erupted and closed the base, with US servicemen and their families evacuated to Subic naval base. CAB base was never to reopen as a US facility. The US government opted not to reopen the base much less repair it, because of the proximity of the base to an active volcano endangering lives and weaponry. Reopening of CAB was never a subject of negotiation but only the status of Subic base was in the agenda of the US-RP treaty renewal rejected by the Senate contrary to the popular desire of majority of Filipinos. It was the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, and a changing world where cold was tensions were diminished lessening the need for military bases from the US point of view that effectively closed the CAB facility for good.

After the base was closed, US jet fighter planes that used to take off southward from the runway to make air pilot training formations and go around in circles over Angeles San Fernando skies and land along the northern runways, were gone. US serviceman walking streets of Angeles City shopping for locally made products, furniture, and local food or entertaining themselves have become mere figments of the imagination. Colorful neon signs and robust businesses and shops along the Friendship road have diminished. When Mt. Pinatubo erupted and almost destroyed Angeles and Clark Field, a time and event both were never imagined to recover from, losses and sadness were wide spread and prevalent as tons of lahar covered both city and base.

During the term of Pres. Ramos, under the Base Conversion Act authored by Speaker de Venecia and the Xth Congress, Clark Field is earmarked for development to industrial and tourist zone. One weekend eight years after its closure, we visited out of curiosity the CAB facility. What we found were pleasantly surprising. The welcome arc with the “salakot” is still there and is much cleaner. The palm trees that lined the road form Clark Field that rose like a Phoenix from the volcanic debris thumbs up Cory, FVR, speaker JdV and Xth Congress, Clark Dev Corp of Mrs. Henson and Calayo at the helm and the many people who brought her back. The future to the gate grown much taller. Rows of rented jeepneys, cars and other vehicles and Filipinos waiting to get passes to enter CAB have disappeared.

Instead of a single road, there are now two concreted highways leading to the facilities. Friendship gate toward Carmenville is open, with few people, and vehicle around the gate. Painted waiting sheds dotted the highway from where one could see the Yokohama Tire Co, a sprawling complex in the distance. The PhilAm veteran cemetery is trim and manicured among the green grass and trees. Further down where the old base personnel office was, a huge building then new Winn Gate building is under construction. On the left is a modern Holiday Inn located in the Mimosa Leisure Complex. The Regional medical center which used to service as medical center the military bases in Asia, is now only a skeleton of a building, destroyed by both lahar and looters while the fire-trees that once beautifully lined the parking lot remained stunted without blossoms. The old officers and the NCO club, Wurstsmith, Lily Hill elementary and Wagner high schools, Chambers hall, base theaters, Kelly restaurant, chicken Coop fast-food, motor vehicle office, American Express and Prudential banks, Commissary, PX, and other military offices are now only shadows of old memories and presence. Housing area is stripped to bare posts with deteriorated rooftops are mere skeletons where once there were comfortable housing for families.”

New from DFAS: Helpful Customer Information Guides for Retirees and Annuitants

DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay has provided helpful tools to make managing your retired pay or SBP annuity pay easier.

The new DFAS Retiree Customer Information Guide and Annuitant Customer Information Guide outline the tools we developed to simplify finding basic information about your pay or submitting a request for a change to your account.

The Customer Information Guides are available to download in a PDF from the Retired Military & Annuitants homepage: https:www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary

The new guides explain how to use many of our time-saving tools, including Form Wizards, Online Upload Tools, Status Notifications, and our website.

Form Wizards

DFAS currently has several Form Wizards available and are working on more. The Form Wizards “take the form out of the form” by walking you through the information needed to help ensure that all necessary fields are completed properly.

The Form Wizards also have a helpful link to submit the form through an askDFAS online upload tool. Plus, some offer the option of signing electronically.

askDFAS Online Upload Tools

Many forms or requests can be submitted online via the DFAS.mil website using the askDFAS online upload tools. The new askDFAS submission tools were established to improve the way requests are submitted and eliminate the time sending requests through mail or fax.

Upload your form in a PDF directly from your home computer. Just fill in the information requested on the askDFAS online upload tool page and upload the form you want to submit in a PDF.

askDFAS Online Forms

Send DFAS information or a request via one of our AskDFAS online forms:

• Retirees and annuitants can get 1099-Rs sent to their mailing address on record or to a one-time, temporary mailing address by submitting the request online on askDFAS.
• Use our convenient online form to report the death of a military retiree.

askDFAS FAQs

Read helpful questions and answers about retired pay or SBP annuitant pay, or submit a question of your own. Please note, these are general questions and answers, not those specific to an individual situation.

Email Status Notifications

Email Status Notifications are underway! We are starting to send status notifications with progress updates on your requests.

DFAS will send you updates: (1) When we receive your request; (2) When your request has been assigned for processing; (3) When the request has been completed.

There are two ways to receive notifications:
A. If you send a form to us using one of the askDFAS Online Upload Tools, we send updates to you using the email address you provide on the upload tool.
B. If you send a form or request to us using fax or mail, we send updates to you using the email address registered in your myPay account. You can review and update your email address in myPay at any time. https://mypay.dfas.mil

myPay
https://mypay.dfas.mil

The fastest and most secure way to manage your retired pay or SBP pay account is through myPay. myPay is available using the internet from your computer or your mobile device browser.

myPay provides convenient access to a range of information about your payments, and lets you easily update your contact information or your tax withholding, check your SBP coverage and your AOP beneficiary (retirees), submit your annual certification (annuitants), or download your tax documents. Retirees and annuitants can log in to myPay, and print a 1099-R from the comfort of their home.

Also, when you have an email address in myPay, you can receive important email messages from DFAS about your pay account and information from your Branch of Service.

Get Your Customer Information Guide:
https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary

The Flag of the Philippines

The National flag of the Philippines consists of a bicolor blue and red with a white triangle at the hoist side. At the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight rays surrounded by three yellow five-pointed stars. This flag was adopted on June 12th, 1898 and it is celebrated every May 28th, during flag day. The flag is not only a reminder of the victory of the people in the battle of Alapan but also a symbol of a prosperous future.

History of the Flag of the Philippines

Similar to most countries, the Philippines has a history of using a variety of flags. The first flag recorded in history was the flag of the Tondo dynasty in 1570. This flag consisted of a red triangle extending from the hoist to the endpoint, and a white background. The Tondo Dynasty was the first unified political state in the Philippines. However, in the Southern Philippines, the region was under the sultanate of Maguindanao and the flag for the area was yellow.

The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 began the long history of Spanish influence. In 1535, a new flag that featured a white background with the cross of Burgundy was hoisted. From 1730 to 1761, King Felipe V adopted a new flag that consisted of a white background and the royal coat of arms of Spain. When King Felipe abdicated, his grandson, Carlos III, gained the throne and altered the flag by removing the shield and replacing it with an oval.

In 1762, the British invaded Manila. Their arrival sparked revolt in Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur north of Manila. Some Chinese people aided the rebels. At the time, the British East India Company adopted a new banner as the de-facto flag. This flag was an alternating red and white horizontal flag with union jack at the upper left corner. The flag was in use from 1762 to 1764. However, in 1763, Spain and England signed a treaty that returned the Philippines to Spanish rule.

In 1785, Spain changed their flag to a red-yellow-red striped flag with a coat of arms on the yellow stripe. The coat of arms consisted of a crowned oval-shaped insignia that was split into half red and half white. The red portion consisted of a golden tower and the white piece had a red lion. Later, when Spain became a republic in 1873, the crown on the insignia was removed. A few years later, in 1897, the Philippines gained independence, and the country adopted a revolution flag with a red background with a red-faced white sun. However, this flag was in use for only a year When President Emilio Aguinaldo came to power, he ordered for the design of a new flag. The official flag consisted of a blue and red bi-color with a white triangle. At the center of the triangle was a mythical faced golden sun. There were three five-pointed stars at each corner of the triangle, at the center of the flag was the phrase, "Fuerzas Expedicionarias del Norte de Luzon," which means "Expeditionary forces of Northern Luzon." Other words that were embroidered on the flag are Libertad, Justicia, and Ygualidad (Liberty, Justice, and Equality), which were encompassed laurel branches. In 1936, the white triangle on the flag was elongated.

In 1989, the country came under the control of the United States, after the defeat of the Spanish in the Spanish-American war. The Philippine flag was banned and the U.S flag was adopted. This flag consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white and blue rectangle in the canton containing 50 stars. Each star on the American flag represents a state. Initially, the flag had 48 stars, but in 1912, Arizona and New Mexico were included. With this new power in place, the Philippines had to fight for independence from the Spanish as well as from the Americans. In 1919, a modified version of the flag of the Philippines was reinstated. This flag consisted of a darker blue band with no face on the sun.

Later, the official flag of the Philippines was abandoned from 1942 to 1943, following the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. In 1943, the Japanese relinquished control back to the people. The bicolored flag was reinstated with a modified bronze-colored eight-rayed sun and stars. The official flag was adopted after the re-institution of the second republic from 1946 to 1985. In 1985, there was a debate concerning the color of the original flag, and the blue stripe of the flag was at the time changed to sky blue. The upsurge of a people's power revolution led to the adoption of a flag with a dark blue stripe. In 1998, the color of the blue line was changed to royal blue and has remained the same since then.

The meaning of the colors of the Flag of the Philippines

The flag of the Philippines played a significant part in the fight for independence against the Spaniards.

Although the country did not have a national flag at the time, the revolutionary group chose the current flag to represent the country. Initially, the white triangle symbolized liberty. The golden stars and the golden sun represented the three central locations of the Philippines, which included the Luzon islands in the North, Visayan in the South, and the main southern island of Mindanao.

The eight rays of the sun represented the eight provinces in which the anti-Spanish revolt had begun. The color blue expressed the "willingness to sacrifice oneself for freedom," while red represented courage.

Presently, the precise meaning of the colors is as follows:

• White: Liberty, fraternity, equality

• Blue: Peace, truth, justice

• Red: Patriotism and valor

Other interpretations of the colors claim that the white triangle represents a longing for change.

These accounts claim the colors red, white, and blue symbolizes the gratitude of the Philippines to the U.S for their disinterested help in the country's fight for independence.

The Emblem

At the center of the white triangle is a golden sun with eight rays, accompanied by three stars. The "three stars and the sun" are a symbol of the Katipuneros revolutionaries who fought for independence. The sun symbolizes unity, freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. Each of its rays represents a province that played a part in the 1896 Philippine Revolution. These provinces include Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Morong, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija.

Another interpretation states that the rays represent the first eight states in the country that were declared under martial law during the first Philippine Revolution. Moreover, the three five-pointed stars are a symbol of the three main islands where the revolution started, which are Luzon, Mindanao, and Visayas.

The Shape

The flag consists of a length to width ratio of 1:2. The width of the flag is equal to the length of the sides of the triangle. Each star is placed in a manner that one of its tips points to the vertex at which it is positioned. The sun appears 14 units from the hoist. The diameter of the central disk is 9 units, with the longer rays having a length of 5 units and the shorter rays at 4 units.

The golden sun does not appear at the center. Instead, it is located slightly to the right. The sun is sectored into 16 portions, each at 22.5 degrees (the extension of the rays and the space between the beams). Each of the stars is drawn on an imaginary circle with the center appearing at 7 units from the triangle's apices. The diameter of each circle of the star is 5 units.

Interesting Facts about the Flag of the Philippines

• The flag was designed by Emilio Aguinaldo, a military leader, revolutionary, and politician. He came up with the idea for the flag while he was exiled in Hong Kong in 1897.

• The flag was formally unfurled during the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898; by President Emilio Aguinaldo. This was after the Philippine Revolutionary Army defeated the Spanish forces in the Battle at Alapan, Imus, Cavite.

• There was a proposal to change the flag on June 15, 1995, when President Fidel Ramos suggested the incorporation of a crescent moon on the flag to represent Filipino Muslims. However, this proposal was declined.

• It is prohibited to hoist the flag at Nightclubs.

• The law stipulates that a worn-out flag should be solemnly burned, and if a flag begins to show signs of wear and tear, it should be replaced immediately.