On the afternoon of November 8, 2016, the PAMET Convention was kicked off, welcoming thousands of medical technologists from around the country into the halls of Marriott Hotel. Every year, this three-day affair is a highlight in the calendars of most Filipino medical technologists and this year’s convention was no exception. The Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Inc. (PAMET) held its convention for the 52nd year with its strong commitment to educate and learn still unfazed. The theme of the event was ‘Empowering Medical Technologists Towards Global Advancement’, an objective consistent with PAMET’s attitude towards progressive Filipino healthcare.
The first day was spent on the opening ceremonies. The PAMET officials, along with the regional representatives, made their entrance into the ballroom one by one in their best formal wear. Rows after rows of medical technologists watched from their seats as the event officially began. MEDTEK and MAN Pharma, as exhibitors in the event, had set up a joint booth in close proximity with the ballroom’s main door, affording us the chance to hear the guests’ collective booming voices as they sang the PAMET Hymn. As they listened to the speech of PAMET President Ronaldo E. Puno, RMT, MBA-H and held their awarding ceremonies, we were preparing our booth, making sure that we would be all set for their arrival after the formalities inside. A little after lunch, the guests came pouring out the doors and rushing into the exhibits. Our booth immediately became a crowd-favorite, drawing in hundreds of registrants in a span of mere hours. Aside from our display of featured products like Hb-Vario and Laura Smart, the guests were also attracted by the contests we’ve arranged for them. They eagerly participated in our photo contest and registered for our raffle. The winners of our contests were delighted when they were given their very own MEDTEK string bags and jackets.
Plenary sessions took over the majority of the second day’s itinerary. A total of nine plenary talks were given, each taking on a specific issue faced by Filipino medical technologists. The nominees for the 2017-2018 Board of Directors were also presented before lunch. The election for the new board took place soon after. The day ended with a Chapters’ Appreciation Night. For the last day of the convention, the participants attended a series of scientific symposia and paper presentations. MAN Pharma’s very own Ms. Dianne Philline Chan got the chance to present her paper entitled ‘Allergen-Sensitization Profiles using RIDA qLine: Allergy System among Filipinos with HIV’. To draw the entire convention to a close, PAMET threw a celebratory Fellowship Night for its members. Aside from being an opportunity for medical technologists to socialize and network, the event also included some parting words from the guest of honor, Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, and the induction of the new Board of Directors.
For more than half a century, PAMET has provided local medical technologists with a deep sense of community and connection, always fostering an open avenue for discussions. Their yearly convention continues to play a huge role in the collaborative spirit of medical technologists across the country and MEDTEK and MAN Pharma are always honored to contribute to their cause.
