Agerico Benito Mariano (Agerico) Ungson Sison - Philippine Heart Association founding member

Cardiology as a specialty was introduced to the Philippines with the formal organization of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) in March 26, 1952 under the initiative and leadership of Dr. Mariano M. Alimurung as the first President, and assisted by Dr. Jose M. Barcelona, as Vice-President, Dr. Antonio M. Samia, Secretary-Treasurer and Dr. Isidro Pertierra, Dr. Conrado Dayrit and Dr. Florencio Herrera Jr. as the other members of the Executive Committee. Dr. Antonio G. Sison was elected as Honorary President. In a message read at the organizational meeting, Dr. Paul Dudley White, one of the most prominent world cardiologists, said: "The organization of the Philippine Heart Association can serve a great purpose as a stimulus to cardiovascular research, teaching, and practice in the Far East." It was a great challenge for the organization then, and now, as it makes a big effort to live up to this expectation.

In the original roster, there were 26 regular members and 28 associate members, the delineating criteria for each category being approved at the Organizational Meeting. The regular members were : Dr. Jose Abueg, Mariano M. Alimurung, Gonzalo E Austria, Jose M. Barcelona, Salvador Busuego, Manuel Chua Chiaco, Jose R. Cruz, Pedro M. Cruz, Cruz, Conrado Dayrit, Saturno Ador Dionisio, Florentino Herrera Jr., Guillermo Ilano, Emmanuel T. Gatchalian, Luis Gonzales, Vicente B. Jimenez, Raymundo Katigbak, Agustin Liboro, Jesus B. Nolasco, Isidro Pertierra, Antonio M. Samia, Hermogenes M. Santos, Agerico B.M. Sison, Antonio G. Sison, Francisco Tangco, Manuel De Veyra, and Wenceslao Vitug. Later Dr. C. Lazatin and A. Guytingco joined the regular members.

https://www.philheart.org/index.php/get-to-know-the-pha/the-organiz...