Las Vegas, Tuesday, Nov,15

Dear all SPSA Fellows:

It is my pleasure to report to all of you that the commemoration of the SPSA Golden Anniversary at the Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, October 21, 2022, was a fantastic success!  Our 3-term president, Honorio Cruz, Executive Director Danny Fabito, Membership Chair Ed Gamboa, and our own “WellsFargo-secure-money-keeper”, Treasurer Ed Barcelona, gave me no choice but to work even harder.

Those who (wanted but) were unable to join us for various reasons should have seen and felt the enthusiasm and pride among all those who participated in this historic celebration. It was an inspiring, very upbeat, moment for all.

The Welcome Dinner was packed to capacity at Noypitz (Fil-Am Bar and Grill) with new SPSA Fellow Aimee Mabini (EENT from Canada) belting Mama Mia to the crowd’s delight. WOW! – (Barbra, Celine, Adele, watch out!)

The SPSA Golden Gala Dinner, a Formal Black Tie Reception, at the Caesar’s Palace Emperor’s Ballroom, required an additional table (a total of 10), more than we expected. The dance floor was always full, in spite of arthritis, O2 hunger, limping, and clicking joints (among the teen-aged swingers) to the tunes of the Vegas XO Band.

Besides the private photographers’ Nikon, countless cell phone cameras were on the roll. The enjoyment and excitement were palpable.

Unfortunately, Hernan Reyes, SPSA founding president, was unable to attend due to health issues. His message was read by Bayani Ignacio (SPSA past president, based in Canada).

The only original SPSA founding member present was Godofredo T. Ng of Raleigh, NC, (head of the Carolina Medical Mission) who came with his wife, Anita, and two daughters, Cheryl, and Cindy. The contingency of 12 from Canada, headed by SPSA Past President Bayani Ignacio, added greatly to the luster of this historic gala event.

Fourteen new Fellows were conferred SPSA Fellowship, including a Nun Surgeon, Sister Eva Fidela Maamo, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee, of Paranaque, Metro Manila (a potential venue of a future SPSA surgical mission at her invitation).

The other new SPSA Fellows added to this exclusive collegial assembly are Johanna Basa, MD, general and endocrine surgery; Edwardo A. Buenaventura, MD, general surgery; Ernesto Cababa, MD, anesthesiology; Herminio Calderon, MD, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine; Cesar Candari, MD, pathology; Manuel Casanova, MD, radiology; Jaime Cebedo,MD, radiology; Erico Deiparine, MD, radiology; Aimee Bayani, MD, EENT; Generoso S. Pascual, MD, diagnostic radiology; Jay Saldera, MD, general surgery; Peter Bretan, MD, urology and renal transplantation; and, Jesse Corres, MD, plastic and reconstructive surgery.

The SPSA Golden Yearbook, a 450-page book, and its 84-page supplement, the SPSA Souvenir Journal, are commemorative historical records that chronicle the events of the past half a century of pride and excellence, the contributions and achievements of all the SPSA Fellows in their active roles in healthcare delivery in the United States and Canada, and their common humanitarian endeavors in the Philippines in the service of our poor fellow Filipinos. These publications, designed with inspiring facts and events, pride, love, and compassion, were in demand, with members ordering more copies on the spot.

SPSA Fellows unable to attend may order a FREE copy of those two publications by sending their order request (together with a $15 check, payable  to SPSA, packaging, and postage for these heavy books). For an additional copy, please send a check for $75, for the printing cost during this time of inflation, packaging, and postage): to Danny Fabito, MD, SPSA Executive Director,  6781 Ivory Sage Street, Las Vegas, NV 89148. These are LIMITED EDITION books and are available while they last.

I suggest buying an extra copy and sending it to your respective Alma Mater’s Medical Library and perhaps also for your family and friends. Thanks to our entertainers: the sensational Salve Edelman and Gloria Papin, besides our own Aimee Mabini and Rolly Mendiola. A special thanks and love to all our spouses, who helped us behind the scenes. The same goes for Edna White and Jo Devlin, our friends, and loyal resource staff.

Above all, my indebtedness, gratitude, and appreciation to all of you, SPSA Fellows (old and new) who joined and supported the SPSA and now, its Golden Gala events. You are the noble ones, the real spirit, the backbone behind the SPSA. Salamat!!!

Finally, my apologies for any and all our shortcomings, and the long walk to the Emperor’s Ballroom. No choice, it was the only ballroom available on that evening for the SPSA Gala event. The others were all booked.

The news about the SPSA Golden Gala Celebration was posted in the national Asian Journal (USA) the following morning.

Overall, our survey and voluntary reviews from a  few Fellows rated the SPSA Golden event a fabulous success.

Perhaps a good prelude to SPSA 2.0!

See you all then, in our next voyage to the future.

Thank you all again, best wishes, and God bless.

Phil