It is a season of many firsts for Filipino OTs! The 54th Annual PAOT Convention in November 2023 in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental marks the first onsite convention for the PAOT since the pandemic. Moreover, the first Outstanding Research Publication Award was launched during the convention to recognize the efforts of growing the culture of evidence-based practice and building a wider knowledge base.
In December 2023, the first licensure exam for occupational therapists was held after the enactment of Republic Act 11241, also known as “The Philippine Occupational Therapy Law”. This law recognizes occupational therapy as a discipline separate and distinct from physical therapy. Soon after, 323 new Filipino occupational therapists were sworn in at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, Philippines. In the same event, members of the occupational therapy board from the Professional Regulation Commission headed the newly elected 2024-2026 PAOT board of directors as they took oath for their duties as responsibilities.
The OT community is deeply saddened by the recent loss of one of its pioneers in the profession, Ms. Conchita Concepcion M. Abad, OTR, OTRP. Along with her colleagues, they have established the first BS in Occupational Therapy program in the country, as well as being a charter member of the Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines (OTAP), now PAOT, Inc. in 1968.
Ms. Conchita Concepcion M. Abad, OTR, OTRP