page 6 Chapter 2: The Phlippine Association of Medical Technologists, Inc.

Chapter 2
Inc.
The Philippine Association of Medical Technologists,
The Philippine Association of Medical Technologists otherwise known as the PAMET is the
national organization of all registcred medical technologists in the Philippines.

The association was organized by Mr. Crisanto Gomez Almario, a Pharmacy graduate of the
Manila College of Pharmacy (now the Manila Central University) but worked as a laboratory technician at
the San Lazaro Hospital and other laboratories and hospitals after he passed the National Board
Examinations for Pharmacists.

A year after, he was connected with the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila where he
performed laboratory works which would now be considered that of a medical technologist. It was at that
point he noticed the very degraded classification of workers performing this particular job. It was also right
here that he felt the need to standardize the profession, to clevate its catcgory into a more dignified one.

Although the ycars that followed had showered him abundant blessings in rank, salarics and
benefits, these did not make him change and forget his noble intentions for the upliftment of the profession.
Instead, his belief became firmer now that he had gaincd the respect of his associates and supcriors through
excellence in the ficld; he had more strength and power now to convince the1n to change their attitudes
toward the profession. So that future workers in this ncw ficld of science would not only be rewarded with
reasonable salaries and attractive becncfits, but would also be clevated in their professional classifications in
level with other well respected profession in the country.

Until onctime he found the means, the way, and the chance to start the reforms when the people
working in the different laboratorics (particularly in Manila) have noticed the unfairness that they have
been subjectcd to as laboratory workers, became uncasy. This was further supported by the new graduates
ofthedifcrent medical technology schools which have been added to the group with similar sentiments
and were in sympathy for reforms.

Without wasting time, he immediately grabbed the opportunity and moved to organize the national
organization for the medical technology workers. He started sending mimeographed notices to the different
laboratories, hospitals, and schools of medical technology that a meeting to organizc an association for
medical laboratory workers will be hcld on Sept. 15, 1963 at the Public Health
St., Sta. Cruz, Manila. Laboratory at 208 Quiricada

It was at 10:00 o'clock in the morning of

the Philippinc Association of Medical
Septembcr 15, 1963 at the Public Hcalth Laboratory that
Technologists
attended the first mecting and were considered to be the
was born. The medical
laboratory workers who
pioneers of the PAMET were: Mr. Crisanto
Almario, Mrs. Virginia Cabuenos, Ms. Josefina Acayan, Ms. Joscfina Tombo, Ms. Clarita Centcno, Ms.
Bicnvenida Cruz, Mrs. Cecilia Cabailo, Ms. Remedios Manansala, Ms. Antonia
Leon and Miss Florentina Geraldez, Mrs. Felisa de
Catanghal. All of the allicd profcssion: Ms. Cecilia
Umali and Mr. Romulo Tabo of P.U.C., Ms. Juanita Roque of U.P., Mr. Jesse
Sarmiento and Ms. Corazon Diaz of U.S.T., Mr.
Bernardo Tabaosares and Mr. Santos Sanchcz of
Villaroman of C.E.U.
F.E.U., and Mr. Isabelo Samonte and Mr. Rodolfo
Scveral committce mecctings were held in F.E.U. Public
and other places convenient to the
Health Laboratory, the residence of Mr. Almario
group in order to preparc things for a national convention.
However, while Mr. Almario was busy in the
of another group of medical preparation for a national convention, he has heard
Mrs. Belen
laboratory workers trying to organize a similar
organization. This was led by
Siasoco-Jose, another
technician. She was forming an Plharmacy of graduate, and had been in the United States as a
laboratory
laboratory organization a national in catecgory but whose
workers who had been in the U.S. and membership were only 1or
Clinical Pathologists (ASCP). were qualificd members of the American Society for
 Chapter 2:The Phillppine Assocation of Medical Technoiogists, inc. Ipage 7
Neverthcless, through the hclp of Dr. Generoso Basa, Hcad Department of Pathology of the
Unversty of Santo Tomas' Faculty of Mcdicine and Surgery, and a certain nun from the College of the
Hoy Spirn, Mrs Jose and her group joined the Philippine Association of Mcdical technologists instcad of
organng another onc

the Far Eastern University

The irst national convention was held at the conference hall of
20, 1964.
Hospital at Nicanor Reves St (formerly Morayta), Manila on September

Mr. Crisanto Gomez Almario

Father of the PAMET

Association of Medical
Mr. Crisanto Gomez Alnmario (recognized as the Father of the Phiiippine
Almario and Mrs. Petra
Tochnologists, Inc.), is a native of Mendez, Cavitc. He was born to Mr. Tranquilino
Gomez-Almario on October 6, 1906. Mr. Almario took up his grades I to V at the Philippine Normal
VI and VII at the Intramuros
Training School (now the Philippine Normal lege). and his gradcs
the Manila South High School.
Intemediate School. He completed his secondary education in 1926 at
Tomas' Pre-medical course
Afcr graduating from high school, hc cenrolled at the University of
Santo
of pursuing his medical education, he
(Associate in Arts) which he completed in 1928. However. instcad
where hc took up and
transferred to the Manila College of Plharacy (now the Manila Central University)
finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Phannacy in 1930. Having been a good and diligent student in
his high school and college days, he took the board licensure examinations given to Pharmacy graduates by
As expected, he successfully passed the said
the Philippine Government nght after graduation.
examinations
he was connected with the
Aftcr he passed the Philippine Licensure Examination for Pharacists,
San Lazaro Hospital as a laboratory technician. However, during World War II he worked in a U.S. Army
Laboratory in Hawaii. He was given a very respectable position in that Laboratory due to his extraordinary
and lucrative work incentives and
talents and abilities in laboratory works. He was also given high salary
a

World War II was over, he came back to the Philippines to work as a

benefits Nevertheless, when Isaac Peral St. (now United Nation Avenue). He
Technician at Marian Hospital locatcd at
Laboratory
rctircd as a highly respected Laboratory Veteran