I am deeply honored to share a milestone in my professional journey — I have officially taken my oath as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Academy of Acupuncture (PAA). It is both a privilege and a responsibility to serve an organization devoted to advancing safe, ethical, and evidence-informed acupuncture practice in the Philippines.

This moment represents more than a new title — it is a commitment to the future of our profession. Acupuncture, rooted in centuries of medical wisdom yet evolving alongside modern scientific knowledge, has an increasingly significant role in national healthcare. More patients now seek integrative approaches to healing, and our duty as practitioners and educators is to ensure they receive the highest quality of care.

As a member of the Board, I look forward to working collaboratively with fellow leaders, mentors, and colleagues who share the same passion for developing acupuncture as an accessible and respected modality. Together, we will continue to strengthen professional standards, support continuing education, promote ethical clinical practice, and foster research that bridges tradition and innovation.

I am especially excited about contributing to capacity-building initiatives — expanding acupuncture training, empowering new practitioners, and supporting the formal integration of acupuncture into mainstream healthcare systems. There is important work ahead, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help shape the direction of our profession at this pivotal time.

To the Philippine Academy of Acupuncture, thank you for the trust. To my peers and students, thank you for the inspiration. And to the patients whose lives are touched by acupuncture — you remain the heart of why we do what we do.

Here’s to elevating acupuncture, strengthening the community, and advancing the art and science of healing in the Philippines. I am humbled, energized, and ready to serve.

Philip Tan-Gatue

Dr. Tan-Gatue is a Doctor of Medicine, Certified Medical Acupuncturist and a Certified Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner.

He is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Section Head of the Section of Herbology at the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center in Manila, and a member of the National Certification Committee on Traditional Chinese Medicine under the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care under the Department of Health.  He was just recently appointed Associate Editor-in-Chief of the World Chinese Medicine Journal (Philippine Edition) and elected to the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Academy of Acupuncture, Inc.

He can be reached at email@acupuncture.ph

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