The President of the Republic of the Philippines
My warmest greetings to the participants of the 8th Pan Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation and to your sponsors, the University of Santo Tomas-College of Rehabilitation Sciences and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
I commend the College for upholding UST’s long tradition of academic excellence, which you now celebrate in the University’s Quadricentennial Anniversary. Through this assembly, our country’s rehabilitation specialists and their counterparts abroad have this significant opportunity to work together and help advance their collective field. Indeed, the medical sector plays a crucial role in the formation of an empowered citizenry, and this is essential to any nation’s development. May this conference enable all of you to emerge with a deeper understanding of your responsibilities, strengthened always by your commitment to serve your fellowmen.
Let us remain motivated by the optimism that this era of daylight brings, as we demonstrate our passion and excellence in our respective disciplines and reaffirm our roles as catalysts of change.
The Head of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences,
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
On behalf of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, I would like to extend a sincere invitation to you for joining the 8th Pan Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation (PPCR) to be held at University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines on 17-18 November 2012. The theme for this conference “A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Prevention, Management and Rehabilitation Disability” is stimulating and it emphasizes the importance of multi-disciplinary collaboration among rehabilitation professionals in promoting the concept of healthy life in our communities.
Inaugurated in 1998 in Guangzhou, the PPCR has become an icon biannual event for our department and over the last 7 PPCRs, we have witnessed its growth from the beginning of mostly a local event to the present stage of being an important biannual meeting for rehabilitation professionals, academics, students and healthcare administrators in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. We have the privilege to join hands with the famous University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Philippines in co-organizing the 8th PPCR. With four hundred years of history, UST is one of the most famous universities in the region, well known for their programmes in the rehabilitation disciplines. The beautiful city of Manila, the friendly Filipino hospitality, and the historic campus of UST are strong attractions for this conference.
The organizing committee is preparing an enlightening programme for the conference. Eminent scientists: Prof. Heather McKay of University of British Columbia and Prof. Marjorie Woollacott of University of Oregon are the keynote speakers, and many other overseas plenary speakers will present and share at the conference. There will be pre- and post-conference workshops and short courses to cater for the special topics of interest and clinical skills.
For those who have come to the previous PPCRs, we thank you and hope you will support us again. For those who have not attended the PPCR before, we hope you will respond positively to our invitation and join this conference to learn from your peers and to share with them.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the 8th PPCR in the Philippines and we are confident that this conference will be a fruitful and memorable experience for all participants.
Prof. Gabriel Ng, PT PhD Chair Professor and Head Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, PolyU November 2011Rector of the University of Santo Tomas
In a world that espouses political correctness and inclusiveness, there is that earnest desire to emphasize a person’s capability rather than the paucity or absence of it. Thus, those people in our society who were once stigmatized as disabled are now seen under a different lens. They are now considered differently-abled. Through the efforts of governments, international organizations, educational institutions and private individuals, slowly, those who were once pushed to the periphery of society because of their physical malady are now brought to the center and assisted to regain their self-esteem through training, rehabilitation and opportunities for employment. Although there is still much to be done, positive steps have been and are still being undertaken to provide employment access to this group which is considered as the world’s biggest minority.
The 8th Pan Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation with the theme “A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Prevention, Management and Rehabilitation of Disability” is a step towards the direction of rebuilding the lives of the differently-abled. It is, therefore, an honor for the University of Santo Tomas to be hosting this important conference, especially during our 400th anniversary. We warmly welcome all the rehabilitations specialists all over the world who will take part in this conference. We laud you for your noble mission of helping the physically-challenged members of our society regain their life and their dignity; we salute you for helping people realize that many physically-challenged people are not able to contribute to the progress of society not because of their impairment but because of the barriers that society have erected to keep them in the margins.
It is my hope that this conference will lead to more vigilant efforts to combat disability. I hope that the lectures, for a and discussions that will transpire in this conference will translate to a more intensified action towards the amelioration of the condition of the disable people in our society. I hope that the resolutions that will be formulated in this conference will inform the programs of governments, international organizations, rehabilitation specialists, and private individuals geared towards the uplift of the life and condition of the disabled. And may this three-day conference translate into a lifetime of commitment to journey with the disabled towards an inclusive and caring world.
Chairperson of the Organizing Committee
One can always choose to look at one’s ability, and not on one’s disability — for what really matters is what one can do, and not what one cannot do.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I would like to welcome all of you to the 8th Pan Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation (PPCR) with the theme, “A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Prevention, Management and Rehabilitation of Disability”. As defined, multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving involves drawing appropriately from multiple disciplines to redefine problems outside of normal boundaries and reach solutions based on a new understanding of complex situations. In today’s complex world particularly in health care, there is an imperative need for health care professionals to come together, communicate productively and understand each other’s roles for us to be able to work collaboratively to combat disability. It is with this mindset that the 8th PPCR is conceptualized to provide a venue for all rehabilitation science professionals, clinicians, medical practitioners, academicians, and researchers to look into the general perspectives in the prevention, management and rehabilitation of disability in different patient or client populations and to take an analytical look at evidence-based presentations of evaluation techniques and interventions to address disability in different settings, from multiple rehabilitation disciplines. Likewise, this conference will also serve as a roadmap for information exchange on the experiences and best practices in specific areas of practice in the field of rehabilitation.
As the University of Santo Tomas (UST) celebrates its 400 years of rich history, it is extremely gratifying for us, indeed a great honor and privilege to be given the opportunity to host this conference on November 17-18, 2012, a first for PPCR to be held outside of Hong Kong. We thank the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) for the trust and confidence that they have given us and for the full support and assistance they have extended. This event is a living testament to the strong linkage and partnership between UST and HKPU. We also acknowledge with profound gratitude the support given to us by our collaborators, particularly the Philippine Physical Therapy Association, Inc.
As we embark on another journey towards ensuring that we shall be properly equipped in providing the best quality of care to our patients and making a difference to the lives of others, let us all then carry with us an eye to see the splendor and beauty despite obscurity.
We at UST are eagerly awaiting to extend to you all the warm hospitality that Filipinos are known for. Once again, a heartfelt welcome to all of you! Mabuhay!
Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn F. Agcaoili, MHPEd, MSPT, PTRP
Chairman of the Organizing Committee for 8th PPCR
Co-chairperson of the Organizing Committee
The year of 2012 is particularly meaningful for the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as we are honored to be a collaborative partner with the University of Santo Tomas in hosting the 8th Pan-Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation (PPCR) in Manila on 17 – 18 November 2012.
The PPCR has a proud history. Ever since its first inauguration in 1998, the PPCR has developed into an important biannual conference for health care professionals, academics and students across the Asia-Pacific Region. Beginning with the 8th PPCR, other countries and Hong Kong will take turn to host the conference in order to epitomize the spirit of this regional conference.
The conference offers an attractive programme with its main theme on “A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Prevention, Management and Rehabilitation Disability”, with Prof. Heather McKay of University of British Columbia, Prof. Marjorie Woollacott of University of Oregon, Prof. Hector Tsang and I of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University being the keynote speakers. The conference provides a great platform for exchange of research findings, in-depth discussion of issues relevant to the field of rehabilitation, and networking among researchers, professionals and students.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the faculties of College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Santo Tomas for their commendable efforts in staging this worthwhile event. I would also thank the support of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association and Hong Kong Occupational Therapy Association.
May I wish you all a fruitful and enjoyable conference!
Dr Marco Pang Co-chair, Organizing Committee for 8th PPCR Associate Professor and Master in Physiotherapy (MPT) Programme Leader Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
