The Philippine Association of Chinese Studies (PACS), in collaboration with the Kaisa Heritage Center, hosted a symposium on Aug. 26 at Bahay Tsinoy in Intramuros, Manila, with the theme “Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the Philippine Healthcare System”.
The event highlighted the long history and potential of TCM in the Philippines, with speakers underscoring its therapeutic benefits and the need for greater collaboration to advance its practice.
Dr. Cho-chiong Tan, associate professor and Psychiatry section head and consultant at Far Eastern University Institute of Medicine and the current chair of the Philippine Academy of Acupuncture, opened the discussion by tracing the history of acupuncture in the Philippines, a practice with a recorded history of 2,000 years.
He said that acupuncture, which involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific body points, stimulates the nervous system, improves blood flow and enhances overall bodily function.
Tan also paid tribute to Dr. Lilia Marquinez-Palanca, the first Filipino physician to formally study acupuncture in China under an arrangement by then First Lady Imelda Marcos. She later organized the Asia Congress of Acupuncture in the Philippines.
He also noted the significant role of the Department of Health (DOH) under then Secretary Dr. Juan Flavier, who in 1992 initiated the Traditional Medicine Program.
The program, which promotes the practice of traditional medicine in the Philippines, was a crucial step that eventually led to the enactment of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8423)
Dr. Isidro Sia, executive director of the Integrative Medicine for Alternative Healthcare Systems (INAM), detailed the significant role of his organization in the development of TCM.
Originally founded in 1984 as the Acupuncture Therapeutic and Research Center (ATRC), INAM has served as a training arm for non-governmental organizations on various TCM modalities, including acupuncture, acupressure, ventosa, and qigong.
Sia noted that INAM was a major force in the crafting of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8423), which created the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC).
He also discussed INAM’s work with partner communities, including indigenous, farming, fishing and urban poor sectors, and outlined the organization’s goal to strengthen its sustainability in 2025.
Master Chui-Cheng Kong provided insights into the lifestyle aspects of TCM, focusing on the principles of traditional Chinese medicinal diets and health-preserving exercises.
He described how TCM diets integrate edible herbs and foodstuffs to provide both nutritional and therapeutic benefits, and highlighted the growing popularity of medicated diet restaurants.
He also discussed the core principles of TCM exercises, which emphasize individualization, moderation, and the cultivation of a good spirit by coordinating body movement with a focused mind and proper breathing.
Dr. Liang Guanghan, an Associate Professor from the School of Journalism and Communication at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, addressed the potential for China-Philippine collaboration in TCM.
Liang described traditional medicine as the shared wisdom of the Asian people and noted that after being adopted and developed by Filipinos, TCM has evolved into a unique Filipino TCM with distinct regional characteristics.
She called for multi-level cooperation, including government-to-government, academy-to-academy, and people-to-people exchanges in the research, study, production, and marketing of traditional medicine.
Liang said people are increasingly reflecting on healthy lifestyles and harmonious coexistence with nature nowadays.
