College of Health Sciences – This unit is starting the academic year “with its right foot forward.”

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), in its formal communication dated May 31, extended its salutation to Prof. Manuel Ted F. Aurelio, chairperson of the Department of Physical Therapy (PT), for being this year’s Outstanding Professional of the Year (OPY) in the field of physical therapy, the highest award bestowed by PRC upon a professional as recommended by his peers. 

Recommended for the award for four times now, Aurelio is so far the lone recipient from MMSU.

The selection gauntlet
The conferment of OPY awards began in 1997 to recognize the achievements and services of professionals who excel in their respective fields of professional endeavor. The presentation of awards constitutes one of the highlights of the PRC Anniversary Celebration and Professional Regulation Week on June 16-22 of each year by virtue of Proclamation No. 117, s. 1987. 

To qualify for the award, one has to have: 1) amply demonstrated professional competence of the highest degree and conducted with integrity in the exercise of the profession; 2) participated  meaningfully in professional activities through the professional organization; and 3) contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession and to the effective discharge of the profession’s social responsibility through meaningful contributions and participation in socio-civic related activities.

The awardee: up close
Prof. Manuel Ted F. Aurelio, fondly called “Sir Ted” by his peers, colleagues, and students, has been with the university for 16 years rendering faithful, dedicated, and invaluable service with extensive experience in the clinical, research, administrative, community extension, and instructional settings involving all the facets of the field of PT. 

He joined the MMSU teaching force in June 1996 and worked his way up to his current position as Assistant Professor IV. He finished his BSPT from the University of the Philippines College of Allied Medical Professions in Manila in 1995; his MA in Education from MMSU in 2003; and his MSPT, cum laude, from the University of Santo Tomas-University of South Australia (UST-UniSA) in 2006. He has finished his academic requirements for PhD in Development Education which he is currently taking at the Divine Word College of Laoag. At present, he is writing his dissertation. 

He takes up Bachelor of Laws on the side and has finished 36 units of the course at Northwestern University in Laoag City. 

As current chair of the PT Department, he has placed significant effort in helping make the university land as Top 1 Performing PT School in the country as per PRC certification based on the result of graduates performance in the licensure examination. 

Prior to the 2012 OPY Award, he was conferred the Excellence Award as Outstanding Professional in the Field of Institutional Administration in 2007, now ‘Gawad Inoturan’, given by the Philippine Physical Therapy Association in recognition of work towards the betterment of PT education in the Philippines. 

As a faculty-researcher, he is designated project leader of the study on “The healthy lifestyle (HL) construct of HEI educators in Region I and CAR” funded by CHED. In the aspect of extension services and community involvement, he was instrumental in establishing the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program serving barangays of the City of Batac for four years now. This instigated the City Council to pass resolutions commending the program and requesting for its continuance.

He has also acquired diverse experiences in the clinical setting as an affiliate PT in health care facilities such as the UP PGH, Lung Center of the Philippines, MMMH & MC, and UPTRC. He currently holds a PT license both in the Philippines and in the States of Maryland and Washington, USA.

He has wide experience in the fields of instruction, research, extension, and production making him a sought-after speaker in local and national seminars and conferences on PT education and related areas, not counting interviews in local television and radio programs. He is, at present, member of the Regional Quality Assurance Team Panel of Assessors of CHED-Region 1 and the Technical Panel of Experts for CHED-GIA Region 1.  

A family-oriented person and a true-blue San Nicoleño, he is the eldest son of lawyer Manuel and Dr. Mary Lou, whose family bagged the “Model Family of Ilocos Norte” award in 2010. He spends quality time with his wife Evangeline, an elementary school teacher, and his two beautiful daughters Maria Angela Manuelle and Maia Consuelo Felize.

In spite of this feat, Prof. Aurelio humbly says: “I feel that this award is not just a personal triumph. It is an award to be shared to all the people whose lives we have touched thus making a significant difference in them.”

He is set to receive his award on June 22 at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel.