2006 Epilepsy Exemplar Awards launched

The Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE), in cooperation with Abbott Laboratories, has launched a nationwide search for the 2006 Epilepsy Exemplar Awards. 

Four winners – two adults and two children – will be given the awards this year. They will receive cash prizes, trophies and the opportunity to be PLAE Ambassadors of Epilepsy.

Each nominee must be a Filipino citizen, eight to 65 years old, diagnosed to have epilepsy, with pleasing personality and good oral communication skills.

He/she must be willing to act as spokesperson and role model for patients with epilepsy. 

Criteria for judging include good seizure control, ideal patient behavior in complying with medical treatments, positive attitude toward the condition such as optimism, self-determination and independence, allowing the patient to live a normal life and academic/ professional achievements.

This year’s board of judges consists of the following: Dr. Elma Marañon, president of the Philippine League Against Epilepsy; Dr. Josephine Gutierrez, chairwoman of the Epilepsy Council of the Philippine Neurological Association; Dr. Martesio Perez, founding president of PLAE; Baldwin Kho, president of Epilepsy Awareness Advocates Inc. and 2003 Epilepsy Exemplar awardee; and Annie Tapia, product manager of Abbott International.

Persons with epilepsy may be nominated in writing by their family, friends, teachers, classmates or co-workers.

Nomination forms may be obtained from their neurologist’s clinics, the PLAE Secretariat or downloaded from the PLAE website http://www.plae.org.ph. 

The nominees must each accomplish a nominee information sheet and answer a five-item questionnaire. 

These must be submitted to the PLAE Secretariat along with photocopies of the nominee’s credentials. The deadline for the submission of nominations is April 30.

Winners of this year’s search will be awarded in formal ceremonies during the 5th National Epilepsy Awareness Week Celebration on Sept. 6-10. 

In 2003, six awardees were honored, including a visual artist, a veterinarian, a sanitary inspector, a nurse and a master’s degree holder in health education, and two honor students.

For more information, contact the PLAE Secretariat, Department of Neurosciences, Philippine General Hospital, c/o Vanessa Chan, 525-4996, or 2006 Epilepsy Awards Project chairwoman, Dr. Hazel Paragua, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, 727-0001 local 2176.