PSORHN History & Founding Members

PSORHN takes its history two years ago when a couple of nurses became actively involved in the Reproductive Health Bill advocacy and campaign. These nurses recognized the need for an organized group to continue the advocacy and saw the need to specialize on sexual & reproductive health and rights (SRHR) going beyond maternal & child health.

This group of nurses launched an online campaign group known as RNs for RH which was largely operating in a social networking site known as Facebook. During the initial stages of conceptualizing for PSORHN, it took the name Reproductive Health Nurses Association of the Philippines (RHNAP) but later was changed to PSORHN since majority of the active founding members agreed to use of Society instead of Association.

From its online & social media presence, where the active founding members engaged with fellow nurses and the public to openly discuss the provisions of then Reproductive Health Bill and the issues surrounding sexual & reproductive health, the founding members decided to formally organize PSORHN in May 2013. Conceptualization Meetings were then set and formed the By-Laws Drafting Committee.

PSORHN is founded by nurses who are passionate about sexuality and reproductive health, some are working with RH-related NGOs and others have graduated from the DOH training on Family Planning Competency.

PSORHN INCORPORATORS

The Society is convened by nurses who are actively involved in the sexual & reproductive health  advocacy, some of whom are practitioners in different NGOs. The Incorporators will be the Founding Executive Board of the Society.

1. ALVIN CLOYD DAKIS - Member of the Senate Technical Panel on the RH Bill;  DOH Appointed member of the Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) Drafting Committee of the RP-RH Law; Executive Director of the Foundation for Adolescent Development Inc.; Graduate, Family Planning Competency Based Training, DOH 
2. JESUSA ROSARIO LUGTU - Executive Assistant to the President & the Board of The Forum for Family Planning & Development Inc.
3. ANGELO JAMES ESPERANZATE - Project Associate, AIDS Society of the Philippines Inc.; HIV & AIDS Nurse Educator
4. JANINA GILLIAN SANTOS - President, Philippine Health Bloggers Society; Program Manager, Foundation for Adolescent Development Inc.
5. ERICKSON BERNARDO - Program Manager, Foundation for Adolescent Development Inc.; Graduate, Family Planning Competency Based Training, DOH
6. EPHRAIM LUGA - MA in Nursing major in Nursing Administation student; Graduate, Family Planning Competency Based Training, DOH
7. JOSE ANDRELIN DELA CRUZ - Marketing Coordinator, Global Learning Innovations; Graduate, Family Planning Competency Based Training, DOH
8. MICHELLE CAPAREDA - Private Duty Nurse; Graduate, Family Planning Competency Based Training, DOH
9. DAPHNE MALLARE - Staff Nurse, Saint Mateus Hospital; Graduate, Family Planning Competency Based Training, DOH

PSORHN FOUNDING MEMBERS

1. Alvin Cloyd Dakis, Manila | Executive Director, Foundation for Adolescent Development
2. Jesusa Rosario Lugtu, Quezon City | Executive Assistant, Forum for Family Planning & Development
3. Angelo James Esperanzate, Quezon City | Project Associate, AIDS Society of the Philippines
4. Janina Gillian Santos, Paranaque City  | Project Manager, Foundation for Adolescent Development
5. Erickson Bernardo, Bulacan | Project Manager, Foundation for Adolescent Development
6. Ephraim Luga, Manila 
7. Jose Andrelin dela Cruz, Quezon City | Marketing Coordinator, Global Learning Innovation
8. Michelle Capareda, Quezon City | Private Duty Nurse
9. Daphne Mallare, Rizal | Staff Nurse, Saint Mateus Hospital
10. Erosbon Sabedo, Abra | Rural Health Unit Nurse, Licuan Ba-ay, Local Government of Abra
11. Florenda Cabatit, Negros Oriental | Dean, Silliman University College of Nursing 
12. Helen Cabria, Bicol | OFW Nurse, Oman
13. Elviro Firmalino, General Santos City | Program Development Head for Region IX, International Care Ministries
14. Jennylyn Acero, Bicol | Staff Nurse, Bicol Medical Center
15. Arnold Vega, Quezon City | Clinic Coordinator, Likhaan Center for Women's Health
16. Kevin Lopez de Vera, Albay  | Albay Inter-Agency RH Committee
17. Anthony Abustan, Marikina City | University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
18. Gerald Ygay, Cebu City | Transgender COLORS Inc.