College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) faculty members, Asst. Prof. Jocel M. Regino, and Mr. Vergel B. Orpilla, have been conferred Fellowship by the Royal Institute, Physical and Occupational Therapy (RIPOT), Singapore, in collaboration with the Royal Institute, Philippines, in a Special Conferment Ceremony held recently at the Royal Institute Centre in Manila.
In the same ceremony, Regino was inducted as Honorary Treasurer, while Orpilla was inducted Honorary Secretary of the Royal Institute, Physical and Occupational Therapy. Both teach with the Physical Therapy Department of CRS.
In an online interview, Regino and Orpilla shared that as Fellows, they are expected to promote life-long learning in the profession through the conduct of research, participate in both local and international Royal Institute research colloquium, submit research for publication through the Royal Institute Research Journal, and promote the Physical Therapy profession through the offering of Fellowship Specialization Training and inter-professional collaboration.
The Fellowship has a validity of one year, subject to renewal, upon evaluation of credentials and membership, and the final approval by the RIPOT.
To become a Fellow, Orpilla said that the nominee must have any of the following qualifications: Doctorate or its equivalent; president of an RI accredited educational institution and organization; Fellow of accredited professional institutions; have accredited professional qualifications, including having passed Board examinations or are registered with the professional regulatory boards or its equivalent; have at least eight years of experience in top executive or professional position or its equivalent; or with 16 years of relevant academic or professional experience or its equivalent.
Upon conferment, the Fellow receives a certificate, a Fellow medal and a Royal institute ID, and a post-nominal FRIPOT designation. Both Regino and Orpilla started at CRS as part-time faculty members in 2010. The two are the only RIPOT Fellows at CRS as of this writing. The Royal Institute’s mission is to recognize the contribution, experience, academic and professional achievements, and qualifications of trailblazers in various professions. Part of its mission is also to establish a network of those who want to continuously provide opportunities to enhance the skills, competitive advantage, and status of its members.
