President's Message

It is with great honor and pleasure to present the online Philippine Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (PJAAI). This issue has undergone birth pains, and now that it is finally out, let us look back on how this journal began. In 1994, the first issue of the Philippine Journal of Allergy and Immunology (PJAI) was published by then president Dr. Alendry P. Caviles with Dr. Benigno F. Agbayani as the first editor-in-chief. This was the first of many steps in starting a discourse in the field of allergy and immunology. In 1998, the name PJAI was changed to PJAAI to coincide with the change in the society’s name from Philippine Society of Allergy and Immunology (PSAI) to Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (PSAAI). The PJAAI was published semi-annually containing scholarly researches and articles of consultants, fellows and residents on allergy and immunology. To adapt with the times, past president Dr. Marysia Stella T. Recto pushed for an online PJAAI in 2020. It took almost three years in the making as there were many challenges and hurdles, shifting from a physical medium to a virtual platform. Now that the pieces are in place, we are excited to launch this new era of PJAAI. As a symbol of excellence and innovation, this journal champions our Society to strive for more and be at par with our international counterparts. Just as Dr. Agbayani wrote in his first editorial, we continue to recognize the relevance of this journal and the role it plays in advancing the medical field. I, therefore, congratulate the people who worked hard to allow this online journal come into fruition: Dr. Rommel Crisenio M. Lobo (President, 2021-2022), Dr. Cherie O. Cervantes (EIC, 2020-2021), Dr. Regina D. Capulong (EIC, 2021-present), Dr. Rowena Niña G. Ticzon (Assistant EIC, 2021-present), the editorial staff and all contributors. May this issue serve as an inspiration and motivation to our colleagues in pursuing evidenced-based research and articles.