285 Physical Therapists and 32 Occupational Therapists pass the February 2013 Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist Licensure Exam

The Professional Regulation Commission announces that 285 physical therapy examinees out of 579, and 32 occupational therapy examinees out of 64, passed the Physical / Occupational Therapy licensure examination given by the Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy on February 3 and 4, 2013 simultaneously in the cities of Manila and Cebu.

University of Santo Tomas graduate, Mary Kathleen Sabile Samarista, topped the physical therapy board with a general average rating of 86.95% followed closely by Barbara Jane Labao Auson from the University of Perpetual Help System-Laguna (86.60%) and Hyacinth Rosario Fernandez Callao from the Silliman University (85.65%).

According to the Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy, the exam results were released in two working days after the last day of the examination.

Registration of passers for the issuance of Professional Identification Cards (PIC’s) and Certificate of Registration will be on February 21 and 22, 2013.

Source: PRC

How to Grow Bugambilia

 Best known as bougainvillea, bugambilia (Bougainvillea spp.) grows best in warm climates, and is suitable for cultivation within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b to 11. Its incandescent pink flower bracts and evergreen foliage add visual interest to landscaping all year, while its vigorous growth allows it to swiftly covers trellises and structures in woody, twining vines. Bugambilia takes relatively little effort to grow if the vines are planted in a large, sunny bed with slightly acidic soil. However, the vines look healthiest if routinely watered during their first year and provided with monthly applications of high-phosphate fertilizer.

1

Plant bugambilia in a warm, sheltered spot with full sun exposure, such as against a south-facing wall. Avoid deeply shaded areas since the vines will grow slowly and bloom less prolifically.

2

Weed the bed and test the soil acidity using a soil pH test kit. Amend the bed with acidic compost if the soil pH is above 7.0 to achieve a pH of between 5.9 and 6.9. Work rotted pine bark or oak leaf compost into the top 15 inches of soil using a cultivating fork.

3

Install a trellis along the northerly edge of the bed, or prepare the bed against an existing structure. Choose a sturdy trellis with a minimum height of 10 feet and a width of 10 to 15 feet.

4

Dig a planting hole at the base of the trellis. Make the hole at the same depth as the bugambilia's original pot and twice the width. Cut off the base of the pot using a sharp knife and position the pot inside the hole. Cut down both sides of the pot and remove it carefully to keep from disturbing the roots.

5

Backfill around the rootball until it is completely covered and the soil is mounded approximately 2 inches above the surrounding bed. Gently firm the mounded soil until it is level with the surrounding soil. Water to a depth of 5 to 6 inches after planting.

6

Water bugambilia to a 3-inch depth twice weekly during its first summer in the garden and decrease watering to 1 inch weekly from then on. Withhold water during rainy weather or if the soil still feels moist from a previous watering.

7

Feed bugambilia monthly with high-phosphate, 5-10-5 ratio fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer year-round in frost-free areas, or from one week after the last spring frost until four weeks before the first autumn frost in colder areas. Apply the fertilizer at half strength and water deeply.

8

Prune bugambilia in spring to remove suckering growth. Snip off the suckering growth where it emerges using sharp bypass shears. Wear gloves when pruning bugambilia since they possess sharp, 2-inch-long spines.

9

Hard prune bugambilia in late summer after the flowers fade. Remove up to one-third of the shoot growth to encourage a more compact shape. Remove any dead wood or less prolific vines. Use loppers or bypass shears, depending on the thickness of the vine.

10

Spread a 4-inch-thick layer of lightweight mulch around the base of bugambilia vines if heavy frost is forecasted. Use pine needles or straw mulch, since they let moisture escape from the soil and will not smother the roots. Remove the mulch after the frost occurs.

11

Watch for signs of aphids, such as sticky sap on the vines, curled leaves or an unusual amount of ants crawling in the vicinity. Remove the aphids by spraying the vines with a pressurized garden hose. Keep spraying until the pests are rinsed away.

Things You Will Need

• Soil pH test kit
• Acidic compost
• Cultivating fork
• Trellis
• Shovel
• Sharp knife
• 5-10-5 ratio fertilizer
• Bypass shears
• Gardening gloves
• Loppers
• Garden hose

Tip

• Space multiple bugambilia vines 6 to 9 feet apart.
• Bugambilia also responds well to general purpose, 10-10-10 ratio fertilizer.

PRC Schedule of Examinations - Calendar Year 2013

January 2013

Name of Examination	Date/s of Exam	Day/s	Place	Deadline in Filing
Pharmacists	12 & 13	Sa, Su	Manila, Baguio & Cebu	Dec. 28, 2012
Real Estate Consultants Revalida	16 & 17	W, Th	Manila	-
Marine Deck Officers (Written)	19 & 20	Sa, Su	Manila & Iloilo	Dec. 28, 2012
Architects	25 & 27	F, Su	Manila	Jan. 7, 2013

February 2013

Name of Examination	Date/s of Exam	Day/s	Place	Deadline in Filing
Physical Therapists & Occupational Therapists	3 & 4	Su, M	Manila & Cebu	Jan. 18, 2013
Metallurgical Engineers (WES)	5, 6 & 7	T, W, Th	Manila	Jan. 25, 2013
Physicians	10, 11, 17 & 18	Su, M, Su, M	Manila, Cebu & Iloilo	Jan. 25, 2013
Marine Engineer Officers (Written)	13 & 14	W, Th	Manila & Iloilo	Jan. 24, 2013
Master Plumbers	20 & 21	W, Th	Manila	Feb. 8, 2013

March 2013

Name of Examination	Date/s of Exam	Day/s	Place	Deadline in Filing
Professional Teachers	10	Su	Manila, All Regional Offices; Zamboanga & Hongkong	Repeaters:  Jan. 4, 2013 First timers:  Jan. 11, 2013
Landscape Architects	12, 13 & 14	T, W, Th	Manila	March 1, 2013
Real Estate Brokers	17	Su	Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo & Legazpi & Lucena	Feb. 25, 2013
Medical Technologists	19 & 20	T, W	Manila, Baguio, Cebu & Legazpi	March 4, 2013
Mechanical Engineers & CPM	23 & 24	Sa, Su	Manila, Cebu & Lucena	March 8, 2013

April 2013

Name of Examination	Date/s of Exam	Day/s	Place	Deadline in Filing
Midwives	28-29	Su, M	Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban, Tuguegarao & Zamboanga	April 12, 2013

Registration Without Examination of Psychologists, Psychometricians and Respiratory Therapists starts February 5, 2013

Applicants who intend to register as psychologists, psychometricians or respiratory therapists may now file and submit their applications for registration without examination online starting February 5, 2013.

Applicant-psychologists and psychometricians can apply for registration without examination until May 21, 2015 while applicant-respiratory therapists have until May 21, 2014 as provided under Republic Acts No. 10029 and 10024, respectively.

Applicants who satisfy the qualification and documentary requirements may file their applications through this website by accessing the “Online Application for Registration Without Examination” facility.

Source: PRC Official Website

Homeless Child

A homeless child stands on one of the trusses of the Quezon Bridge in Manila on January 27, 2013. The Philippines said Thursday its economy grew by a better-than-expected 6.6 percent last year as confidence rose in President Benigno Aquino's efforts to fight corruption and alleviate poverty.
Source: Yahoonews