With a greater awareness of the complexity of comprehensive care of a patient with cancer, a handful of well-intentioned young men and women fresh from their post-graduate medical stint abroad found it necessary to optimize the care of patients with cancer through a multidisciplinary approach. In 1964, the incidence of cancer as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the national health picture was rising to alarming proportions. In 1968, the Central Tumor Registry of the Philippines confirmed these data and reported them before the international fora. Faced with the shortage of cancer oriented physicians, especially trained oncologists, these doctors opened a new era of cancer care by organizing themselves into the Philippine Society of Oncologists on October 16, 1964 in Quezon City.

The founding fellows of the society were inducted at the Holiday Inn, Pasay City on December 11, 1964. They elected the following officers. Dr. Leon Lopez, president; Dr. Antonio Cabral, vice-president; Dr. Erlinda Novales, secretary-treasurer, The following were elected as council members: Dr. Manuel Borja, Dr .Generoso Basa, Dr .Luciano Sotto, Dr. Teodoro Nuguid, Dr. Angel Enriquez, Dr. Angel Estanislao and Dr. Augusto Ramos.

Dr. Leon Lopez served from 1964-1968 and was succeeded by Dr. Antonio Cabral from 1968-1970, followed by Dr. Manuel Borja from 1970-1972 and Dr. Augusto Ramos from 1972 -1983. Because of national events and crises, personal illnesses and even deaths, the activities of the society were interrupted. In 1984, then vice-president Dr. Teodoro Nuguid, took it upon himself to revive the society from its protracted hibernation, when it was confirmed that the presidcnt had taken up permanent residence abroad. He was elected president by the council and he served from 1984 to 1986, with Dr. Generoso Basa as vice-president and Dr. Erlinda Novales as secretary-treasurer.

The mission statement of the Society was a medical professional organization devoted to the integration of the various disciplines in the study and treatment of cancer, promotion of a better understanding of cancer control, to stimulate and attain a level of specialized knowledge and skill in both theory and practice, applicable to better cancer patient care.

In 1984-1986, Drs. Nuguid and Basa revitalized and restructured the constitutional framework of the Society and opted for new standards and philosophy ~ excellence of thought and quality of effort permeating into the practice of the specialty. The two hallmarks of the Society were made manifest in the first annual meeting after more than 10 years of inactivity.