Message

Greetings! This year marks the 64th year of the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. It is a defining year, marked by both national and international events that changed and will most likely continue to change medical practice, public health policy, socio-economic concepts and structures. The SARS-coronavirus-2 (COVID-19) pandemic crashed into the first quarter of 2020 unannounced and with great fury. This great unknown served as the impetus for a flurry of research into every aspect of the disease – its origins, biology, clinical course, and treatment. It initiated an unprecedented interest in research, not just among scientists and clinicians, but most especially amongst the general population. But what is RESEARCH? Re-search - to look again at the past with spectacles, to look at the past with new eyes, to look at the present with a microscope, and to look at the far distance with binoculars – all to better see & perhaps to find answers to our questions. Research fuels the evidence base of our understanding of diseases and the principles of our clinical and surgical practice. Our specialty of Otolaryngology, during this time of the pandemic, will be at the forefront of an exciting time for a renewed quest for knowledge. And what better vehicle to transport us into this new and uncharted world than the Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery? It is a testament to the unparalleled dedication of the editor-in-chief and editorial staff and the enthusiasm of the contributors, that every year the PJOHNS publishes interesting case reports, relevant descriptive and analytical studies, papers on surgical techniques & instrument innovations, and insightful commentaries. The journal is a platform for our questions and hypotheses. The journal is a venue for our discoveries. But most importantly, the journal is a celebration of our passion for Otolaryngology. Good reading to all!   Cecilia Gretchen S. Navarro – Locsin, MD President Philippine Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery