Warm hearts, full plates and serious retina science. Manila wraps APVRS with cariňo.
If you’ve been here in the past four days, surely you’ve noticed that Filipinos pronounce all their vowels whether we’re speaking English or Filipino and that we speak in that sing-song-y tone. It’s not because we all love to sing, but because we say everything with a little bit of heart and lots of cariňo or lambing…thanks to that teeny-tiny percentage of Spanish blood that set us apart from our Southeast Asian neighbors.
At APVRS 2025, Filipino culture takes center stage—not as a showy display-display—but simply in its natural, warm-warm way, sweeter than a bowl of halo-halo. I’ve never seen conference food like this: morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack…eat, repeat. Only in the Philippines! Who’s counting the carbs? Not us! We burn them off laughing and smiling, even in the face of the challenges we encounter.
Again, always that little extra… We don’t stop at Salamat—it has to be Salamat po.
Salamat po, Doc. Salamat po, Ma’am, Sir! It was music to my ears all throughout the SMX Convention Center, where APVRS 2025 was held. From the security guards to the food servers and the taxi drivers, everyone spoke with that unmistakable malambing warmth. That’s tatak Pinoy*—a charm you simply won’t find anywhere else in the world.
And in this community of ophthalmologists, the “hierarchy” from seniors to young ophthalmologists is rooted in respect and mentorship. It’s not about competition, but collaboration and learning from one another. The mentors stood in support, cheering as their mentees spoke in various sessions. It’s like Bayanihan, carrying the whole house together from point A to point B, just as our ancestors did. This tradition, this culture, is passed down through generations: if one Filipino makes it to another country, that first traveler opens the door for the rest of us.
“Manila, Manila… I keep coming back to Manila,” sang Hotdog, a 70’s Pinoy rock band. That line kept echoing in my mind as I reflected on this conference. After all the stories and experiences shared about the heartwarming Filipino hospitality—despite the chaos and contradictions that Manila and this country can present—we hope that each of you takes home something that makes you feel the same way: that you’ll keep coming back.
READ MORE: MICE TV | On the Ground at APVRS with Ruchi Ranga
Finally, before we leave, ready your five-peso coins for videoke and while you are there, check out the sessions we covered today, in case you missed them:
- Today’s retina session focused on emerging treatments for retinal diseases like AMD, DR and DME, emphasizing durability, affordability and real-world impact over mere novelty. Read the full article.
- The symposium on posterior segment complications of anterior segment surgery focused on prevention, early recognition and management of retinal risks associated with cataract and refractive lens exchange surgery. Read the full article.
- The Management of Posterior Segment Ocular Trauma symposium highlighted key challenges, updates and surgical strategies from various vitreoretina surgeons: from the nuances of blunt ocular trauma to controversies in open-globe management, the critical role of imaging and prevention of post-traumatic infections. Read the full article.
- The symposium on Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Protocols covered key areas of evolving ROP care: updated classifications and risk factors; diagnostic innovations; emerging therapies and prevention; national and global strategies. Read the full article.
READ MORE: Retina Meets Rhythm: APVRS 2025 Opens with Lectures, Leaders and Filipino Flair
Visit our conference coverage page for the whole enchalada that’s APVRS 2025: piemagazine.org/conference-coverage
Salamat po ulit, APVRS 2025 Manila…hanggang sa muli!
*Pinoy = slang for Filipino
Editor’s Note: This content is intended exclusively for healthcare professionals. It is not intended for the general public. Products or therapies discussed may not be registered or approved in all jurisdictions, including Singapore. Reporting for this story took place during the 18th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society (APVRS 2025) from 12-14 December in Manila, Philippines.