The British Palawan Trust

The British Palawan Trust

            Mr Jose Socrates MD FRCS Ed, “Doc Soc”, was a registrar in Ipswich when he announced that he wanted to set up a Trauma and Orthopaedic Unit in Palawan.  The British Palawan Trust was set up as a charity in June 1990, with the Orthopaedic Consultants as Trustees.   The primary aim of the charity is to improve the medical care of the peoples of Palawan with special emphasis on orthopaedics and trauma.  The real work of the Trust started in 1992 when Soc and a container of equipment arrived in Palawan.

            The main driving force and organiser of the concept was, and still is Dr. Socrates or  'Soc' as he is called by everyone, who trained in medicine in The Philippines and has worked in the USA and Great Britain.    His surgical training was mainly in the UK and he worked as an Orthopaedic trainee in The Ipswich Hospital.    He has now built up an Orthopaedic Unit in the government hospital in Puerto Princesa the capital city of Palawan.   In addition he travels to outlying villages.   It has therefore become possible for the inhabitants of Palawan to receive their treatment for such conditions as fractures, bone infections, polio and congenital defects on the island and not rely on herbalists and "bonesetters” or fly to Manila at their own expense, as they did before The British Palawan Trust orthopaedic unit was set up.

Mrs Cecile Socrates is also very much involved following a six month study leave period in which she gained a post-graduate degree in Community Based Rehabilitation in Developing Countries from London University.  The result is the extensive Rehabilitation & Therapy Service based near the hospital but extending to many outlying areas.  In addition Mrs Socrates is the managerial and financial administrator of the Trust in Palawan.

The administration of the Trust is very simple.  In the UK, the Chairman runs it from the registered office and from his home. The donations come mainly from British doctors and are collected in Ipswich.   The result is that the money donated can be used directly for the expenses of patient treatment and for Dr. and Mrs. Socrates' living expenses. NewsLetters are sent to donors in the UK from Palawan on a regular basis. (Please request that you are on our list by sending your address to PalawanTrustUK@aol.com )

In Palawan we have set up a locally registered NGO (non-government organisation) called Bahatala Inc.   Bahatala is an acronym made up of the Tagalog words Bahay Hawak Tayo Lakad or in verbatim translation "House To Hold To Stand To Walk”.   There is a board of Directors who are local people plus the Chairman of the British Palawan Trust.    The money from the British Palawan Trust and from other partner organisations all goes through Bahatala Inc.

In addition a Training Centre was built with a donation from and Oil & Chemical company.  This has been named Bahay Sanay which means in Tagalog the House of Training or Exercise.   Soc and Cecile run training courses for doctors, nurses, village health workers and others.  In this way the message of Appropriate Orthopaedics is spread to others. 

Copies of Soc's book APPROPRIATE ORTHOPAEDICS can be obtained from the Chairman for a minimum suggested contribution of £25 to cover production cost and postage.  The Chairman also has brochures telling the story of the Trust.    See for the address.