Conceived in 2008 as part of the fraternity’s flagship projects for its seventy-fifth anniversary, Diamonds in the Rough (DITR) aims to recognize the unsung heroes in the medical field today – the outstanding young doctors serving the depressed, neglected and far-flung communities across the country. This is in line with the college's commitment to ‘community-oriented medical education, directed especially for the underserved’, and our own fraternity’s mission to ‘serve as a bastion of excellence in rendering service to humanity, with Filipinos foremost.’

With the widespread diaspora of medical practitioners, the fraternity thought it fitting to acknowledge and reward the excellent doctors who bucked the trend and chose to stay in the service of their countrymen in most need of care. As project chair and then Standard Bearer Alvin Anastacio put it, “It takes a special kind of dedication to one’s calling as a doctor to give up the promise of personal comfort and profit in the spirit of true service. These are the people who most deserve recognition in the medical field.”

The nomination period ran from August to December 2008. With the help of partners including the Rotary Club of Paco, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Department of Health and media organizations, the DITR secretariat received more than 100 nominations from all across the country. Nominees must be aged 40 years and below and currently practicing in an underserved area for at least five years. In highlighting young doctors, it is hoped the chosen Diamonds in the Rough serve as role models for today’s youth.

The criteria for judging included the doctor’s over-all impact on the community where he/she chose to serve and his/her personal contributions to the health and well-being of the community which includes empowerment of the community, scope and length of service. The panel of judges was headed by former DOH Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan and included U.P. Manila Chancellor Dr. Ramon L. Arcadio, DOH Health Human Resource and Development Bureau Director Dr. Kenneth Ronquillo, Philippine Medical Association Vice President Dr. Oscar Tinio, former Mayor and Galing Pook Executive Director Dr. Eddie Dorotan, and DSWD Undersecretary Alicia Bala.

One each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were chosen. In fitting ceremonies held on March 3, 2009 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, Drs. Vietrez Panganiban David-Abella from Luzon, Mennie Cabacang from Visayas, and Afdal Kunting from Mindanao were recognized as this year’s Diamonds in the Rough

Luzon awardee Dr. Vietrez Panganiban David-Abella is an Intarmed graduate and an NKTI-trained general surgeon who has served rural Virac, Catanduanes for 11 years. Visayas winner Dr. Mennie P. Cabacang, a board-certified midwife and nurse and graduate of the UP School of Health Sciences, is the Municipal Health Officer of Maslog, Eastern Samar and the only doctor practicing in the area. Mindanao winner Dr. Afdal B. Kunting is the District Health Officer of Sangali, Zamboanga City and a faculty member at his alma mater, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University School of Medicine

The doctors received P100,000 in cash and another P100,000 allotted for sustainable health projects for their communities of origin.