Championing Hope for Psoriasis in the Philippines and Beyond

Scott — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:06:20 +0000

Philippines · Patient Advocacy

Josef De Guzman: Championing Hope for Psoriasis in the Philippines and Beyond

CEO & Founder, Psoriasis Philippines (PsorPhil / Psoriasis Philippines Inc.)

A personal journey transformed into a nationwide movement for awareness, access, and community.

In the world of health advocacy, there are individuals whose personal journeys become the cornerstone of a mission that reaches far beyond themselves. Josefino “Josef” De Guzman is one such leader. As CEO and founder of Psoriasis Philippines (PsorPhil / Psoriasis Philippines Inc.), De Guzman has become a driving force in elevating awareness, improving care, and uniting communities around the challenges of psoriatic disease in the Philippines and across Asia-Pacific.

Guiding idea:
A personal diagnosis can power a collective transformation—when patients are seen, heard, and organized.

See the Advocacy in Motion

Community outreach, education, and support—in action:

Video credit: Source on YouTube (not owned by us).
Watch on YouTube

Early Life and the Spark of Change

Josef De Guzman’s path was shaped by the very condition he would later champion. In 1996, while serving in a leadership role at a multinational company in the Philippines, he experienced a severe outbreak of psoriasis that dramatically altered the trajectory of his life. What may have seemed at first a deeply personal health crisis soon transformed into purpose: he resolved to devote his energy to patients like himself.

That turning point led him to quit his corporate role and dedicate himself to advocacy, education, and community-building around psoriatic disease.

Founding Psoriasis Philippines (PsorPhil)

In 2005, De Guzman took a modest but vital first step: he formed PsorPhil, initially as an online support group for Filipinos living with psoriasis. In time, this digital community evolved into a formal non-profit organization known today as Psoriasis Philippines Inc., with over fifty chapters across the country.

Under his leadership as CEO, PsorPhil has fostered peer support, education programs, advocacy for better treatment access, and national campaigns to reduce stigma. De Guzman has also been key in mentoring other nation-level patient groups and helping them organize in regions without strong local structures. The impact of what began as an online group has rippled outward: PsorPhil today is recognized as one of the leading advocacy organizations in the region, bridging patients, clinicians, policy bodies, and international networks.

Regional and Global Reach: Beyond Philippine Borders

While PsorPhil remains his anchor, Josef De Guzman’s influence extends far beyond campaign banners. Recognizing that many countries in Asia lacked structured patient advocacy for psoriatic disease, he founded PsorAsiaPacific (the Asia-Pacific regional member of the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations) and PSorAsiaMD, a network of physicians in the region passionate about psoriatic disease. He has mentored emerging patient organizations in other nations, helping grassroots advocates launch their own chapters, campaigns, and alliances.

Beyond that, De Guzman has represented patient voices globally. He has delivered lectures, participated in international medical congresses across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and structured advocacy programs at multi-national forums. One of his most significant advocacy victories came in 2013, when he was part of the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations’ (IFPA) team that lobbied at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. Their efforts culminated in the adoption of a formal Psoriasis Resolution by the WHA in 2014—which formalized recognition of psoriasis as a public health issue worldwide.

Today, Josef holds critical leadership roles in global psoriasis advocacy. He serves as Treasurer of IFPA, Chair of the World Psoriasis Day Steering Committee, and continues as CEO of Psoriasis Philippines.

Driving Focus Areas: Awareness, Access, and Training

1) Public awareness & destigmatization

Accurate, empathetic education through events, social campaigns, and community engagements.

2) Access to treatment & policy

Collaboration with policymakers, regulators, and clinicians to expand equitable care.

3) Capacity building & training

Programs for non-dermatologist clinicians and primary care to recognize, refer, and manage psoriasis.

Challenges Faced and Resilience

Leadership in health advocacy is rarely smooth. De Guzman has navigated institutional inertia, funding constraints, public misconceptions, and the difficulties of scaling a grassroots movement in a diverse archipelagic nation. One key challenge is battling fragmented health delivery systems and uneven resources across urban and rural areas; many patients live far from specialists, making access—and in particular, to newer therapies—a logistical and policy battle.

Another persistent hurdle is stigma and lack of visibility. Many patients hesitate to raise their voices or even seek treatment due to shame, fear of discrimination, or being dismissed by others. De Guzman’s work emphasizes lifting those voices and turning distress into public dialogue. Through partnerships, volunteer mobilization, and cross-border collaboration, he has helped scale PsorPhil from a small online forum to a national movement with global connections.

Recognition, Legacy, and Future Vision

De Guzman’s contributions have earned recognition in patient advocacy circles at home and abroad. His legacy already includes a vibrant national network of chapters, regional mentorship and capacity-building, successful global advocacy for policy recognition, and a stronger public understanding of psoriatic disease.

Looking ahead, he aims to deepen research support, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and partnerships with government, academia, and private sectors. He is committed to equitable access to advanced therapies, expanding telehealth for remote communities, and ensuring psoriatic disease remains central in national NCD agendas.

Lessons and Inspiration

What makes Josef De Guzman’s story compelling is more than his accomplishments—it’s the transformation of personal adversity into collective empowerment. His journey offers enduring lessons: experience can fuel advocacy; start small, think big; bridge patient and clinical worlds; and persist amid obstacles. For Filipinos with psoriasis, he symbolizes hope, solidarity, and a persistent voice. For global health, he proves that patient-driven leadership can steer systemic change.

Support Psoriasis Advocacy in the Philippines

Connect with patient communities, learn, and help expand equitable access to care.

Visit PsorPhil →

Disclaimer: We highlight inspiring humanitarian and advocacy initiatives like this to encourage awareness and positive action.
Please do your own due diligence before providing any assistance or support to ensure your contributions reach legitimate and verified causes.

How You Can Tap into More of God’s Power Everyday

Scott — Fri, 31 May 2024 02:27:01 +0000

I love the story about the little boy playing in the sandbox. There was a big rock in the sandbox that was inhibiting his fun. He tried to roll it out of the box, but it was too big and too heavy for him to push it out. In frustration, he began to cry.

His dad witnessed the whole thing and said to his tearful son, “Why don’t you use all your strength?” The little boy responded through his sobs, “I did use all my strength, Daddy!” To which his dad replied, “No, you didn’t … because you didn’t ask me for help.”

How much are we like that little boy sometimes? How often do we attempt to move the obstacles in our path without seeking first the Lord and calling on His name? The end result is always the same. We end up angry, frustrated, tearful, and dejected over our inability to solve the problem.

How to Turn Fragile Faith into a Firm Foundation of Trust

Scott — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 04:07:15 +0000

When I was a kid, my dad taught me how to build a house of cards. It was fun to see how far I could go before the rickety structure came tumbling down. Everyone knows a house of cards can easily collapse with the slightest bit of pressure.

As I talk with Christians today, I discover many of them have a faith that’s a lot like a house of cards. It doesn’t take much adversity to knock them down. Obviously, God does not want us to have a fragile faith. He wants us to have a firm foundation, a house built on the Rock that can withstand the storms and pressures of life. He wants us to have faith in His promises even when we don’t see them—to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Good News – In Christ, Trust