UP Medics August-November 2018 Issue

Four MD-PhD and 20 Cum Laude Students Lead 2018 UP College of
Medicine Graduation ...
Continued from page 1
respectively.
Dean Dr. Agnes Dominguez-Mejia and
Philippine General Hospital Director Dr.
Gerardo D. Legaspi presented the medical
graduates and clinical interns, respectively,
to UP Chancellor Dr. Carmencita David-
Padilla. Chancellor Padilla then formally
conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine
and declared their completion of internship.
Dr. Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr. delivered the
Commencement Address. His message and
challenge to the newest Filipino graduates
was met with inspired hearts. “What can
your GWA of 1.25 say about you if your
moral GWA is a murky 3.0,” he wittily
remarked.
This was followed by capping, hooding,
and awarding of diplomas and certificates
of internship to the graduates.
Dr. Marie Abigail Rivera Lim took top
honors as class valedictorian, the Most
Outstanding Medical Graduate, and
DUAL DEGREE: Dr. Jonnel B. Poblete represents the first batch of MD-PhD graduates
as he petitions for the conferment of the degree of MD-PhD to Chancellor Padilla. Photo
courtesy of Markyn Kho (Class 2020)
College of Medicine Family Gathers
for Dean’s Sendoff ...
Continued from page 3
stage to perform an a cappella arrangement
of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” while Mr.
Milan invited the dean to a short dance. The
choir closed the program as they led the Awit
ng Kolehiyo and UP Naming Mahal.
Planning for the event took more than
a month with the guidance of Dr. Mejia,
said head organizer Dr. Ruzanne Caro.
The musical performers were invited
by Dr. Melfred Hernandez from the
Otorhinolaryngology Department.
Dr. Mejia was the 16th dean of the College
of Medicine, and had served the college for
two terms, from 2012 to 2018. Her leadership
recipient of the Dr. Augusto A. Camara
Awardee for Academic Excellence in
Medicine. Dr. Ma. Sergia Fatima Papiona
Sucaldito followed as class salutatorian,
and Dr. Krizia Joy Ang Co was the third
ranked graduate.
The rest of the top ten include: 4th place
Dr. Michelle Ann Sua Lao, 5th place Dr.
Judith Charmaine E. Rosette, 6th place Dr.
John Vincent Usita Magalong, 7th place Dr.
Julian David Paulino Cabrera, 8th place
Dr. Marvin Manuel Mangulabnan, 9th
place Dr. Erickah Mary Therese Ranit Dy,
and 10th place Dr. Riza Paula Macalma
Labagnoy.
Other cum laude graduates include: Dr.
Joshua Vincent Hedriana Baroña, Dr. Roan
Eireen Lontok Buenaventura, Dr. Vernon
Ang Chuabio, Dr. Kaiser Marr De Guzman
Cruz, Dr. Jose Mario Coliflores Espino, Dr.
Jonathan IV Jallorina Macatiag, Dr. Ella
Mae Inoferio Masamayor, Dr. Rosa Fides
Goño Mina, Dr. Eleanor Beatriz Calderon
facilitated the shifting of the academic
calendar from June-March to August-May,
the construction of the Academic Center,
and various reforms. Among these were the
18-month process of revising the admission
policy, the shift towards an outcome-based
curriculum, and the reallocation of the
incremental tuition fund for remuneration of
previously uncompensated faculty.
She is bound to be succeeded by Dr.
Chiong, a head and neck surgeon and director
of the Philippine National Ear Institute and
the Newborn Hearing Reference Center,
beating co-nominees Dr. Crisostomo and
Dr. José Florencio Lapeña, Jr. in the selection
process.
Ragasa, and Dr. Aina Fe Roldan Salem.
Dr. Ruby Anne Natividad King,
PhD, Dr. Bobbie Marie Murillo Santos,
PhD, Dr. Jonnel Bernal Poblete, PhD,
and Dr. Fresthel Monica Marqueses
Climacosa, PhD constitute the first batch
of graduates under the MD-PhD program.
Dr. Climacosa also received the Dr.
Adolfo B. Bellosillo Academic Excellence
Award and the PCHRD Award for Most
Outstanding MD-PhD Dissertation for
her dissertation entitled “Development
and Characterization of Microbe-binding
Peptides for Opsonization of Microbial
Contaminants”.
Five MD-PhD students of UPCM
received their certificates of internship
from the Philippine General Hospital and
will graduate with the degree of Doctor
of Medicine - Doctor of Philosophy
in Molecular Medicine in 2020 upon
completion of their research dissertation:
Dr. Criselda Jean Goh Cruz, Dr. Maria Isabel
Canlas Idolor, Dr. Ana Joy Paulino Padua,
Dr. Joyce Ann Hernandez Robles, and Dr.
Angelo Augusto Mendoza Sumalde.
Postgraduate interns from 27 medical
schools also received their certificates of
internship from the Philippine General
Hospital.
The Most Outstanding Intern is Dr.
Marvin Manuel Mangulabnan. The
following students rounded out the top ten
Outstanding Interns: 2nd place Dr. Marie
Abigail Rivera Lim, 3rd place Dr. Ma.
Sergia Fatima Papiona Sucaldito, 4th place
Dr. John Vincent Usita Magalong, 5th place
Dr. Josephine Edulian Mina, 6th place
Dr. Kurl Jamora (DLSHI), 7th place Dr.
Antonette Mariama Ramos Bilog, 8th place
Dr. Jonathan Jallorina Macatiag IV, 9th
place Dr. Kiko Antuerfia Cortez, and 10th
place Dr. Ron Michael Labador Castillo.
Diplomas were awarded to the
graduates of Master’s and Doctor of
Philosophy programs.
Maria Rowena Garcia Alde and
Maureen Salas Landicho received their
Master of Science in Clinical Audiology.
Daffodil Mahusay Canson, Christian
Deo Torrequemada Deguit, Patrick Gabriel
Gavila Moreno, and John Sylvester Brusola
Nas received their Master of Science in
Biochemistry.
Dr. Tomas Dumagpi Bautista, Dr. Eva
Ilagan Bautista, and Dr. Namnama Paraso
Villarta-De Dios received their Master of
Science in Clinical Epidemiology.
Dr. Graciel Mae Rodrigo Canoy and
Danalyn Romo Echem received their
Master of Science in Genetic Counselling.
Martin-Luther Castillo Topico, Atty.
Reno Regalado Gonzales Jr., and Dr. Rosel
Jonathan Santos Vitor II received their
Master of Science in Health Informatics
(Medical Informatics), Bioethics, and
Physiology respectively.
Dr. Ursela Guce Bigol and Dr. Leana
Rich De Mesa Herrera received their Doctor
of Philosophy in Biochemistry.
There were two faculty awardees. Dr.
Jose Leonard R. Pascual V of the Department
of Anatomy took the UPMASA Missouri-
Southern Illinois Chapter Outstanding
Medical Teacher in the Basic Sciences
Award, while Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno of the
Department of Pharmacology received
the corresponding award for the Clinical
Sciences.
Other student awardees were Dr. Ana
Pholyn Arazo Balahadia and Dr. Harjoland
Lim Obenieta receiving the Sir Hugh
Greenwood Outstanding in Community
Service Award, Dr. Jonnel B. Poblete
receiving the Oreta-Dizon-Santos-Ocampo
Research Award, Dr. Charles Michael T.
Herrera receiving the UPMAS Leadership
Award, and Dr. Mark Jason Dela Cruz
Milan receiving the Eusebio S. Garcia-Class
’36 Leadership Award.
In closing the program, Dean Chiong
led the graduates in swearing the Oath
of Hippocrates, and PGH Director Dr.
Gerardo Legaspi gave the closing remarks.
For the challenge of loyalty and service
to the Filipino people, Dr. Charles Herrera
accepted it on behalf of his classmates.
Class 2018 was then joined by UP
Medchoir in singing their Tao Rin Palawinning
piece “Huling Awit”, followed
by the PGH Hymn, Awit ng Kolehiyo, and
finally UP Naming Mahal.
UPCM Welcomes Class 2023 in
Freshman Orientation Program ...
Continued from page 3
beginning with the Hoopers, followed by
Knife Throwers, Clowns, Fire Breathers,
Acrobats and Magicians. The incoming
freshmen showcased their talents in
singing, dancing, and acting, inspired by
the circus theme assigned to their teams.
Medicine Student Council (MSC) Chair
Leandro Salazar, FOP Co-head Isabel
Fernando, and 2022 Class President Rani
Domingo served as judges.
To give the judges time to deliberate
after the team performances, UPCM
organizations and the Class 2022 band came
onstage to give their own performances.
Everyone was entertained with song
medleys, dancing, and poetry-reading.
Class 2022 also entertained the audience
with their video “This is Med”, a parody
of Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest”,
which highlighted the highs and lows of
medicine and the medical profession. The
program ended with the awarding of the
team performances. The Acrobats took first
first place for their funky dance routine, with
the Fire Breathers and the Magicians as the
first- and second-runner ups respectively.
The Street Party commenced afterwards,
where the different organizations had
Members of UPCM 2023 showcased their talents in the group performances. Photo
courtesy of JC Tesorero, Renren Barroga, Rani Domingo, Leandro Salazar, Isabelle Alberto,
Kino Sevilla, Sichuan Rayco (Class 2022), and Viv Josol (Class 2024)
prepared unique games and prizes. It was
a great way to cap off a night of fun and
entertainment.
The ultimate highlight of The Grand
Carousel -- the Culmination Night entitled
“The Final Act” -- was held last August 17,
2018, at Patio de Manila, Malate, Manila.
The night kicked off with two short games
to get everyone in the mood to party. The
short program ended with the awarding
of the team winners and buddy pairs from
the different FOP tasks and activities given
over the past two weeks. The Fire Breathers
emerged as overall champions, and in
second and third place were the Acrobats
and the Hoopers. Once the program ended,
the members of Class 2023 along with Class
2022 partied and danced the night away,
wrapping up a successful FOP 2018.
The Final Act officially closed this
year’s Freshman Orientation Program
and marked the end of the recruitment
lockout season, allowing different college
organizations, fraternities, and sororities
to hold events and launch projects within
UPCM for the upcoming academic year.