IN FOCUS | Issue No. 2 | August-December 2020

NEWS
2
LOOK: Screenshots from the different activities during the
virtual celebration of CMT’s 52nd founding anniversary last
October 9-10, 2020, via Facebook Live.
CMT celebrates 52 years of “Excellence in Shaping the Nation’s Next
Generation of Medical Technologists”
n line with the 48th Philippine Association
of Medical Technologists,
Inc. (PAMET) celebration theme, “En-
Ihancing Competencies Developing
Philippine Laboratory Leaders”, the Trinity University
of Asia – College of Medical Technology
(TUA - CMT) held a two-day virtual celebration
of its 52nd Founding Anniversary via Facebook
Live on October 9 to 10, 2020 which involved
different activities in which students were able
to participate namely, TikTok Dance Craze,
COVIDart, Himig Handog, Vlog Contest, PHIS-
METS Facebook Live Raffle, and the first-ever
Virtual Mr. and Ms. Medical Technology.
Hosted by Arizfran Jose and Liebherr
Millen Claire Ombac both from the third-year level,
the first day of the celebration commenced with a
Thanksgiving Mass led by the University Chaplain,
Father Echanes Cadiogan. The college’s very own
dynamic dean, Dr. Maria Teresa T. Rodriguez, gave
her welcoming remarks shortly afterward. Dean
Rodriguez recounted significant events throughout
the college’s 52-year-long journey. She also
expressed her gratitude and recognized the commitment
of the officers of the Philippine Society
of Medical Technology Students (PHISMETS)
- TUA Chapter for making the event possible.
Starting with the Tiktok Dance Craze,
the competition showcased Tiktok videos created
by students which are related to the medical
technology profession. Abrina Abellon, of 1MT02,
was hailed as the champion and received the Faculty
Choice Award followed by Alfonso Luis Franco
of 3MT03, and Jace Anne Desca of 2MT02.
Next to this activity, the most participated
event which was the COVIDArt Contest was
conducted. In line with the 52nd PAMET Annual
Convention theme, 20 artists from different sections
created their digital and traditional masterpieces.
In the traditional art category, Ashley Dela
Cruz of 2MT02 and her artwork, “Through the
Lens, We Advance” prevailed. The CMT Faculty
Choice award was presented to Mardelene Alcantara
of 3MT01 for her traditional “Past the Colors”
artwork. In the digital category, Christina Faye
Valdez, of 3MT03, scored the highest number of
votes for her work entitled “The Unsung Heroes,”
which was also voted as the PHISMETS’ Choice.
Not long after, the Himig Handog Contest
started. The audience witnessed the performances
of Matt Rodriguez, Alliah Espinosa, Cyril Reyes, John
Torrefranca, and Gabriel De Castro from the Juniors
in their original piece, “Bukas” in accordance with
the themes “Thank You, Front-liners” and “Heal Our
Motherland,” which was held as the winner. “Sinagtala”,
which was composed and interpreted by Alexia
Francesca Magtibay, won second place followed
by “Ang Magiging Huling Awitin”, which was performed
by Justine Andrea Diaz and Majiro Emma
Rose Espra who were all from the second-year level.
During the Kahoot Quiz Bee, in which both
students and faculty members participated, Jasmine
A. Bacabac of 4MT01 was held as the overall champion
for the student edition, followed by the 1st and
2nd runners up Alexis M. Vicente of 2MT05 and Renato
C. Sebayo of 3MT04, respectively. Proving the
never-fading excellence of the faculty members, Mr.
Nathaniel Veron M. Casamina, RMT won the championship
title, followed by Mr. Jomar Adams Ganding,
RMT as 1st runner up, and Ms. Aila Nell Sarmiento,
RMT as the 2nd runner up
of the faculty edition.
The Online Facebook Raffle subsequently
took place, and winners were picked using an
online random name generator. Winners have won
both minor and major awards from the PHISMETS.
The Vlog Contest also witnessed the ingenuity of
students in vlog making, where three participants
produced short films related to the profession of
medical technology. With his vlog “A day in the life
of a medical technology student: Quarantine Edition,”
Joseph Michael Montero from 3MT03 bagged
first place, followed by Danielle Nicole Laspuña also
from 3MT03, and Cristina Victoria S. Lamadrid of
2MT01 s the second and third place respectively.
The first-ever online e-Stellar Pageant of
the college was the last event on the first day of the
celebration. The audience witnessed the candidates’
wits and skills. Minor and major awards were given
to the winners in both the female and male categories.
Among the candidates, Mr. Joseph Michael
Montero of 3MT03 and Ms. Kimberly De los Reyes
of 2MT02 shone the brightest as they were hailed
as Mr. and Ms. College of Medical Technology 2020.
To kick off the celebration’s second
day, E-Sports Tournament was held. Mobile games
like Mobile Legends and Call of Duty were played.
Students from different sections of the college
teamed up and fought with other teams for prizes.
The members of “Team Barurot”: Joaquin Garcia,
Jessie Paul Facelo, Jake Cadillo, Trevor Siwa, and
Alexis Vicente dominated the Mobile Legends tournament.
Meanwhile, the “Team Hyperion” made
up of Heather Descalzo, Kimberly De los Reyes,
Jenina Hiwatig, Shantelle Dimaano, and Patricia
Fresco, had their way to victory at the Call of Duty.
Subsequently, the first CMT Virtual
Homecoming was held with the theme ‘Thanksgiving
Celebration for the CMT Alumni Frontliners’.
Three college alumni who are continually
serving as front-liners were able to express
their experiences while they were still a Trinitian
Medical Technology student. The speakers, Ms.
Micheleen C. Sidamon, RMT, ASCP, Mr. Francis
Tyrrell T. Quillope, RMT, and Mr. Reynaldo S.
Padua, Jr., RMT, all shared their stories of success
to help encourage and empower students.
A recap of the activities from the beginning
of the Medical Technology Week was
presented as the celebration approaches the
end. It was accompanied by the awarding ceremony
in which all winners from various events
were honored. The success of this event lies
in the hard work and efforts of the officers of
PHISMETS and the team as a whole. In addition,
without the help and guidance of the PHISMETS
adviser, Mr. Nathaniel Veron M. Casamina, RMT,
ACSPi, the execution of the virtual celebration
would not have been as exceptional. The event
officially ended after he expressed his gratitude
to the students involved in the celebration.
The College of Medical Technology
consistently rises above all situations amid
the difficulties brought on by the pandemic
and the new standard. In this prosperous
virtual celebration, the college’s unrelenting
quality and versatility manifested itself.
CMT Alumni take part in first “Alumni ZOOMcoming”
by Jerico Mhar Bolaños
ommencing with the two-day
celebration of the College of
Medical Technology’s (CMT)
C52nd Founding Anniversary,
the college conducted its first Alumni
Homecoming with the theme “Thanksgiving
Celebration for the CMT Alumni
Frontliners”. The event allowed three
of the college’s alumni to feel nostalgic
and reminiscent of past experiences
at Trinity University of Asia (TUA) from
the years of honing and until now that
their lives are continuously flourishing.
Hosted by Zoe Natividad from
the second-year level, the program began
with a prayer led by Ms. Cristina D.
Coralde, RMT followed by the Philippine
National Anthem and the TUA Hymn.
The ever-supportive and passionate
dean of the college, Dr. Maria Teresa T.
Rodriguez, welcomed the attendees in
her opening remarks. Subsequently, the
introduction of Mr. Angelo Christian de
Guzman, RMT, to the speakers took place.
Ms. Sidamon ended her sharing
by stating: “As what Dean Rodriguez always
says, it (studying BS Medical Technology)
is not hard, it is challenging, but
then at the end, it’s rewarding. So, keep
studying, hold on, hang in there, you’ll
make it, you’ll get there. It’s very sweet
in the end, and it’s very rewarding.”
A Medical Technologist II of
the Department of Health’s Human Resource
for Health Program - Abra, and
the forthcoming President of the Philippine
Association of Medical Technologists
- Abra Chapter, Mr. Tyrrell T. Quillope,
RMT of the 2017 batch, expressed
his struggle to choose his program back
in 2012, at his hometown, which led him
to move to Manila and study at TUA.
He also expressed
his disappointment
on his
nearly-
Top 10 August 2017
Medical Techn-
ology
Board Examin-
ation,
finishing with a 0.4
by Fatima O. Concepcion
rating difference from the
10th student on the roster.
As a finishing message, Mr. Quillope
stated: “We are successful in our own
ways. Don’t let people or society tell you
that you need to be like this in order for
you to be successful. You need to find it in
yourself because you can be someone that
you want to be, and believe in yourself because,
at the end of the day, it’s just you.”
Mr. Reynaldo Sanchez Padua, Jr.,
RMT of the 2008 batch is the third and
the last speaker. He is currently a Laboratory
Technician-Generalist at Jabria,
Kuwait’s Hadi Clinic. When he was still
studying due to extracurricular activities,
he expressed his experience of having
poor time mana-
gement
and also came
to a
point of alm-
ost
failing and
experiencing
the
fear
of defeat
and
failure, but later overcame it
with bravery and defied the fall
and never enthralled failure.
Ending his sharing, Mr. Padua
said: “It is okay to question things sometimes.
It is okay to pause and breathe,
but after you pause and breathe, please
go back to the field (of Medical Laboratory
Science) and think that regardless
of what you were and are going through,
your faith will fuel your courage that
will help you find your true purpose.”
In culmination led by Dean Rodriguez,
a certificate of appreciation
was awarded to alumni guests and Asst.
Prof. Violie N. Bascao thanked all who
participated
in the event as
well as
the various
alumni
who, during
today’s
health crisis,
are
at the forefront
of community.
service.
Ms. Micheleen C. Sidamon, RMT,
ASCP of batch 2016, was the first speaker.
She is currently a Medical Laboratory
Scientist at Spring Valley Hospital of the
Valley Health System in Las Vegas, Nevada,
USA. Ms. Sidamon began her exchange
by introducing her daily routine to the
participants while attending her job and
touring them around her workspace. She
also shared one of her life’s most traumatic
moments, testing positive for COVID-19.
From Left to Right: Mr. Reynaldo S. Padua Jr., RMT,
Ms. Micheleen C. Sidamon, RMT, ASCP, and Mr. Francis Tyrell T. Quillope, RMT.