15/07/2026
𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆
A forthcoming intimidation arose from the gathering of esteemed physicians with subdued expressions of vibrancy earlier at Sanctuario de La Salle. However, this foretells a promising potentiality that would enliven even the most timid ideals pondered to be reluctant.
The event commenced briefly with 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗮 𝗗. 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝘀, the Student Affairs Division Head, who capably served as the Master of Ceremonies. Customary formalities were succeeded by the delivery of the opening remarks by 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗘. 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿, the current Chair of the Medical Education Unit. Preempting the pulse of individualism, she mentioned an African proverb that perceives the long-term propensity of collaboration in forming the College of Medicine: "𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳, 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳." This marks the celebration of the collective efforts by those who share a common mission of educating future health practitioners.
Following the thematic prelude, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗚. 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘇, Chair of the Quality Assurance and Faculty Development Unit, introduced the event's inspirational speaker, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝗘. 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮, Medical Center Chief II of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital. In her address, Dr. Cerrada also equally emphasized that "𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘴," underscoring that no single physician can address the distinctive health needs of society. She further explained that "𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮," while specialists contribute the depth and precision necessary for complex care. Rejecting rivalry between disciplines, she affirmed that "𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺," where both generalists and specialists remain "𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵." Her message highlighted that a persistent synchronicity ignites healthcare excellence in unity.
The recognition ceremonies were graced by members of the University administration, including 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗢. 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗮, 𝗖𝗣𝗔, 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗣. 𝗨𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮, 𝗣𝗵𝗗, 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗲 𝗠. 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮, 𝗖𝗣𝗔, 𝗠𝗕𝗔, and 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗵 𝗔. 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼, who joined 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗿. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗟. 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗔. 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗻 in honoring the exceptional faculty members, associated partners, and student leaders.
Recognized former College Council officers and long-serving faculty leaders included 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗬𝘃𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗥. 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀, Dean (A.Y. 2022–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗠. 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮, Head, Section of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (A.Y. 2017–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗘. 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿, Head, Division of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics and Basic Nutrition (A.Y. 2011–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗜. 𝗘𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗼, Head, Section of Ophthalmology (A.Y. 2012–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗹 𝗩. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮, Head, Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.Y. 2016–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗟. 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗲, Head, Division of Human Physiology (A.Y. 2015–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗗. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗶 𝗝𝗿., Head, Section of Orthopedics (A.Y. 2017–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮. 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗥. 𝗟𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗺𝗮, Head, Section of Bioethics (A.Y. 2003–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗙. 𝗠𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗮, Head, Division of Family and Community Medicine, including Public Health, Preventive Medicine, and Health Economics (A.Y. 2016–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝘆𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗙. 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗹𝗶, Head, Division of Anatomy (A.Y. 2015–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗨. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆𝗿, Head, Division of Microbiology and Parasitology (A.Y. 2012–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗘. 𝗥𝗶𝗳𝗲, Head, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.Y. 2015–2026); 𝗗𝗿. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗗. 𝗧𝘂𝗹𝗺𝗼, Head, Division of Neuroscience (A.Y. 2005–2026); and 𝗗𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗼 𝗣. 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗿., Pioneer Faculty, Section of Ophthalmology (A.Y. 2002–2026). Their combined years of service stand as a testament to the continued growth of the USLS College of Medicine.
The ceremony also honored the College's valued institutional and community partners, including 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 (𝗖𝗟𝗠𝗠𝗥𝗛), 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗼 𝗢 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, and 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀' 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗜𝗻𝗰. as its clinical partner hospitals; the 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲, and 𝗚𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗱 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮 as community partners; 𝗗𝗿. 𝗝𝗮𝘆 𝗚. 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘆𝗮, Chair of the Program Advisory Council; and the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 officers of the 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 (President, 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮. 𝗔𝗻𝗮; Vice President, 𝗠𝗮. 𝗥𝗵𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼), 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗹 (President, 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗮; Internal Vice President, 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗻𝗮; External Vice President, 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝘂𝘇 𝗔𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿), and 𝗟𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗮 (Editor-in-Chief, 𝗝𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗿), in recognition of their leadership and invaluable contributions to the College community.
Presenting the College's educational reforms and newly appointed College Council officers, 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗿. 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗴 outlined the College's strategic direction to enhance educational quality and institutional advancement. He highlighted the College's pursuit of PAASCU accreditation, strengthened through a revised organizational structure featuring the Medical Education Unit, Quality Assurance and Faculty Development Unit, and Health Systems Science Unit. Dr. Ting also introduced the College's hybrid curriculum, anchored on the four pillars of Health Systems Sciences, Basic Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Bioethics and Research, alongside the 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮, which emphasizes human resource excellence, educational quality, academic innovation, research, and transformative growth. Reinforcing the College's dedication to holistic physician development, he reminded faculty that while physicians are often taught that "𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦," educators must instead embrace the principle that "𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦." He concluded with the reflection, "𝘛𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘰. 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳," stressing that meaningful medical education begins with educators who believe in their students.
Concluding the assembly, 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗻 reaffirmed the importance of solidarity and servant leadership, reminding the community that "𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺" while encouraging everyone to embody that spirit. Emphasizing that "𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦," he challenged faculty, partners, and students to continue becoming "𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨." The assembly concluded with the singing of the Alma Mater Hymn, followed by departmental pictorials and a fellowship lunch, commemorating a gathering centered on the enduring values that continue to shape future physicians and define the heart of medical education.
LCM || Jacqueline Edralin
LCM || Gillian Geraldoy
LCM || Elisha Pablico and Myles Geroche
