Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit
The College of Dentistry (CD) kicked off its 110th Anniversary Celebration with the theme “Legacy, Innovations, and Collaboration” during its Flag Raising Ceremony on February 3, 2025 at the CD Building Main Entrance. The event gathered guests, faculty members, staff, and students, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated CD Auditorium.
“Legacy is not measured by grand achievements but by the small steps that inspire others. For 110 years, we have provided the best dental treatment to patients—regardless of their socioeconomic status. Although the Universal Health Care Act was signed only a few years ago, [the] UP College of Dentistry and UP Manila have been practicing universal health care since 1915. Service is deeply ingrained in our institution,” asserted Dean Michelle S. Segarra in her welcome remarks.
The dean highlighted numerous recent achievements, including the participation of six international student exchange participants from Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Medical and Dental University) and Universiti Malaya, the graduation of 67 DDM students last semester, and CD’s exceptional results in the 2024 board exams. In the June 2024 licensure exams, UPCD graduates secured the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th places, while in the November and December 2024 board exams, they ranked 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 9th, achieving a 100% passing rate.
She also noted improvements in the Graduate Orthodontics Program’s graduation rate and mentioned that CD is now in its second year of implementing a patient-care-based clinical dental training program. Dean Segarra expressed optimism that, for the first time ever, the college will have the highest number of graduates completing their program on time.
Emphasizing UPCD’s robust international linkages, she announced plans to host an International Oral Health Summit featuring 14 international speakers, 9 partner universities, and representatives from 7 different countries. On the research front, efforts are underway to revive the Oral Health Research Study Group at the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, as part of the Center for Oral Health, the college is set to launch the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program this April, while collaborations with the Outpatient Department and the Department of Hospital Dentistry of the Philippine General Hospital continue to progress. She concluded by sharing that CD recently won 2nd place in the Bench Cheering Competition during the 21st National Dental Health Month.
“I was looking at the history of dentistry in the Philippines. It turns out that there are only twenty-seven dental colleges in the country. And sadly, as far as I know, UP is the only state university with dentistry. If the students don’t know, CHED has included dentistry as a priority course. That means CHED recognizes—and the DOH recognizes—that we do sorely lack dentists in the country,” said Vice Chancellor (VC) for Administration and Finance Johanna Patricia Adevoso-Cañal.
She emphasized that, in line with UP’s tradition of continuously pushing boundaries, this could be the right time to consider expanding the college’s carrying capacity, noting that the current number of 67 students may soon increase to 100 or even 120 in the coming years.
VC Adevoso-Cañal also encouraged the college to explore new programs, such as dental technology, and to strengthen collaborations in research—particularly in oncology, radiation oncology, and dentistry. Addressing faculty members involved in research, she urged them to coordinate with her, emphasizing the importance of providing students with more research opportunities.
Following the keynote address, Dr. Liza Sayoc-Natividad, a distinguished alumna from CD Class of 2000, delivered the closing remarks, reminiscing about her time as a student and expressing gratitude for the college.
“Fast forward to today, with so many new techniques and advancements in the field of dentistry, I still value the knowledge and skills instilled in me. I am forever thankful and grateful to the college that molded and honed me into who I am today—strong, resilient, and always in pursuit of excellence, a true mark of a scholar ng bayan. As scholars, it’s time to show our gratitude by giving back and honoring our college, living our legacy as we continue to fulfill our mission of bringing honor, service, and excellence in the field of dentistry.”
The event concluded with the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the newly renovated UPCD Auditorium, marking a milestone in the college’s continuous efforts to improve facilities for students and faculty.
The College of Dentistry was originally established as a department of the UP College of Medicine and Surgery on February 8, 1915.#
