Photo by Joseph A. Bautista
Text by Angelou C. Mendoza

UP Manila College of Medicine faculty retirees posed for a picture after the tribute.

To celebrate and honor the dedication, legacy, and hard work over the years of the retired 15 faculty members and an administrative staff of the UP Manila College of Medicine, the College gave a heartfelt tribute and conducted the Faculty and Staff Recognition For Retirees last September 24, 2025 at the Henry Sy Sr. Medical Sciences Building, UPCM. 

Through this tribute, the retirees and their colleagues had a quick trip down memory lane, after which they expressed gratitude for their commitment all throughout the years of service – refining minds of future physicians while fostering growth, skills development, and excellence and administrative work making office operations efficient at the College.  

Dean Chiong delivered her opening remarks by acknowledging the retirees in their invaluable contributions to the field of medicine and in upholding the tripartite mission that the university stands for – teaching, research, and service. Followed by the speech of the UP Manila Chancellor Michael L. Tee, who expressed his genuine and sincere gratitude to the retirees, especially to those who were once his mentors who have been instrumental in molding the life-long learners in the academe and the inspiration who made many physicians and colleagues stay in the institution to further hone once expertise. The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Gerardo D. Legaspi conveyed his profound congratulations and appreciation to the retirees through his astounding performance playing his saxophone. 

The National Scientist, Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, delivered a special message for her fellow retirees while reminiscing the experiences and critical roles each had to fulfill during the COVID pandemic and acknowledging her colleagues and co-retirees, Dr. Edward HM. Wang and Dr. Olympia Ursula Q. Malanyaon for all their support and dedicated work during her administration in the University. Dr. Padilla ended her message with a reminder with her co-retirees to plan for the retirement, enjoy, relax, and embrace change in this new chapter of their lives. 

On behalf of his co-retirees, Dr. José Florencio F. Lapeña delivered his creative response presented through research on the thoughts and feelings on current retirement status using a quantitative analysis, which involved current engagements of the retirees and their new recreational activities. 

“When the sunset marks the evening of our lives, it heralds the moment of our lives when the day is through and when the night is due. And instead of looking forward, one inevitably looks back to reminisce and reflect. But to retire, as a good friend reminds us, can also mean to change tires and learn something new,” Dr. Lapeña shared.

Dr. Abner L. Chan, UPCM College Secretary, concluded the event by amplifying the contributions made by the 16 retirees over the years in the community and beyond this is the “ripple effect” of the legacy of excellence, compassion, and integrity they impart with the students, patients, and colleagues. Indeed, a work of heart. 

UPCM faculty retirees honored were: Arlene A. Samaniego (Department of Anatomy), Edgard M.Simon (Department of Anesthesiology), Benjamin Daniel S. Valera (Department of Anesthesiology), Jerry M. Obaldo (Department of Medicine), Wilfred G. Dee (Department of Medicine), Stella Marie L. Jose (Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology), Jose Manuel F. Ignacio (Department of Orthopedics), Edward H.M. Wang (Department of Orthopedics), Jose Florencio Jr. F. Lapeña (Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery), Olympia Q. Malanyaon (Department of Pediatrics), Carmencita D. Padilla (Department of Pediatrics), Edison T. Ty (Department of Pediatrics), Leticia T. Ibañez (Department of Physiology), Salvador Benjamin D. Vista (Department of Psychiatry), and Gerardo G. Germar (Department of Surgery) and UPCM administrative staff retiree was Generozo Z. Dela Paz.