After the first virtual commencement program for UP Manila graduates on September 6, it was the turn of its 934 first year students to be welcomed in the first virtual opening ceremony held on September 10, 2020 via Facebook. 

On this day, students of UP Manila’s nine colleges started attending remote classes that have been adopted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on March 16 and which will be adopted fully for the first semester of AY 2020-2021. 

In her message, UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla recalled that  UP Manila has been in the middle of many crises before, notably World War II during which time the university remained open together with PGH to treat injured patients.   This dedication to service continues during the COVID-19 pandemic with UP Manila’s swift and integrated response.

The UP Manila chancellor urged the students to embrace what the Oblation stands for, love of freedom and love of country. “Your UP education is an act of offering yourselves for the country, with its arms outstretched and pointing to the sky.”  She implored the students to be inspired by the Oblation to achieve scholarship and service to the nation.

As UP Manila starts classes under COVID-19, the UP Manila chancellor admits that it continues to be deeply affected as the lockdown brought confusion and disruptions to face to face classes and the health students’  clinical exposure. Yet, she believed that the conditions taught the university  to move forward, reinvent  ways of handling things, and come up with solutions. She admitted that the months of March to May were most difficult, with the PGH designated as COVID referral center and the colleges finding ways to make sure students would graduate. While all these were going on, the NIH was busy developing a local testing kit, preparing as a testing center, and leading the conduct of COVID-related studies with 237 researches in varying stages.

“We know from the beginning that we have to go on as we are resilient, life cannot stop but we hope this war will end soon. UPM is fortunate that even before the lockdown, it acquired a new online learning management system called Canvas, in addition to its university Virtual Learning Environment.” 

Addressing the new students, Dr. Ronnie Baticulon a PGH  consultant neurosurgeon, UP College of Medicine professor and writer, shared his struggles during his UP days starting in 2000 when he took the UPCAT  and as the eldest in a brood of five.

UP was his only hope of obtaining medical education as his family could not afford to send him to private schools. Being an Intarmed student facilitated his early completion of medicine that was further eased by scholarships, savings on his allowances, and serving as volunteer and tutor. 

“Gawin ninyo ang makakaya sa lahat ng pagkakataon kahit mahirap at imposible, kahit sa tingin ng iba hindi mo kaya, meron kang matutunan at ito ang magtutulak sa inyo para  sumubok muli.”

He exhorted the students to be aware of happenings in the country like the COVID crisis, PhilHealth controversy, Anti-Terrorism Law, and war on drugs that are affecting the lives and future of Filipinos. The Palanca award-winning writer stated that as the Health Sciences Center, UP Manila should value the worth of every life, its members should not be silent, and their voice is needed to demand change for the good of all.

“Hinahamon ko kayong maging magaling at marangal. Sa bawat pagkakataon, huwag kalimutang maging mabuti, dahil madaling maging magaling, mahirap maging mabuti at pinakasusubukin ang maging marangal sa lahat ng oras.”

Beatriz Dominique Caragay, Intarmed 2027 student, responded on behalf of the students. She rallied them to not be afraid and face every challenge with positivity, to dream, and to be strong and prepared to become relevant citizens. 

In the same program, eight Oblation Scholars were given certificates for being among the top 50 UPCAT qualifiers. UPM University Student Council Chair Prince Albert Turtogo introduced the organization and its officers.

CYNTHIA VILLLAMOR | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 16