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About Us
On April 15, 1997, the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM) Class of 1997 met for the last time – to march as a class, clad in their black and green togas, and receive their hard-earned diploma. No longer were they medical students after that memorable day. They were now bright-eyed young doctors ready to take on the medical world.
Before that day, though, they were bright-eyed medical students who stood in front of Lady Med before entering the hallowed halls of the college. Each one fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator, each one brimming with hopes and aspirations… and anxiety and fear.
In the 5 years of medical school, the uniqueness of each member of the class was brought to the fore. Some shone in academics, some in the arts, some in the service of others, and some in extra-curricular activities. No matter what it may be, they just shone. And brilliantly, at that, because each member had something to offer that made being a member of Class ‘97 9loriously fun and 7ruly special. Who else can lay claim to these memories but ‘97?
Suddenly breaking into a Bee Gees classic sung with beautiful harmony, sleeping discreetly while standing up, snoring resoundly during class, speaking with a Brit accent while delivering a report, perfectly recreating Tom Cruise’s visual in The Firm movie poster, cracking the class up with the greenest humor yet still appearing innocent Impromptu jams in between classes, clock time off for foodie trips around the Metro, coming in hungover but still managing to pass exams (some acing them, even), conjuring the darndest mnemonics, mesmerizing you with perfectly traced biochemical pathways, outshining every Lakambini there was, taking crazy pride over winning 3rd place in TRP, and shaking up a whole basic science department for an alleged “crime”.
After that memorable day, the class members went their separate ways. Most pursued their medical professions, some pursued careers in science, some in arts, and a few courageously took roads not chosen. Even as the members led separate lives, there’s always that invisible red thread that links us all as family. Each brought with them the class’ own brand of ‘9aling at 7alino’ – the perfect balance of brilliance and oddity. Years may pass but nothing can erase or surpass the shared memories that have become the foundation of Class ‘97’s enduring friendship and unity.
Activities
Content coming soon…
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CME
The Continuing Medical Education (CME) committee assembles learning activities, in line with the UPCM goal of promoting academic excellence and sharing this with the rest the local medical community and abroad. Delivered through in-person and virtual platforms, these activities cover a variety of relevant topics ranging from general, subspecialty and pandemic-related medical conditions to non-medical themes that have an impact on health care professional’s personal health and clinical practice. The committee organizes webinars, grand scientific symposia and postgraduate courses to animate these topics, delivered by top-notch speakers who are graduates of UPCM.
For the year 2021, the webinars, held every last thursday of the month at 12-1pm through the UPM-IMS platform, focus on wellness and prevention during the pandemic and beyond. Various organ systems and common conditions are highlighted from various specialties (ORL, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Adult Medicine/IDS, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics-Gynecology), underscoring basic treatment and practical ways on how to prevent its occurrence and maintain a status of well being. Here is a run down the webinar topics presented since April:
1. A HEARculean Task: A Call for Awareness of Hearing Disability (April 22, Dr. Erasmo Gonzalo Llanes)
2. Childhood Pneumonia for the Generalist: Must Know’s and Can Do’s (April 29, Dr. Ma. Cecilia Alinea)
3. Stress Management for MDs Amidst Covid Times (May 27, Dr. Carlo Banaag)
4. Multi-resistant Pathogens and Their Effect on Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Management (July 1, Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana)
5. All’s Well that Doesn’t Swell: Keeping up with Kidney Care (July 29, Dr. Arni Magdamo)
6. Sight Saving Month: Let’s See What EYE Can Do (The Epidemiology of Blurring of Vision) (August 26, Drs. Rainier Victor Covar, Arnel De Jesus and Jeanne Haidee Mah-Sadorra)
7. When the Bug Hits and the Drug Fits: Antibiotic Stewardship Amidst the Pandemic and Beyond (September 20, Dr. Cybele Abad)
8. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (November 25, Dr. Brenda Bautista-Zamora)
The postgraduate course for 2021 focuses on the Metabolic Syndrome which is a rapidly-growing public health concern in the recent years. Entitled “METabolic Syndrome: The Silent Pandemic,” the course aims to discuss the causes of the syndrome and its impact on overall health; underscore its various outcomes; discuss screening measures for its diagnosis; develop treatment strategies based on patient needs; and formulate preventive measures starting from early childhood to adult life. Topics include the epidemiology of metabolic syndrome in the global and local scene; general screening in primary health care; cardiac, endocrinology and gynecologic manifestations of the syndrome and their management; primary prevention through lifestyle modification and cutting edge treatment through bariatric surgery.
Our Sponsors
Art Gallery
Commemorative piece (Richard Buxani)
Samurai Warriors
Like the guardians of old, the samurai stand and keep watch over those that they serve and protect. They are ready to fight and to wage a war against the
enemy. Bravery, honor, kindness and loyalty are at the heart of the samurai spirit. One might ask if they still exist but in reality, they still do. They have not disappeared over time for they are among us — our modern heroes are the frontliners who bravely do battle with the unseen enemy, COVID19. The warrior spirit still lives on in them.
With what is happening in the world right now, it is quite appropriate that Class 1997 chose to showcase the samurai. These limited edition pieces embody what these fierce warriors stand for. Magnificent in their stance, they are definitely a conversation starter.
For the discerning collector, the samurai are also available in larger than life versions. Inquiries regarding these may be made directly to the artist.
Help us keep the samurai spirit alive, channel the warrior inside you.
Sculptures by Richard Buxani
Text by Dr Cecilia Franco-Cabrera
Oblation
“The completely nude figure of a young man with outstretched arms and open hands, with tilted head, closed eyes and parted lips murmuring a prayer, with breast forward in the act of offering himself..” was how the original artist, Guillermo Tolentino, described this artwork that has come to represent the University of the Philippines. It was inspired by the 2nd stanza of our national hero, Jose Rizal’s, poem – ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’. Meant to honor ‘unknown heroes who fell during the night’, it has since inspired countless future heroes from the University who answered the call of offering and sacrifice.
This concept of self-offering has been pushed front and center when the pandemic started in early 2020. Members of our class, UPCM 1997, have chosen different paths after graduating from medical school. But when the need arose, we all felt that call to step up and help out. Some of us served in the more obvious ‘frontlines’. Some are in policy-making and administration trying to charter a better course of action to protect more people. Some are in research and academe, educating and providing needed resources. The onset of the pandemic was a call to action that we all heard loud and clear. Our responses, varied they may be, reflected the Spirit of the Oblation.
This Oblation piece is created by Iloilo-based artist, Harry Mark Gonzales. Mr Gonzales was the Grand Prize Winner in the 2007 Metrobank Art and Design for Excellence National Competition in Sculpture. He has created some of Iloilo City’s most important landmarks and is known for his cold-cast marble sculptures.
Text by
Dr. Jennifer C. Liquido
UPCM Class ’97
Sculpture
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Paghilom Gallery
Day to day.
In the health profession, keeping record is essential. We listen to stories, process the information and write the relevant facts. We scrutinize the physical form for flaws and divergence. We use different tools to help define the equivocal angles. We draw anatomy and figures to make clear for ourselves what the problem is. We strive to piece together details to create a coherent account that would scale down the many possibilities to a few and perhaps even to one. This is our craft.
Day to day.
Patients tell us their stories, anxious and uncertain. Patients disrobe under unforgiving lights, embarrassed and uncomfortable. Patients get poked, prodded and positioned, compliant but bewildered. Patients need to be clear on what is happening to them. Patients hold on to every word they hear, numbed with thoughts of how they would be restored to their normal selves. This is their struggle.
Day to day.
Together. We both pause and reflect on what to say and how to convey. We weigh our words carefully. We make connections. We both feel. Pain, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Above it all, it is in these expressions that we pave our collective way to healing. Hilom.
This is our art. Together.
It is a journey to transform, from weakness to strength. A human being is greater than any illness, even in dying.
Attempting to capture our craft, struggles and ultimately, the myriad of evoked feelings towards healing are unique pieces of art created by local artists.
UPCM Class 1997 is proud to support our artists and showcase their individual works of art. Discover and welcome into your homes the works borne from our artists’ own enduring process of honing their skills to channel their perfectly heartfelt thoughts and emotions.
Proceeds from these sales is also for the benefit of (Proceeds from these sales will be granted to select beneficiaries).
Text by:
Dr. Donna Isabel G. San Diego- Capili
UPCM Class ’97
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Merchandise
In the midst of Covid-19 pandemic, Rommel, a New York based artist painted 10 artworks. They are a mix of water color art and acrylic art in water color paper and canvas. His inspiration is the thousands of medical and healthcare frontliners risking their own lives to save the lives of millions battling the disease.
Known for his modern art, Rommel painted colorful strokes in palettes of orange, pinks and blues. Framed in hot pink and yellow backgrounds are the frontliner characters wearing PPE’s. These subjects are holding covid vaccines, smiling despite this very challenging and unprecendented healthcare war against this covid-19 nasty virus. To share his creation to more people, he exclusively converted these artworks to wearable art – shirts, bags and tapestries for UP College of Medicine Class 1997 who will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 2022.
Rommel aims to motivate, inspire and pay respect to these heroes who give hope to everyone.
Wearable Art by Rommel Rico
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For any inquiries, email us
upcmbatch1997@gmail.com