By Cyrus A. Natividad
Commencement Speaker Dr. Adriano Subaon encouraged the graduates to “help others in need.”
The CPU College of Medicine held its 17th Commencement Exercises on July 2023, Sunday at the Rose Memorial Auditorium. It was attended by parents, guests, Members of the Board of Trustees and CPU Corporation; University Officials led by CPU President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles; VP for Finance and Administration Dr. Florence P. Bogacia, VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio, VP for Student Affairs Dr. Esther Rose Romarate; other unit heads, Deans, Faculty and Staff. Also present was Iloilo Mission Hospital and Former Chairman of the CPU Board of Trustees Dr. Elmer Q. Pedregosa. CPU Alumni Association President Atty. Jeremy Bionat and some members of the CPUAAI Board of Trustees also attended.
In his Words of Welcome, Dr. Robles acknowledged the Guest Speaker, Dr. Adriano Subaon, CPU Dean Dr. Henry Gonzales and Associate Dean Diadem Pearl Equiña. He thanked the parents for their support of their students’ journey in education. Dr. Robles inspired the Graduates of Medicine as he enumerated the achievements and performance of Central Philippine University, beginning with the number of enrolees – inclusive of all units of education this year: “The more than fifteen thousand of them have shown the trust and confidence of the parents to CPU.” He also mentioned the inclusion of the CPU to the Southeast Asia and World University Rankings.
On the other hand, the seven-story building to be constructed for the College of Medicine “is part of his legacy of excellence.” Robles added that “the efforts that the administration is doing in order to graduate excellent Doctors is deeply appreciated.”
Dr. Pedregosa recognized the persistence of the ‘Doctors to be’ with the hard times during the pandemic. He said that “this graduation ceremony is a celebration of the milestone-where your courage was shown with pride and dignity in becoming a Doctor.” Coming up next, he said, “is moving up to internship, then the Licensure Exam, going to residency training, specialization; pursue a career and getting a job among others. They have to go with the Mission and Vision of Excel.”
College of Medicine Dean Henry Gonzales introduced the Guest Speaker. Dr. Adriano Subaan is the Regional Director of the Department of Health, Region 6. Prior to his position as Regional Director, Dr. Subaan has been assigned to several public and private medical locations all over the Philippines. He reminisced his childhood in the poor communities in Mindanao and the ‘urban jungle’ of Manila; his engagement with patients in the hospital service – resulting to his decision to serve the people; the disadvantaged, particularly those in the underprivileged areas of assignment. Before his visa was approved for the job abroad, he stayed put and said, “What’s the use of working abroad when the need is here?” He said, “This burning passion inside me was the beginning of my journey in medical service to my people.”
He encouraged the graduates to “Bloom where you are planted.” Furthermore, quoting the famous Mother Teresa who served the poor and the sick in Calcutta, India he said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in helping others.”