By Mikee Natinga Norico
Volunteers—including Batch 2015 alumni, Dean Dr. Henry Gonzales, and Associate Dean Dr. Diadem Pearl Equiña—pose for a group photo following the day-long on-campus mission.
In a heartfelt return to their alma mater, the College of Medicine (ColMed) Batch 2015 alumni of Central Philippine University (CPU) spearheaded Pag-Ulikid, an in-campus medical mission held at the CPU Junior High School Gymnasium on April 26, 2025, in celebration of their 10th anniversary. The initiative was organized in partnership with the ColMed Student Council and the Community Engagement and Service-Learning (CESL) office, aiming to provide much-needed medical assistance to the communities adopted by CPU.
“One major concern is access to consultations—and the fact that many people can’t afford them,” said Mike Angelo Dolinog, Vice Governor of the Medicine Student Council. “It is very important to be knowledgeable about your health status because there are many non-communicable diseases, and they are a rising concern. This is why we opted to conduct [Pag-Ulikid], especially in areas like these.
Dolinog further emphasized that the mission embodies the College of Medicine’s guiding principle, “Magaling na Doktor, Mabuting Doktor,” showcasing both excellence and compassion in service.
The medical mission provided a wide range of services, including consultations in ear, nose, and throat (ENT), pediatrics, nutrition, and obstetrics-gynecology (OB/GYN), alongside free ultrasounds and medicines. A total of 26 alumni doctors from different specialties such as internal medicine, OB/GYN, family medicine, pediatrics, ENT, surgery, and radiology participated in the mission.
The College of Medicine Student Council gathers for a group photo after the successful Pag-Ulikid Medical Mission held at the CPU Junior High School Gymnasium.
Through a carefully organized system, 98 clients from the communities of San Isidro, Tabuc Suba, Bito-on, and Lanit in Jaro, as well as CPU’s own security guards and working students, availed of the services. Clients underwent random blood sugar testing, history taking, and physical examinations before being referred to specialists according to their needs.
Among the most common health concerns identified were hypertension, diabetes, and various OB/GYN conditions such as amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding.
Beyond providing healthcare, Pag-Ulikid also offered a vital learning experience for CPU’s medical students. First-year students, many of whom had not yet participated in field missions, worked alongside upperclassmen and alumni who provided mentorship throughout the day.
“This project not only helped others but also benefited us, the medical students,” shared John Jayson Dael Dalona, College of Medicine Student Council Governor. “The Batch 2015 alumni were generous in mentoring our students during consultations, helping them develop skills that can only be gained through experience.”
The mission’s success highlights CPU’s broader goals in community engagement—promoting student growth through service, developing socially responsible graduates, and building stronger community ties.
Despite the success, organizers faced challenges, particularly in mobilizing community members due to the ongoing election campaigns that limited barangay manpower. To overcome this, medical students personally distributed brochures in nearby neighborhoods to encourage participation.
Funding for the mission, including the procurement of free medicines, was secured through contributions from CESL, Batch 2015 alumni, and private sponsors. Feedback from clients was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their gratitude for the free services and newly discovered awareness of their health status.
Looking ahead, Pag-Ulikid will be endorsed to the next set of Medicine Student Council officers. Plans are also in place to encourage future alumni batches to take part in sustaining this project.
Additionally, the council’s Advocacy and Partnership Committee, led by Ivy Marie Pilatan, is preparing for more outreach initiatives such as Project Heart on Track, a community-based hypertension screening and health education program set to continue on May 30 and 31.
Despite a week packed with examinations and academic demands, medical student volunteers from Batch Invicti Mentis devoted their time to serve—an act of compassion that embodied the true spirit of CPU’s College of Medicine.
Through initiatives like Pag-Ulikid, the spirit of service, mentorship, and excellence continues to thrive among CPU’s future physicians, inspired by those who have walked the path before them.