by JM Deblois
How was first year for you?
Well, med is hard. Mahirap mag adjust. Akala ko sobrang prepared na ko from college. It turns out na medicine is a whole different juggle. Napansin ko na ang kalaban ko eh - hindi siya kumpitensiya eh, kalaban mo sarili mo. Kumbaga kung paano ka magcocope. Kailangan mabilis ka magadapt, pag hindi na effective ang ginagawa mong way ng pagaaral, dapat palit agad. In terms of academics, okay naman ako. Normal na estudyante.
You are holding a position in your class right? Anong position yun?
Currently ang hold kong position ay First Year Externals Representative
So as an externals batch rep, you already have an idea what the externals committee is doing for the college right? What is that?
Well ngayon, sila yung naghahawak ng lahat ng external affairs. Halimbawa sa APMC, we represent the St. Luke’s sa APMC. Nagaattend kami ng lahat ng meetings, plannings, and events ng APMC. Syempre as a representative of the school, dala dala din naming ang ideals and best interests ng school.
Can you define for me the “ideals and best interests” of the school?
Ideals in a sense na since intermedical affair siya, doon nirerepresent namin yung school. Halimbawa, sa events ng APMC, we act professional, nagpapakita kami ng good work ethics. Ideals in a sense na “ganto makipagtrabaho ang isang Lukan Med Student”.
Best interest when it comes sa competitions na hineheld ng APMC, syempre dala dala naming kung ano yung demands and naisip ng mga nirerepresenta namin dito sa school.
What for you is APMC?
APMC is an alliance of medical schools in the Philippines represented by their student councils. I think andyan yung APMC to have events to engage and to have fellowship with fellow medical students and promote camaraderie and fellowship among medical students.
Basically what’s the aim then?
To unite.
Then in your one year stint as part of the Externals Committee of the Student Council, what do you think are the problems that APMC needs to address?
Siguro more interactive collaboration sa mga nagpaparticipate nating organizations. Kumbaga maestablish na natin ang endeavors na gusto naming mangyari way before [the event itself].
For regular students siguro, yung mga hindi naman kumakanta o sumasayaw sa MGMR, yung event na nagcacater for them would be the MSS. Dun may research, may quizbee. For that, siguro awareness ng students ang kailangan. Napansin ko na hindi aware yung mga students. Thus hindi lahat nagkakaroon ng interest.
So sa existing projects ng APMC: pagpapakilala and mas maagang information dissemination. For example in the externals committee, pwede na kaming magkaroon ng pre-teasers dito sa St. Luke’s para sa events ng APMC
How did you balance the amount of time that you have as a medical student and as a student leader? How did you adapt to that kind of schedule?
Well, definitely hindi ako magisa. Hindi ako superhero. Ang nagdrive sakin para magtuloy is my passion for the Lukan community and my passion to learn. Mahirap siya ijuggle pero in the end fulfilling siya, not for the self-worth or self-glory, but for the sake na may nagawa ka for the school. Kung nagkakasabay naman sa academics, nagawan ko siya ng paraan by time management and priority setting.
Hindi ako naniniwala pag sinasabi ng taong “wala akong time”. Depende lang yun kung ano pinaprioritize mo, at syempre dun niya ibibgay ang time niya. Unang una sa lahat, priority ko ay pagaaral. Kaya nga ako nagdoktor eh.
Sa mga times na parang kunyari feeling ko nahihirapan ako, may mga classmates naman kung saan nagpapatulong ako. Nakakatuwa eh wala namang tumatanggi! Kunwari hindi ko na magets yung lesson, papaturo ako sa kanila.
What compelled you to run despite of the awareness of the greater challenge before you come second year?
Sobrang aware ako sa bigger challenge ng second year. Pwede ko naman sabihin sa sarili ko na, pwede namang magaral na lang ako. Pero sabi ko nga nung una, bakit ko nga ba siya tinuloy nung unang beses? For me nakikita ko tong avenue for personal growth to expand my horizons. It is sort of a training for the future.
As cliché as it may sound, nagdoktor ako in the first place to serve others. By doing this, I’m serving the school and the student body.
Do you think that APMC can be much more?
I think so.
In what sense?
For now, hindi ko pa masabi, dahil kapapalit pa lang ng executive ng APMC ngayon. Siguro we will be having a more projects that will cater to the interests of wider scope ng students.
APMC in a way caters to the needs of the students. What do you think are the most important needs of the students right now?
I think how to cope up sa pagaaral. Training?
Training in what?
Training and preparing to be a professional. Each school has its own way of training. Sa school natin may part tayo on how to be a Lukan doctor to set us apart. Like in the “Introduction to the Medical Profession”, we talked about professionalism, how to deal with patients.
I.e. “the human side of the profession”.
Oo. kumbaga yung med, may mga matalino. Booksmart. Pero pag naging doctor ka na, hindi naman pwedeng nakakulong ka lang sa kweba. Meron siyang social element. Kumbaga may interaksyon ka, hindi pwedeng mawala. Sad to say, hindi lahat nacacater yun. Yung iba may kakulangan sa pakikisama.
How was first year for you?
Well, med is hard. Mahirap mag adjust. Akala ko sobrang prepared na ko from college. It turns out na medicine is a whole different juggle. Napansin ko na ang kalaban ko eh - hindi siya kumpitensiya eh, kalaban mo sarili mo. Kumbaga kung paano ka magcocope. Kailangan mabilis ka magadapt, pag hindi na effective ang ginagawa mong way ng pagaaral, dapat palit agad. In terms of academics, okay naman ako. Normal na estudyante.
You are holding a position in your class right? Anong position yun?
Currently ang hold kong position ay First Year Externals Representative
So as an externals batch rep, you already have an idea what the externals committee is doing for the college right? What is that?
Well ngayon, sila yung naghahawak ng lahat ng external affairs. Halimbawa sa APMC, we represent the St. Luke’s sa APMC. Nagaattend kami ng lahat ng meetings, plannings, and events ng APMC. Syempre as a representative of the school, dala dala din naming ang ideals and best interests ng school.
Can you define for me the “ideals and best interests” of the school?
Ideals in a sense na since intermedical affair siya, doon nirerepresent namin yung school. Halimbawa, sa events ng APMC, we act professional, nagpapakita kami ng good work ethics. Ideals in a sense na “ganto makipagtrabaho ang isang Lukan Med Student”.
Best interest when it comes sa competitions na hineheld ng APMC, syempre dala dala naming kung ano yung demands and naisip ng mga nirerepresenta namin dito sa school.
What for you is APMC?
APMC is an alliance of medical schools in the Philippines represented by their student councils. I think andyan yung APMC to have events to engage and to have fellowship with fellow medical students and promote camaraderie and fellowship among medical students.
Basically what’s the aim then?
To unite.
Then in your one year stint as part of the Externals Committee of the Student Council, what do you think are the problems that APMC needs to address?
Siguro more interactive collaboration sa mga nagpaparticipate nating organizations. Kumbaga maestablish na natin ang endeavors na gusto naming mangyari way before [the event itself].
For regular students siguro, yung mga hindi naman kumakanta o sumasayaw sa MGMR, yung event na nagcacater for them would be the MSS. Dun may research, may quizbee. For that, siguro awareness ng students ang kailangan. Napansin ko na hindi aware yung mga students. Thus hindi lahat nagkakaroon ng interest.
So sa existing projects ng APMC: pagpapakilala and mas maagang information dissemination. For example in the externals committee, pwede na kaming magkaroon ng pre-teasers dito sa St. Luke’s para sa events ng APMC
How did you balance the amount of time that you have as a medical student and as a student leader? How did you adapt to that kind of schedule?
Well, definitely hindi ako magisa. Hindi ako superhero. Ang nagdrive sakin para magtuloy is my passion for the Lukan community and my passion to learn. Mahirap siya ijuggle pero in the end fulfilling siya, not for the self-worth or self-glory, but for the sake na may nagawa ka for the school. Kung nagkakasabay naman sa academics, nagawan ko siya ng paraan by time management and priority setting.
Hindi ako naniniwala pag sinasabi ng taong “wala akong time”. Depende lang yun kung ano pinaprioritize mo, at syempre dun niya ibibgay ang time niya. Unang una sa lahat, priority ko ay pagaaral. Kaya nga ako nagdoktor eh.
Sa mga times na parang kunyari feeling ko nahihirapan ako, may mga classmates naman kung saan nagpapatulong ako. Nakakatuwa eh wala namang tumatanggi! Kunwari hindi ko na magets yung lesson, papaturo ako sa kanila.
What compelled you to run despite of the awareness of the greater challenge before you come second year?
Sobrang aware ako sa bigger challenge ng second year. Pwede ko naman sabihin sa sarili ko na, pwede namang magaral na lang ako. Pero sabi ko nga nung una, bakit ko nga ba siya tinuloy nung unang beses? For me nakikita ko tong avenue for personal growth to expand my horizons. It is sort of a training for the future.
As cliché as it may sound, nagdoktor ako in the first place to serve others. By doing this, I’m serving the school and the student body.
Do you think that APMC can be much more?
I think so.
In what sense?
For now, hindi ko pa masabi, dahil kapapalit pa lang ng executive ng APMC ngayon. Siguro we will be having a more projects that will cater to the interests of wider scope ng students.
APMC in a way caters to the needs of the students. What do you think are the most important needs of the students right now?
I think how to cope up sa pagaaral. Training?
Training in what?
Training and preparing to be a professional. Each school has its own way of training. Sa school natin may part tayo on how to be a Lukan doctor to set us apart. Like in the “Introduction to the Medical Profession”, we talked about professionalism, how to deal with patients.
I.e. “the human side of the profession”.
Oo. kumbaga yung med, may mga matalino. Booksmart. Pero pag naging doctor ka na, hindi naman pwedeng nakakulong ka lang sa kweba. Meron siyang social element. Kumbaga may interaksyon ka, hindi pwedeng mawala. Sad to say, hindi lahat nacacater yun. Yung iba may kakulangan sa pakikisama.
Can you say that, in your first year in SLCM, your training has been adequate? Academics-wise and professionalism-wise?
Diyan ko masasabing hindi ako nagkamali ng eskwelahang pinasukan. Puwera pagpapalakas, sa usapin lang naman ng edukasyon, hindi na kelngan patunayan ng St. Luke’s yun. Ang nagustuhan ko talaga na training ng eskwelahan natin ay tinuturuan pa rin tayo ng eskwelahan kung pano maging tao. Kung paano tayo dapat makisama ng tama, sa colleagues, sa patients. Kung paano tayo mag communicate. How to act professionally.
So in some way, since you’re saying that since you feel lucky that you’re here in St. Luke’s because of those things, the same cannot be said for other schools had you been in there?
Uhm. I guess.
Do you think?
I think so.
So as a representative of St. Luke’s College of Medicine to the APMC, what do you think is your role in disseminating Lukan values to our medical educational system through this organization?
Well, for me as a Lukan, we can show them the human side of being a doctor. For me, APMC is the biggest avenue to disseminate these values dahil siya yung umbrella organization ng lahat ng medical schools.
The concrete na pwedeng gawin is we can add siguro ng mga lectures, the same way that we do it here.
When you talk of medical school, doctors usually just give their lectures, and students answer the exams. That is not really how St. Luke’s wants to do it, because we’re trying to develop something more.
So in this discussion of values, we concede to the fact one thing: APMC is a student organization. So as a student organization, how can it provide a voice for the students who cannot speak out about the quality of their medical education?
Well we can have a committee like “student’s rights and welfare”.
Walang ganun ngayon sa APMC?
Hindi ko rin sure.
Please elaborate on the idea.
Like students rights and welfare. Halimbawa yung mga magcollect ng concerns ng students when it comes to their school. Like sa tingin nila may mali, or narerepress ang kanilang rights. Or kung may improvement sila na hindi nila maidiretso sa admin nila. So since student councils ng schools ang may hawak ng APMC, well we can be the voice.
Then what, will you submit that to the system of that particular school? Would you talk to the deans of the schools?
Uhm. Pwede. Pero I don’t think pwede siyang gawin ng ganun lang.
Bakit hindi siya pwedeng gawin ng ganun lang?
May kanya kanyang sistema na ang bawat school. Sino ba kami para magintrude?
Exactly. So you as a prospective future externals vice president of SLCM, do you think that APMC will have the political will to improve medical education in the country apart from its usual repertoire of events?
I think. We can. I’m staying positive. Siguro, we can work through. Marami pa po ako dapat malaman. Kung paano tumatakbo ang mga bagay sa loob. Kumbaga façade pa lang nakikita ko.
How was that façade?
Madaming nangyayari.
Finally, as a Lukan Doctor and as a Lukan Student, what do you think is the most important problem here in the student body? Do you know of any?
Siguro as EVP, since maliit lang tayo na eskwelahan, and as a growing school, we need to enhance more school spirit. I mean, school spirit in terms of, mas ipakita natin sa labas na parang this is “The Lukan brand”. Halimbawa, pag may activities, like palarong med, hindi natin maitatanggi na kulang na kulang sila sa suporta. We can work on that. We can work on motivating the students to support the school in such activities.
So being a leader takes its toll on people. How are you going to cope when times na pagod ka na?
Yes. Marami akong “black hole” moments! I have my family. I have my real friends. Depende yun sa end goal mo kasi. Syempre pahinga pa rin pag napapagod na. Iisipin mo na lang kasi kung bakit mo nga ba siya ginawa in the first place. Kumbaga kung mali yung goal mo, kung ang goal mo eh self-worth, wala akong patutunguhan nun. Lalo ko lang ilulugmok sarili ko.
If my goal is to serve the student body, ang magiging premyo ko lang dun is personal growth. Masasabi ko at the end of the finish line na si CJ ngayong March eh sobrang better nung June. So kinaya ko.
Diyan ko masasabing hindi ako nagkamali ng eskwelahang pinasukan. Puwera pagpapalakas, sa usapin lang naman ng edukasyon, hindi na kelngan patunayan ng St. Luke’s yun. Ang nagustuhan ko talaga na training ng eskwelahan natin ay tinuturuan pa rin tayo ng eskwelahan kung pano maging tao. Kung paano tayo dapat makisama ng tama, sa colleagues, sa patients. Kung paano tayo mag communicate. How to act professionally.
So in some way, since you’re saying that since you feel lucky that you’re here in St. Luke’s because of those things, the same cannot be said for other schools had you been in there?
Uhm. I guess.
Do you think?
I think so.
So as a representative of St. Luke’s College of Medicine to the APMC, what do you think is your role in disseminating Lukan values to our medical educational system through this organization?
Well, for me as a Lukan, we can show them the human side of being a doctor. For me, APMC is the biggest avenue to disseminate these values dahil siya yung umbrella organization ng lahat ng medical schools.
The concrete na pwedeng gawin is we can add siguro ng mga lectures, the same way that we do it here.
When you talk of medical school, doctors usually just give their lectures, and students answer the exams. That is not really how St. Luke’s wants to do it, because we’re trying to develop something more.
So in this discussion of values, we concede to the fact one thing: APMC is a student organization. So as a student organization, how can it provide a voice for the students who cannot speak out about the quality of their medical education?
Well we can have a committee like “student’s rights and welfare”.
Walang ganun ngayon sa APMC?
Hindi ko rin sure.
Please elaborate on the idea.
Like students rights and welfare. Halimbawa yung mga magcollect ng concerns ng students when it comes to their school. Like sa tingin nila may mali, or narerepress ang kanilang rights. Or kung may improvement sila na hindi nila maidiretso sa admin nila. So since student councils ng schools ang may hawak ng APMC, well we can be the voice.
Then what, will you submit that to the system of that particular school? Would you talk to the deans of the schools?
Uhm. Pwede. Pero I don’t think pwede siyang gawin ng ganun lang.
Bakit hindi siya pwedeng gawin ng ganun lang?
May kanya kanyang sistema na ang bawat school. Sino ba kami para magintrude?
Exactly. So you as a prospective future externals vice president of SLCM, do you think that APMC will have the political will to improve medical education in the country apart from its usual repertoire of events?
I think. We can. I’m staying positive. Siguro, we can work through. Marami pa po ako dapat malaman. Kung paano tumatakbo ang mga bagay sa loob. Kumbaga façade pa lang nakikita ko.
How was that façade?
Madaming nangyayari.
Finally, as a Lukan Doctor and as a Lukan Student, what do you think is the most important problem here in the student body? Do you know of any?
Siguro as EVP, since maliit lang tayo na eskwelahan, and as a growing school, we need to enhance more school spirit. I mean, school spirit in terms of, mas ipakita natin sa labas na parang this is “The Lukan brand”. Halimbawa, pag may activities, like palarong med, hindi natin maitatanggi na kulang na kulang sila sa suporta. We can work on that. We can work on motivating the students to support the school in such activities.
So being a leader takes its toll on people. How are you going to cope when times na pagod ka na?
Yes. Marami akong “black hole” moments! I have my family. I have my real friends. Depende yun sa end goal mo kasi. Syempre pahinga pa rin pag napapagod na. Iisipin mo na lang kasi kung bakit mo nga ba siya ginawa in the first place. Kumbaga kung mali yung goal mo, kung ang goal mo eh self-worth, wala akong patutunguhan nun. Lalo ko lang ilulugmok sarili ko.
If my goal is to serve the student body, ang magiging premyo ko lang dun is personal growth. Masasabi ko at the end of the finish line na si CJ ngayong March eh sobrang better nung June. So kinaya ko.
So if you have a vision for the school, ano yung vision na yun?
In terms of relationship between the admin and the students, wala na ko masasabi dun eh. Kaiba siya. Hindi sila yung admin na malayong abutin. Nagulat ako na ang dali nilang abutin which is a really good thing, we can say our thoughts and ideas to dean.
So my vision would be sana dumating yung time na every single student of this school will be proud, yung darating sa point na ipapangalandakan nila yung school. Gusto ko rin dumating sa point na pag tinanong sayo kung saan ka nagaaral eh alam nila kagad kung ano yung St. Luke’s College of Medicine, wala nang next question na “ay may med school pala yun”, or “ay bukas pa pala yun”.
Gusto ko makilala yung college APART from the hospital.
So in that sense, you want Lukans to have an identity, which sounds like the Lukan brand. Ano yung Lukan Brand para sayo?
Eto lagi ko nakukuha ko kina Dean: “thinking doctors with compassion”. Yung doctor given na na matalino yun. Iba yung compassion niya at pakikitungo niya with patients. Iba din kung ang endgoal niya makatulong, magpayaman, or para lang mafulfill ang pagnarap ng magulang niya or para sa sarili niya.
Naalala ko yung sinabi ko nun sa essay nung pumasok ako sa St. Luke’s, tulad ng theme ng open house noon yung “MD: Making a Difference”, kung ang goal mo is to make a difference, dun na papasok yun: we have compassion, yung gagalingan mo. You’ll make sure you give your best healthcare service to your patients, whether private man siya o S.S., sa colleagues mo, sa lahat ng nakakasalumuha mo.
Pag nakaputi ka dala dala mo pangalan ng St. Luke’s. Kumbaga kung ano mang gawin natin kahit hindi ka naman nakauniform, kung ano inaakto natin, dala mo ang pangalan ng school at makikita mo kung paano nila hinuhubog estudyante nila.
So we’ll be expecting you to carry that name for us?
Yes. Thank you!
In terms of relationship between the admin and the students, wala na ko masasabi dun eh. Kaiba siya. Hindi sila yung admin na malayong abutin. Nagulat ako na ang dali nilang abutin which is a really good thing, we can say our thoughts and ideas to dean.
So my vision would be sana dumating yung time na every single student of this school will be proud, yung darating sa point na ipapangalandakan nila yung school. Gusto ko rin dumating sa point na pag tinanong sayo kung saan ka nagaaral eh alam nila kagad kung ano yung St. Luke’s College of Medicine, wala nang next question na “ay may med school pala yun”, or “ay bukas pa pala yun”.
Gusto ko makilala yung college APART from the hospital.
So in that sense, you want Lukans to have an identity, which sounds like the Lukan brand. Ano yung Lukan Brand para sayo?
Eto lagi ko nakukuha ko kina Dean: “thinking doctors with compassion”. Yung doctor given na na matalino yun. Iba yung compassion niya at pakikitungo niya with patients. Iba din kung ang endgoal niya makatulong, magpayaman, or para lang mafulfill ang pagnarap ng magulang niya or para sa sarili niya.
Naalala ko yung sinabi ko nun sa essay nung pumasok ako sa St. Luke’s, tulad ng theme ng open house noon yung “MD: Making a Difference”, kung ang goal mo is to make a difference, dun na papasok yun: we have compassion, yung gagalingan mo. You’ll make sure you give your best healthcare service to your patients, whether private man siya o S.S., sa colleagues mo, sa lahat ng nakakasalumuha mo.
Pag nakaputi ka dala dala mo pangalan ng St. Luke’s. Kumbaga kung ano mang gawin natin kahit hindi ka naman nakauniform, kung ano inaakto natin, dala mo ang pangalan ng school at makikita mo kung paano nila hinuhubog estudyante nila.
So we’ll be expecting you to carry that name for us?
Yes. Thank you!