The Caduceus 2014-2015 Issue

The Official Student Publication of the Cebu Institute of Medicine

27 PHYSICIAN WITH AN ART

1 THE CADUCEUS

SECTIONS

ABOUT THE COVER

Art by Claire AdevaCover art description by Vergil Dominic Sanchez

Despite all the things that make each individual different from the next one, a defining aspect unites them. Success brings together a cup of different minds, a pinch of different ideals, and a dash of different talents.

Here in CIM, you find a hodgepodge of talent, personality, and skill. However, we are bound together by our vision of a common goal. Despite differences, we focus instead on our similarities. Even when we’ve just started out, even when the world is on our shoulders, there’s always someone who’s willing and ready to share the load. May it be Vertex, Spectra, Asterion, Cistron, or batches from decades ago, we are united as one CIM family.

Having said all this, and in relation to our cover art, we’d like to hand out a reminder to all CIM medical students. We are headed towards our ultimate passion: that we may bear in our hearts the rod of Asclepius,the mark of a doctor, and heal with our words and actions those who need it the most.

What’s yourstory?Write anything. Talk to us.

facebook.com/CIMTheCaduceus

[email protected]

3 CURRENT EVENTS

11 CIM ORGANIZATIONS

13 CASE IN FOCUS

15 CIM PULSE

19 MEZZANINE MATTERS

25 BARD IN THE WARD

thecaduceusmagazine.blogspot.com

THE CADUCEUS 2

EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

ASSOCIATE EDITOR:

CIRCULATIONS AND MANAGING EDITOR:

NEWS EDITOR AND LAYOUT EDITOR:

FEATURES EDITOR:

PHOTO JOURNALIST:

PHOTO EDITOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER:

ED BOARD CONSULTANT:

STAFF:

Dena Mae Amor Desabille

Janellie Blithe Tam

Elizabeth Hernani

Hans Matthew Lua

Elizabeth Alyanna Wagas

Bede Joseph Ilano

Joseph Clefil Suerte

Vergil Dominic Sanchez

Henry Yu, M.D.

Claire Adeva

Dorothy Joy Bacomo

Frances Mae Gumapon

Bede Joseph Ilano

Vergil Dominic Sanchez

Brice Serquiña

Alexis Eirene Suarez

Clarence Aaron Sy

Glenn Marlon Tiu

EDITOR’S NOTE

We write because you exist.

Early this school year, The Caduceus Online (www.thecaduceusmagazine.blogspot.com) was launched. Our objective was to create a collective outlet for stories written by CIM students, in the hopes of increasing awareness and participation in our family.

This printed edition is a tangible keeper of the events that transpired in CIM for the academic year 2014-2015. Aside from the current events, we are hoping that articles in the Mezzanine Matters section would pique your interest. Be inspired with our Man in Focus, as well as the various awardees from the PLE 2014 to the Medlympics. Take some comic relief (pun intended) in the Physician with an Art section, and read opinions from our schoolmates in the CIM Pulse Section.

We are The Caduceus. Our symbol is the staff of Hermes, the messenger of the gods. In the same way, we bring a resounding message of one CIM, united.

It has been our pleasure to write for and about you, Cebu Institute of Medicine.

Yours in truth and reason,

Dena Mae Amor Naingue DesabilleEditor-in-Chief, The Caduceus

3 THE CADUCEUS

CIM Sportsfest 2014: Pad to Playground

Mr. and Ms. CIM 2014

C U R R E N T E V E N T S

The students of Cebu Institute of Medicine closed their books and opened the playing fields to practice sportsmanship and camaraderie during the CIM Sportsfest 2014, with the theme; “Pad to Playground: Promoting Health Through Technology and Sports” last August 23, 2014. The said event was hosted by Batch Spectra.

The games ranged from parlor games like Catch the Dragon’s Tail and Minute-To-Win-It mini games to ball games such as volleyball and basketball. There was also the most awaited search for Mr. and Ms. CIM whose winners will represent the school in this year’s Medlympics.

The overall champion for this year’s Sportsfest was the third year Batch Asterion. The new Mr. CIM is Albert Ian Villegas of Batch Spectra and the new Ms. CIM was Clarice Elaine Radoc of Batch Vertex. The dance contest champion was Spectra Flow.

This was yet another evidence that CIM students not only excel in academics but also in sports; that in celebration of camaraderie and school spirit, medical students will not hesitate to leave their highlighters behind and play some ball!

(Left) This year’s Sportsfest’s Over-all Champion: Batch Asterion, (Right) Dance Contest Champions: Spectra Flow

CIM-SSC Holds First General Elections

August 5, 2014 - Written by Zuriele Arambulo of Batch Spectra

August 11, 2014 - Written by Hans Matthew Lua of Batch Asterion

With the ratification of its new constitution, the Cebu Institute Medicine - Supreme Student Council (CIM-SCC), along with the CIM – SCC COMELEC, held its first ever student body general elections on July 24, 2014.

The general elections saw new student council officers chosen by the whole student body for the first time in CIM’s history. Before the passing of the its new constitution, the CIM – SCC has traditionally selected new student council officers by way of closed representative elections among the student officers of each batch and students interested to run for a position. With the new constitution, the CIM – SCC has changed the election process to that of general elections wherein all students are given the opportunity to vote for their new leaders.

“This gives the students a chance to be more involved in school affairs” says Vincent Rodriguez, a 3rd year student. “I believe that this is a good way of giving the students a say in their education.”

The elections were overseen by the CIM – SCC COMELEC and were held at the Main Social Hall. Designated times were given for each


THE CADUCEUS 4


the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years to vote. Voters were asked to bring their library card or school I.D. for proper identification. Numbered ballots were then given to each voter and they were given allocated seats for them to fill-up the ballots. The completed ballots were then given to the COMELEC officers for tallying.

Of the 501 students enrolled for the academic year 2014-2015, there was a total ballot count of 297, with 29 invalid ballots.Stacey Kaye Militante, a 3rd year student who ran for a position of President, says: “It gives the students the chance to know who they are selecting as their Student Council officers, since in the past, the students didn’t really know who their Student Council officers were due to the way the elections were held. This also gives them the means to elect those who they think can best serve them as their new student leaders.”

This is indeed a historic event in the Cebu Institute of Medicine, and hopefully the newly elected student leaders will be able to serve their fellow students to the best of their abilities.

Official Number of Votes of the SSC A.Y. 2014-2015:

President: Stacey Kaye N. Militante (257 votes)

VP Internal: Kiara Natalie B. Roble (252 votes)

VP External: Elizabeth E. Hernani (249 votes)

Secretary: Kathleen Joyce C. Del Carmen (253 votes)

Treasurer: Withunan Sriamporn (254 votes)

Auditor: Kathleen Charisse P. Raynes (252 votes)

PIO: John Mar D. Dangane (246 votes)

CIM Wins Third Place in 8th PNHRS Student Research Category -

Oral PresentationAugust 12, 2014 - Written by Elizabeth Grace Alcazar of Batch Asterion

The 8th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration was held in Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu City from August 12 to 14, 2014. This year’s theme was “Research and Innovation in Health for Disaster and Emergency Management”. The 8th PNHRS Research Contest Oral Presentation for the Undergraduate Category was held on August 12, 2014

The Winners of the 8th PNHRS Research Contest Oral Presentation

as part of the 8 parallel sessions of the day.

Two out of six contenders in the said event were from CIM. The research presented by Geraldine Cercado from the Cebu Institute of Medicine entitled “Antidevelopmental Effects of Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush) Leaf Extract on the

Early Development of Tripneustes gratilla L. (Sea Urchin) Embryos” took home the third place award. Another research presented by Elizabeth Grace Alcazar entitled “Mangosteen Extract, A Comparable Anti-angiogenic Substance to Bevacizumab on Duck Chorioallantoic Membrane” made it to the list of finalists.

5 THE CADUCEUS

C U R R E N T E V E N T S C U R R E N T E V E N T S

CIM Tops the August 2014 Physician Licensure Exam

September 6, 2014 - Written by Vergil Dominic Sanchez of Batch Spectra

Cebu Institute of Medicine is again the top performing school with Batch Syncytia’s 100% passing rate in the recently concluded August 2014 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE). This marks the eighth consecutive year for CIM’s 100% passing rate in the PLE.

Batch Syncytia also produced two topnotchers: Raymund Martin Sia Li (Top 1) and Debbie Rose Tanengsy (Top 5). Li garnered a board rating of 89.58, while Debbie Rose Uy Tanengsy garnered a board rating of 89.17.

The long hours of studying and reviewing for the exam were paid for in full by the examinees, with the guidance of esteemed doctors who took time in their busy schedules to hold small group discussions for the final courses and cases. Batch Syncytia proved that they not only gave more for their success, they also earned it in every possible way.

Raymund Martin Sia Li Debbie Rose Uy Tanengsy

The research presented by Sheri-ah Laine M. de Paz, from the University of the Philippines-Manila (UPM), entitled “Not All Taua-Tauas Are Alike: A Morphological, Molecular, Genetic, Phytochemical, and Anti-thrombocytopenic Profiling of Different Euphorbia hirta Linn. Plants from the Philippines” won 1st place while

Jonnel Poblete, also from UPM, with the research entitled “Nephroprotective Effects of Cogon (Imperata cylindrica) Root Aqueous Extract on Sprague-Dawley Rats with Gentamicin-induced Acute Kidney Injury” garnered second place. Cash prizes and plaques were awarded to the winners in the fellowship dinner later that evening. CIMPHONY

graced the said fellowship dinner attended by esteemed guests of honor from different institutions of the country (DOH, DOST, and PGH, to name a few) by singing the invocation song “Light of a Million Mornings” and the Lupang Hinirang.

CIM Batch Synctia

PLE 2014 100% Passing Rate

Top 1 : Raymond Li

Top 2 : Debbie Tanengsy

THE CADUCEUS 6


Merienda Cena en Cebu: The Public Health Heart

In celebration of its 4th founding anniversary, CIM’s school choir Cimphony organized the first-ever Merienda cena en Cebu in cooperation with the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes. The event was held on September 8, 2014 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the conference room of Mcdonald’s Jones. There were 35 medical students in attendance, from CIM and from SWU-MHAMCM.

Public health issues and opportunities were the main topics of the merienda cena, with Dr. Lester Sam A. Geroy of the WHO Cebu City Field Office and Dr. Grace Fe Buquiran, Executive Assistant of the DOH Undersecretary of Health Gako. The said speakers presented to the participants the Philippine current health statistics and situation such as:

The Philippines is now classified by the ASEAN as a low middle income country, in lieu of being called as a developing country. However, efforts are now focused on making the country a high incomecountry by 2025.

Student Leaders from CIM and SWU-MHAMCM with the speakers

September 8, 2014 - Written by Dena Mae Amor N. Desabille of Batch Spectra

The top diseases in our country are the non-communicable diseases (such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer), HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.

The health care sector is focused on enhancing the health facilities of the country.

A trend of brain gain is now observed in the country,, instead of brain drain that started in 1986 (Martial Law era).

There are also plans to improve the quality of health care in the country, such as: ASEAN integration, more local and national investment in health, more funds from tobacco taxes, PhilHealth covering more people and benefits, an interconnected health information system, further regulation of medicine prices, and Philippine foreign policy and institution on international health aid, among others.

It was emphasized in the talks that the public health heart of idealism, adventure, and community service are

needed by our country. Public health doctors look beyond the patient’s disease, integrating the roles of the family, community, and different health systems in the prevention and the cure of disease. The essence of public health lies in the provision of the best possible service, with meager resources. Contrary to popular belief, there are numerous opportunities in public health such as research, mental health, public health law, health informatics, and health systems.

Dr. Buquiran asked a resonating question; “Instead of asking, why don’t you make a stand?”

Instead of complaining about the quality of health care in our country as an outsider, why don’t we help improve the system from the inside out as a physician with a heart?

7 THE CADUCEUS


CIM Wins First Prize in Oratorical CompetitionSeptember 24, 2014 - Written by Dena Mae Amor Desabille of Batch Spectra

Dr. Melfer Montoya (second from left) and Christopher Co (third from left) with members of the

Cebu Medical Society.

CIM was awarded the First Prize in the Oratorical Competition of the 57th Annual Medicine Week with the theme “Kapit Bisig para sa Pagbabago... sa PMA at sa Bayan” and with Cebu Medical Society’s sub-theme “Harmony and Unity in Diversity.” The event was held earlier today at the CMS Building in Banilad.

CIM’s Representative was Mr. Christopher Co of Batch Spectra. The contestants were tasked to talk about the topic: “The Effectiveness of Either Traditional Teaching Method of Instruction in Medical School Versus Problem-based Learning from a Student’s Point of View.”

Other winners were medical student representatives from University of the Visayas (2nd prize), Southwestern University (3rd prize), and Cebu Doctors University (4th prize).

The Road Less Traveled ByOctober 8, 2014 - Elizabeth Hernani of Batch Asterion

The Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) hosted a forum on public health entitled, “The Road Less Traveled By,” on October 8, 2014. Four alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (Ermita, Manila) were the principal speakers. The two-hour event was divided into three parts: a chronological narrative of the speakers’ journey leading to a career in public health, including the qualifications and skills essential in the field; and the health situation in the Philippines and its current challenges.

Dr. Katherine Ann V. Reyes (Batch 2005), founding member, Executive Director of the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes, Inc. (AIHO), independent consultant and adjunct faculty member in the UP Open University, represented the private sector involved in providing health services.

Essentially, her talk emphasized the role of doctors as managers of human health resources.

Dr. Michael S. Caampued (Batch 2010), Municipal Health Officer of Polillo, Quezon, squared on idealism, voluntarism, initiative. Since obtaining his physician’s license and his subsequent installment in the local government unit, he had authored numerous ordinances, policies, and other papers. His deep understanding of health systems, governance and financing enabled him to effect important changes in Polillo.

Dr. Katerina N. Abiertas (Batch 2008), first doctor and Municipal Health Officer in Zumarraga, Western Samar, was formerly part of the Doctors to the Barrio program. Through her efforts, a total transformation of the health situation of her hometown was realized. She became an active proponent of One Island, One Sea Ambulance, among other projects. Of all aspects in public health, her talk stressed the value of understanding health financing and governance.

Dr. Lester Sam A. Geroy (Batch 2005), founding member of AIHO and team leader of the World Health Organization Cebu Field Office, facilitated the forum.

For the first time in many years, the CIM-SSC organized such activity intended to increase awareness and participation of the students and faculty members in societal issues.

CIM Participates in the TOWNS Second Young Women Leaders’ ForumNovember 19, 2014 - Written by Dena Mae Amor Desabille of Batch Spectra

Cebu Institute of Medicine was invited to participate in the Second Young Women Leaders’ Forum, organized by The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Foundation Inc. Eleven young women from CIM attended the event held earlier today from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Tourism and Hotel Management Hall Auditorium.

This year’s theme; “Women Responding to Disaster: Conversations with TOWNS 2013 Awardees” featured talks by some of the awardees who excelled in their respective fields

Participants from CIM with TOWNS awardees

THE CADUCEUS 8


CIM’s Annual Recognition Ceremony

Cebu Institute of Medicine held its annual mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Main Social Hall. It was followed by the annual recognition of students who excelled

and on how their expertise could contribute to enhancing the efficiency of response during disasters, namely:

1) Ana Karina de Leon Brown for Sports who talked about staying fit physically and mentally

2) Noraida Adang Abdullah Karim for Social Work who shared her experiences in organizing the communities of internally displaced persons

3) Dr. Ma. Amihan Ramolete for Theatre Arts who imparted her knowledge about coping with disaster through creative expression

4) Ma. Rachelle R. Gerodias for Performing Arts who sang and spoke about surviving with music-making

5) Dr. Maricor N. Soriano for Applied Physics who gave tips on do-it-yourself gadgets in times of disaster

The activity was sponsored by the Metrobank Foundation. Its ultimate goal was to inspire and to empower young women in taking the lead for nation building and improving the status of our country.

academically, the PLE 2014 topnotchers, the faculty members who served CIM for 25 and 59 years, as well as this year’s Most Outstanding CIM Alumni (MOCA) awardee.Our heartfelt congratulations goes out to all our achievers. It is our privilege to rub elbows with you and more importantly, to study medicine from and with you.

Here is a rundown of last year’s awardees:

December 8, 2014 Written by Dena Mae Amor Desabille of Batch Spectra

Entrance Scholars, A.Y. 2013-2014

MAGNA CUM LAUDE: Gorme, M., Masorong, A., Mayol, L., Pableo, E., Tan, J., and Maglinte, B.

CUM LAUDE: Atay, L., Barluado, N., Calingacion, A., Canete, M., Cortes, R., Cu, D., Digamon, E., Dongallo, J., Doro, H., Duray, F., Gantuangco, J., Gulay, J., Habajab, V., Jaranilla, Y., Micarandayo, K., Nacita, E., Ohata, A., Perez, R., Pinpin, K., Salang, E., Suerte, J., Tamsi, L., Villacarlos, D., Yanong, R., Yarra, M., and Yecyec, J.

Recipients for Educational Grants, A.Y. 2013-2014

1st year: Lisondra, E.; 2nd year: Dinoy, E., Soco, M.; 3rd year: Cercado, G., Tejam, C., Luzano, J.; 4th year: Bonghanoy, A., Rabor, J., and Fabiola, J.

Excellence in the Study of Anatomy, A.Y. 2013-2014

(From R-L in photo, from Rank 9 to 1): Mirhan, C., Kuizon, B., Co, C., Co, J., Po, M., Maningo, J., Osmena, K., Ong, A., and Zanoria, M.

Arts Month at CIMMarch 27, 2015 - Liza Agpawa of Batch Spectra

February was declared as the National Arts Month under Presidential Proclamation 683 since 1991. As ambassador of the arts, Cimphony, Cebu Institute of Medicine’s chorale, spearheaded the first ever National Arts Month culmination in CIM held at the Main Social Hall last March 3, 2015. With the theme “Art in healing”, medical students showcased their skills and talents in music, dance, poetry and visual art. Cimphony opened the event with Ryan Cayabyab’s “Limang Dipang Tao” which won them as best in contest piece during the Medgroove, Medrhythmia 2015. It was also a timely opportunity to showcase CIM’s representatives for the dancesport competition of this year’s Medlympics. The event was graced by an intimate number of students who answered to the call of art.

There was also an arts exhibit that run from March 3 – 6, 2015 at the school’s lobby. It featured works of CIM’s artists such as paintings and sketches of varied media, photography prints, and poetry.

The theme was inspired by the desire to promote holistic growth among medical students of which they are not only trained to be physicians with a heart but also as physicians with the art.

Cimphony is grateful being able to finally make this event possible and hopes to make it an annual fest.

9 THE CADUCEUS


50 Years Service Awardees


Top Students in Basic Biochemical Science, A.Y. 2013-2014

(From R-L in photo, from Rank 6 to 1): Osmena, K., Kuizon, B., Maningo, J., Po, M., Ong, A., and Zanoria, M.

Top Students in Integrated Clincal Science I, A.Y. 2013-2014

Rank 1: Mondido, S., (not in photo) Rank 2: Yano, M.

Top Students in Integrated Clincal Science II, A.Y. 2013-2014

(From R-L in photo, from Rank 1 to 8): Borromeo, K., Lucero, K., Tan, P., Bonghanoy, Ad., Cheng, K., Varquez, C., Quijano, J., and Rabor, J.

College Scholars (Top 2 Students Per Year Level)

(From R-L in photo): Romero, P., Lucero, K., Borromeo, K., Mondido S., Yanong, R., Perez, R., Ong, A., and Zanoria, M., (not in photo): Yano, M.

PLE 2014 Topnotchers

(Guy in red): PLE 2014 Top 1: Raymund Li, (not in photo) PLE 2014 Top 5: Debbie Tanengsy


Dr. Rudy A. Amatong (in white coat) and Dr. Kenneth S. Chan (in blue polo)


Dr. Gloria C. Bacay, Dr. Paz L. Lim, Dr. Virginia P. Mesola, and Dr. Virginia S. Paradela

Most Outstanding CIM Alumnus 2014

Dr. Amado M. Layno Jr.


THE CADUCEUS 10


CIM Students’ Night 2014: Blood Moon

The supernatural beings rose from the underworld for a gathering unlike any other. This year’s CIM Students’ Night with the theme “Blood Moon: A Night of Shadows and Folklore” held last December 3, 2014 at the Oakridge Pavilion, Banilad, Mandaue City was especially organized by Batch Asterion.

It was well-attended by the different batches: Vertex, Spectra, and Asterion. Highlights of the event included Warsong of Sirens, Thread of Gold, and the awards given to the best dressed attendees.

December 3, 2014


11 THE CADUCEUS

C I M O R G A N I Z A T I O N S C I M O R G A N I Z A T I O N S

Written by Janellie Blithe Tam of Batch Vertex

It is a common stereotype among medical students to have no life outside medicine, but for us in CIM, it will remain just that, a simple generalization that does not hold any truth. In the Cebu Institute of Medicine, every student is regarded as a valued entity whose intelligence goes forth beyond the four walls of the classroom and outside the vicinity of the school building. Just because we are studying medicine, it does not mean that being smart is only limited to the concepts of medical knowledge, and CIM has delivered that well through the different organizations it has allowed its students to handle and be part of.

The CIM student organizations include Alpha Mu Sigma Phi (AMSP), Total Outreach for Community Health (T.O.R.C.H.), Cimphony, and The Caduceus. To start with, AMSP and T.O.R.C.H. are both organizations of brotherhood and sisterhood with the vision of service and altruism.

Cimphony, on the other hand, is the renowned choir of the school, while The Caduceus is the official school publication.

What better way to acquire a closer look on each one than through the eyes of those who are not just part of the said organizations, but of the leaders themselves. AMSP is represented by its Most Illustrious Brother, Mitchell Arabia; T.O.R.C.H. by its Brotherhood President, Glenn Tiu; Cimphony by its President, Bede Ilano; and The Caduceus by its Editor-in-Chief, Dena Desabille. I asked them a few questions which they willingly answered despite their busy schedules, and I have been endowed with the honor of sharing their words for the awareness of the whole student body of their existence and vision.

1. How does your organization help in molding CIM students to become true physicians with a heart?

Mitchell (AMSP): Alpha Mu Sigma Phi helps mold the CIM students to become true physicians with a heart by acting as a role model and guide for the students. Moreover, it provides the students a second family where the spirit of brotherhood emanates as the influence of selfless service expected of a true physician with a heart.

Glenn (T.O.R.C.H.): T.O.R.C.H. has always stood for community involvement and professional development. These are done through outreach, special projects that can serve those in need, and teach our members various skills (e.g. circumcision, other minor surgeries, tutorials) for each individual’s journey on becoming a “Physician With A Heart!”

Bede (Cimphony): Cimphony teaches one how to work together with a diverse group of individuals toward a common and enjoyable goal. In our case, it is

CIM Organizations: A CLOSER LOOK

THE CADUCEUS 12

C I M O R G A N I Z A T I O N S

to bring beautiful music to people and patients alike.

Dena (The Caduceus): In its role as the official student publication of CIM, The Caduceus essentially creates and strengthens connections among students. First, it serves as their avenue of information dissemination of important news for and by fellow medical students. Second, it is a great way for self-expression to get in touch with our inner musings and pensive thoughts.

2. What programs or projects does your organization have in store for the CIM community?

Mitchell: Our programs are not only limited to enhancing the students’ mental capacities (e.g. reviews, tutorials, etc.), but also include developing one’s physical capabilities (e.g. jogs, zumba, other projects) and teaching students how to deal with different types of people and provide them service through outreach programs.

Glenn: This year marks our silver anniversary, and with that, we have a lot on our plates. We have expressed our desire to involve more students (even non-members of the organization) in our outreach programs. Also, we’re excited about our party for Dr. Narciso Tapia’s kidney fund – we are, after all,

one CIM community.Bede: After the success of the inaugural concert, this December, we are planning to hold our second concert with a beneficiary in mind. Aside from that, we will have our traditional hospital ward carolling.

Dena: The Caduceus will be utilizing two online social platforms, namely Facebook and Blogspot to improve its role as a student publication. On October 2014, we plan to conduct a writing workshop that is open and free for interested CIM students. We also aim to release a hard copy of The Caduceus come January 2015.

3. What is the impact of the organization in your journey as a medical student of CIM?

Mitchell: Being the Most Illustrious Brother of Alpha Mu Sigma Phi has taught me how to deal with the pressures of being a medical student, as well as life in general. It has also taught me how to value of time, responsibility, and most importantly, the people around me.

Glenn: T.O.R.C.H. is a family, more than an organization, and with that, no one gets left behind. As students, it is important for us, to have a ROCK to hold on to, a SHOULDER to cry on, a FRIEND to party with, a SISTER to tell

secrets to, a BROTHER to tell you when you’re wrong, and most importantly, a FAMILY that is with you every step of the way. That’s what T.O.R.C.H. is to me.

Bede: Cimphony has given me an outlet to express the hardships of studying medicine by turning them into beautiful music. It has also given me a loving and caring family to support me through life in medical school.

Dena: I am hoping that being the editor-in-chief of The Caduceus will leave a positive impact in my life as a student of CIM. May it serve as an outlet of creativity, a relief from the rigors of medical school, and a means to communicate with other medical students.

13 THE CADUCEUS

C A S E I N F O C U S

MAN IN FOCUS: Dr. Amado M. Layno Jr., MOCA 2014

Our awardee was raised by a closely knit family in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. He spent his elementary and secondary school years there, with his leadership skills noted at a young age. He finished high school at Lianga National School of Fisheries as the Batch Valedictorian of Class 1969. He eventually went to Cebu for college, acquiring the Insular Life Scholarship followed by the SEATO Scholarship for BS Biology. In 1970, he was awarded the Most Outstanding ROTC Army Cadet and in 1973, he finished BS Biology, cum laude.

In CIM, he was an ESA Awardee. He also received a gold medal in gross anatomy during his graduation in 1977. As a medical student, he extended his service to his hometown by identifying places where malaria was prevalent, informing the Malaria Eradication Center about it. His noble act greatly contributed to the efforts of malaria eradication in Lianga.

He finished Neurosurgery in the Neurosciences Institute of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. To sharpen his skill in neurosurgery, he kept himself updated by attending more trainings abroad namely; St. Louis Missouri Medical Center for Skull Base (1992), Singapore for Neuroendoscopy (1994), Singapore for Stereotactic Surgery (1994), Sweden for Gammaknife Surgery (1994), New Orleans for Updates on Spine Surgery (2009), and South Korea for Spine Intervention (2013). He shared his knowledge to his co-neurosurgeons in Cebu. In 1995 he made history by performing the first

minimally invasive stereotactic surgery in our country, an important milestone in Philippine Neurosurgery. He also used to teach in the different medical schools in Cebu. He organized workshops in Cebu on neuroendoscopy, spine and endovascular surgery. He helped create the Neurosurgical training program together with the late Dr. Benigno Aldana and Dr. Wyben Briones at VSMMC. He is a specialty board examiner of the Philippine Board of Neurosurgeries and a regent of the Philippine College of Surgeons. He became chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery in VSMMC, as well as of the Department of Surgery of CDUH. At present, he is a consultant of Princess Marina Hospital and Bokamoso Private Hospital in Botswana.

His other endeavors include social, infrastructure, environmental, and humanitarian projects. He organized medical-surgical missions in Cebu, Surigao del Sur and Bohol, established the neurosurgical service in Butuan Medical Center in 2005. He put up a college scholarship program in 2002 for poor but deserving students, now with 20 graduates. As the batch president of Clas ‘77, he spearheaded the raising of funds for the renovation of CIM’s Amphitheater 1. He also developed the first sweet seaweed pickle project in the Philippines in partnership with BFAR and DTI, named Lianga Delights. This provided an alternative livelihood for fisherfolks. He also organized the Traffic Accident Volunteers - TAP V in Botswana. It is an organization that educates the youth on the risks of vehicular accidents, since the accidents are said to be the number one cause of death in Botswana.

Despite his busy schedule, he always makes time with his family, conscious of the fact that no amount of success can compensate for failure in the home. He is married to Dr. Imelda Abesamis-Layno, with whom he has 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

CIM is proud to honor the 2014 Most Outstanding Alumnus: Dr. Amado M. Layno Jr.

Written by Dr. Melfer Montoya of Batch 1977Edited by Dena Mae Amor Desabille of Batch Spectra

“My advocacy in life is

to make a difference

to the lives of people

around me and to do

it without any desire

for recognition or

remuneration. It is

my simple way of

glorifying God.”

- Layno, 2014

C A S E I N F O C U S C A S E I N F O C U S

THE CADUCEUS 14

C A S E I N F O C U S

Part of the Millenium Development Goals by 2015 is to reduce child mortality and under this goal is to provide early detection and early intervention for diseases that impact long-term health of the children. Newborn Screening (NBS) has been one of the measures to achieving this goal. In the Philippines, the state has mandated that every child born be offered this screening test as a right to survival and healthy development as normal individuals. This procedure screens for six congenital metabolic disorders: Congenital Hypothyroidism, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia,

Galactosemia, Phenylketonuria, G6PD Deficiency, and Maple Syrup Urine Disease. It has been estimated that 33,000 infants every year, nearly four every hour, are affected by any of these disorders. When left untreated, these may lead to mental retardation or even death.

NBS is ideally done immediately after 24 hours from birth, when the baby has begun feeding. A heel prick blood sample is taken and blotted on a special absorbent filter card and sent to the Newborn Screening Center. When an infant tests negative, the results

are normal. However, when it is a positive screen, he/she is brought back for confirmatory testing and further management.

Thus, it is the responsibility of the health practitioners to be aware of the advantages of newborn screening and to educate parents of these advantages in promoting health to their children; protecting them from disabilities associated with disorders that could have been prevented and be treated early.

NEWBORNSCREENING October 20, 2014Written by Cybelle Caramba of Batch Asterion

October is the Newborn Screening Month

More than just a fad among men who can grow their mustache and beard, Movember (from the Australian slang “mo” for “moustache” and “November”) is a yearly event that aims to raise awareness on men’s health issues like testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and other associated charities related to male cancers. The charity event is spearheaded by the Movember Foundation, at their website movember.

com. Their goal is to “change the face of men’s health.”

Men (able or unable to grow beards and mustaches) and women alike are encouraged to get involved in this advocacy. The aim is to initiate conversations among men regarding early cancer detection, diagnosis, and effective treatments. Concrete actions such as annual check-ups, healthier

MOVEMBERNovember 19, 2014Written by Dena Desabille of Batch Spectra

November is Movember Month

lifestyle, and awareness of family history of cancer can be done.

For more information, visit the Movember Foundation’s website at www.movember.com

15 THE CADUCEUS

C I M P U L S E C I M P U L S E

With the school year drawing to a close, the time to lay down our books to rest and welcome the respite of summer vacation is near at hand. Before we know it, after a few short months, we come to welcome yet another fresh and exciting school year, along with the changes it brings. Because change is the only constant, it follows that our alma mater adapts to the changing times together with its students. So I tapped into the brilliant minds of the student body and asked their opinion on how CIM could improve and reach higher levels of excellence as a medical institution. This was their response.

CIM PulseLET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD

THE CADUCEUS 16

C I M P U L S E

Of course, what’s work with no play? So, on a lighter note, I encouraged students from each batch to share their funniest and most memorable experience so far as a CIM student. From embarrassing to downright hilarious, these brave students bared their highest highs and lowest lows for our pleasure and entertainment.

17 THE CADUCEUS

THE CADUCEUS 18

19 THE CADUCEUS

M E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R S

Each year, the blue and white Christmas lights at the Ateneo de Manila University campus light up as the holiday season approaches. And it is a beautiful sight. The fright in nightly jogs is gently lifted off your shoulders, and gently replaced with wonder. The path (however repeated nightly) is remembered better in illumination.

Apart from serving their obvious purpose, to me those lights meant one more thing: I was going to be home soon. As much as university life away from home is a liberating (I dare say necessary) experience, there is an unspeakable joy in coming home for Christmas. There is joy in being in a place where processed food isn’t a staple. Yes, there is joy even in once again having a curfew.

As much as we are enthralled with new, bolder experiences, there is warmth in familiarity. It is warmth that is always worth going back to. We appropriate to the above feeling the name “nostalgia.” However, nostalgia holds more bearing than we give it credit for. You see, nostalgia was never meant to purely depict sentiment. And it is a disservice to dismiss it as such.

The ancient Greeks described it as a longing for the place from which the very essence of all things - for example, the “blue-ness of blue” - originated. And that’s a particularly beautiful insight. If seen in this light, nostalgia does not only refer to the warm, fuzzy feeling we equate with things once familiar. Instead, it is a longing for the place where hearts are light, where love and comfort abound - that is, where we are

most ourselves: a place we popularly refer to as home.

But how exactly do we get home? Albeit an oversimplification of some pretty obscure philosophy, we make our way there by following the light. In “The Allegory of the Cave,” Plato depicts men in chains watching, with fixed gaze, shadows representing adulterated reality. Elsewhere in the same cave, there is a man enduring a climb to a place outside the cave, where the light that forms the shadows emanates. Thankfully, he eventually makes it out of the cave. What he once saw as silhouettes, he now sees in true form. It is all too overwhelming at the outset, but he knows with certainty that he cannot return to a world of “lesser” truth. He soon returns to the cave, presumably in service to his fellow man, to tell the others to follow suit. is easy, but the every day that leads up to it can be so, so difficult.

Now, what do we stand to learn from all this? (I did not wish to bore you with that primer on Plato, however necessary a read I think him be.) If there is something we can derive from all that has been said, it is this: just as the man in the allegory endures the climb, all men must as well endure life - both its excitement and its banality. You see, nostalgia isn’t merely a process of blithe reminiscence, but more so a journey home. And it is this tiring journey, sometimes debilitatingly so, that makes life sweeter, that grants upon its conclusion meaning and closure.

However, we are fortunate to have shadows of home today (minus the chains, of course). They consist of all the things we associate with a surface understanding of nostalgia. And sometimes, that’s all we really need to get through a semester. Take comfort: home is just around the corner.

Here, I have presented that home can be seen in two lights. Home is first a place of refuge when we are weary, a brief and familiar respite in an otherwise overwhelming metropolis. But secondly, home is also that which meets us at the end of this journey. In either case, home is a consolation for the craziness of life. And home is always welcome.

It has been almost two years since I moved back. The pace is certainly different. The lights in my village do not glow as brightly as the lights in the Ateneo do. They do not glow as brightly as they once did.

Still, it is a beautiful sight. I am here. I am home.

Written by Clarence Aaron Sy of Batch Spectra

Lights Will Guide You Home

THE CADUCEUS 20


“To aspir ing physicians, our

passion and dedication to our

chosen l i felong vocation are

fundamental to the successful careers

we al l aspire to have. I bel ieve from these

two values sprout forth others just as

vital to becoming physicians with

a heart: sacrif ice and compromise,

di l igence, and integrity.”

- Dr. Debbie Rose U. Tanengsy

Written by Janellie Blithe Tam of Batch Vertex

Medicine is not as simple as studying for long hours with the mere intention of earning another feather in one’s cap. It is both a calling and a profession that requires incandescent passion, unwavering determination, and myriad sacrifices. It is a rare case, maybe almost impossible, to hear someone say that medicine is an easy endeavor because it is most definitely not, to which even a two-time topnotcher strongly concord.

Dr. Debbie Rose U. Tanengsy, who placed 5th among the 2,218 board passers in the recent Physician Licensure Examination (PLE), has dreamed of becoming a doctor ever since she was little, and with the incessant support of her parents, she had chosen to take the long road to turn that dream into a reality.

As she would aptly put it, “There’s no other way around it, but through hard work,” when asked what the secret ingredient to her success is. How effective that is has been concretely proven through her consistent performance in her chosen fields. Her pre-medical course allowed her early exposure to the hospital setting and would later prove to be of immense help during her clerkship. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 2009, and emerged as top 5 in the Philippine Nursing Licensure Exam (PNLE) that same year. For someone who is an intellectual as her, it must have come out as expected, but she humbly admitted that her only goal in both those times was to pass, and the second time was just as surreal as the first. Each time was unforeseen, and she revealed that

her motivation then was the possibility of not making it, but the distinction she earned is something she gratefully gives back to both her alma mater and to God Almighty.

Her journey in medical school was not the most pleasant as we might think it was. She cleverly compared her medical school experience with a scalpel (or a needle, lancet, and the like) which a physician uses to make an incision, draw blood, and inflict pain to save a life or a limb. As what all medical students put up with, she also went through tough times, but for her, all the trials, pain, blood, sweat, and tears have not been, and will never be for naught because the suffering may be unwelcomed, but they were sufferings most necessary for growth and improvement, much like what a scalpel is for.

The challenges she faced did not become any easier as the PLE drew near, and though it was grueling in almost all aspects, her parents had her back and took every step with her which was the reasons she still had the strength to keep moving forward despite all the hardships. They had been her rock since day one, and like any child who look up to her parents’ ways and success, she found her inspiration in them.

While medical school would seem an intimidating path to endure, it actually has more of its reputable side than we let on. With the difficult exams and sleepless nights put together, how friends made it an adventure is just one of the unforgettable moments that will live on forever. For this reason,

Dr. Debbie considers her first year as a medical student the highlight of her years in CIM. Apart from the academics, she became acquainted more with how she studies best, how she works in groups, how to best manage her time, and how she deals with immediate and long-term stressors, and these lessons have gone a long way for her, as how it would be for the rest of us if we only let them.

When Dream Meets Reality

21 THE CADUCEUS

M E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R SM E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R SM E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R S

Wonder! The substance of otherwise passe lives. The life of life itself. Where has it gone?

It goes without saying that cultivating a sense of wonder is an essential part of learning, and learning well. However, wonder isn’t exactly easy to be had. And in an atmosphere as dreary as studying in a dark room lit only by the dusty study desk lamp in the wee hours of the night for exams that are a constant demoralizing reminder of how little one actually remembers and how much less one understands, wonder is, if any of it is left at all, hardly there.

Which begs the question, “Does the medical student have time for wonder? Or is wonder a luxury for those with more time on their hands?” Think about it. When was the last time you actually looked into a textbook and actively pursued your curiosity, as opposed to reading just what was required of you? Or for the sheer joy of learning instead of necessity?

One can very well argue that if and when students are left to faculties of their own interest, save for the few exemplary, less is achieved than when learning becomes a requirement. And when contextualized into the setting of a medical education, it becomes even clearer that necessity plays a much larger role than wonder in getting students to study. (Medical students do, after all, need to learn ALL the necessary skills to treat a patient in a very limited amount of time.) It is no wonder that wonder is forgone. To say it comes close to consideration is overstating it. It appears, then, that in the case of the medical student, wonder, once thought indispensable, is quite actually

the opposite. Wonder become the necessary compromise to succeeding.

And that strikes the learner as particularly unsettling. I mean, that the be-all and end-all of learning is disposable raises the question of whether or not he is learning at all. Furthermore, considering that people do normally forget that loving our goals and loving the means are exclusive of one another, he begins to equate daily frustration with disillusionment. Indeed, inspiring the heart with ambition is easy, but the every day that leads up to it can be so, so difficult.

So where does that leave the medical student? Is he forced to take to a form of learning that leaves no room for wonder?

I’d venture to say, “Not really.” For while the medical student does have a marked predisposition for disenchantment, wonder does, in fact, remain a matter of perspective. Yes, it’s one that is hard-won, but not totally impossible.

There is this beautifully simple phrase in the Filipino language that goes, “Para kanino ka gumigising tuwing umaga?” Who is it you wake up for each morning? And whatever the answer to that question is for you, that, for me, is reason enough to warrant the possibility of wonder int he hectic workaday.

If and when the medical student sets his gaze on the needs of others instead of himself, he is thrown into a place of potential wonder. Each time he opens a book filled with thousands of details unknown to him and unknowing of the hours he’s spent reading them, each time he takes an exam he knows so

little of, yes, he risks losing his sense of wonder. But at the same time, he is also introduced to the opportunity of learning more, and of finding greater wonder. And so he risks disenchantment anyway, because at the end of the day, it isn’t about him. He risks it all for the other.

What it comes down to, in the end, I guess, isn’t if we’re happy with what we’re doing because, let’s face it, most days won’t find us happy. Au contraire, most days will find us tired, depressed or totally stressed out. What it comes down to, I guess, is if we’re passionate enough to risk falling out of love with our chosen path time and time again; if our passion to serve others means more to us than a few failures on the way to that goal.

To end, here is an excerpt from a poem that has easily become a personal favorite, Eduardo Calasanz’ Awit Kay Ana.

Sa mga bigo sa pag-ibig

Labis ang hinihiling

Umibig, umibig, umibig pa rin

Nang may magawa ang mga bituin

Written by Clarence Aaron Sy of Batch Spectra

Passion and the Possibility ofWonder

THE CADUCEUS 22


Written by Glenn Marlon Tiu of Batch Spectra

M E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R SM E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R S

It is a moment of pride for the students, faculty, and alumni of the Cebu Institute of Medicine as once again, it has achieved a 100% rating in the Physician Licensure Examination held last August 2014. A wondrous feat, considering no other medical school has achieved the same status.

Early on, the Cebu Institute of Medicine embeds in the minds of her students the vision of the school - physicians with a heart. In part, that is the secret to her success. In the academic year 2001-2002, the school has adapted the Problem Based Learning (PBL) curriculum. Since then, the school has been consistently performing well in the PLEs, with the distinction of being the “top performing medical school in the country.”

On top of all the outstanding accomplishments of the school, they have added Raymund Martin Sia Li and Debbie Rose Uy Tanengsy to their roster of topnotchers (first and fifth, respectively).

With that, we had the chance to ask our very own Raymund Li on his most notable accomplishment.

The Caduceus (TC): How did you feel when you received the news?

Raymund Li (R): I was very surprised to find out that I topped the PLE. It was

totally unexpected. I was confident that I would pass it but being on the list of topnotchers wasn’t really on my mind while waiting for the results. After that initial feeling of surprise, I was elated, thankful, and incredibly humbled.

TC: You are an inspiration to all of us aspiring physicians. What advice can you give to the students and future PLE takers of CIM?

R: I’d say that the four years of medical school is essential in preparing one for the board exam. Learn as much as you can. The 3-4 months leading to the examination itself is more like a review of all of the knowledge and information you have acquired over 4 years. When studying for PLE, you have to study smart. Make a day-to-day schedule of the topics you have to cover early on and stick to it. It is understandable to occasionally fall behind but never let your backlogs pile up. Read all of your review materials at least twice. Whether or not you enroll in a review center is entirely up to you. But in my opinion, it is good study habits, diligence, and self-discipline that will make you pass and excel in the board exam and not review centers. It is also imperative that you acquire and answer sample examinations because preparing for the PLE also requires honing your test-taking strategies.

TC: How has your Alma Mater molded you to achieving your goals?

R: CIM has definitely helped me achieve my goals. The four years I spent in CIM helped me develop my study habits and gave me the confidence to pursue excellence in the medical field. I specifically applaud the PBL system, which I found to be extremely conducive

to learning and was a very good fit for my learning styles.

TC: What is your message to Batch Syncytia, who truly beat as one in this amazing feat?

R: I would like to congratulate Batch Syncytia for achieving a 100% passing rate. 100% was what I truly wanted and being a topnotcher is just an added bonus. I am incredibly honored to be a part of this amazing batch. I’m sure this batch will have many more crowning achievements in the future and the PLE was just the start of great things to come. Yay to us!

What makes Batch Syncytia unique? As their batch name would suggest, they are a fusion of individual but interconnected units performing a specific goal in a synchronized and unified fashion. They are a batch of physicians with one heart. They are Syncytia - beating as one in triumph. t

Syncytia: BEATING AS ONE IN TRIUMPH

Dr. Raymund Li

23 THE CADUCEUS

M E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R S M E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R SM E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R S

Written by Frances Mae O. Gumapon of Batch Asterion

Last Saturday, I was reading about diabetes mellitus in a coffee shop. This topic hits close to home because my father has diabetes, hypertension, gout, and post-surgery thyroid cancer. If you met my dad, you wouldn’t think of him as sick but truth is, he takes nine maintenance medications. These nine maintenance medications have been reduced to five, but he knows and we know that these meds will never go away for the rest of his earthly life.

I was reading Harrison’s and I was on the verge of tears. When I looked up to rest my eyes, I found myself crying. I felt embarrassed to cry publicly in a coffee shop but I can’t help it; knowing that diabetes and hypertension accelerate end-stage renal disease reminded me just how limited we are as people and most especially as doctors.

I sent a text message to my dad saying that although we don’t hold our lives, we can make the most out of our time here.

Thirty minutes later, my father replied to my text. This was unlikely of him since he replies to text messages right away. His reply was; “I love you, too, anak. Lingi kay naa ko sa imong luyo.” (I love you, too, my child. Look behind you, I’m just here.) His mere presence reminded me of my purpose for becoming a medical doctor. Before anything else, my purpose is to take good care of my family, to teach them ways to prevent complications of diseases, to take care of their quality of life.

I study not for myself, not only for my future patients, but at present, primarily for my family. In times when

I think I can’t go on and fight for my grades, I remember the unwavering suppor t and the undying love of my family.

I remember my Papa Boie who is doing his best to fight against complications with good compliance to doctor’s advice. By all means, I want to fight with him as his personal nurse and medical student daughter.

The journey is far from finished, there are even times when things get ridiculously hard. I’m blessed to have his words to hold on to, the message of everyone rooting for me; “I love you. Look behind you, I am just here.”

Thank you. This is for all of you.

Fighting Alongside Warriors Written by Dena Mae Amor Desabille

of Batch Specra

In the humid atmosphere of the crowded room, I felt a drop of sweat trickle down my forehead, travel along the bridge of my nose and fall off the tip where it dove onto the white linen sheets. I watched as the world around me revolved, letting myself take in as much from that moment as I could. “Here I finally am”, I said to myself as I gazed upon the hustle and bustle of the non-infectious ward. My friends and future colleagues were all busy with their own patients, taking medical histories and performing physical examinations, all too wary of our preceptors hovering over us to make sure performed the right technique. They have transformed.

I have transformed as well as I stood there feeling the unusual rubbing of a stethoscope’s tubing at the back of my neck and its weight on my shoulders.

It was the first time I would be able to face an actual admitted patient and deal with him as a fully fledged doctor would. It’s all real now, I thought wistfully to myself when a groupmate brought me back to reality as she told me to step back and allow the doctor to pass. I glanced over my shoulder just in time to hear the nurse say out loud that the patient had palpatory blood pressure. In a flash, nurses ran to the bedside attaching an ECG, closing off

the bed with a curtain, and ventilating the patient all at once while a medical intern performed CPR. A man with a look of urgency in his face, the son of the patient perhaps, was talking to someone on the phone; his mother maybe?

At a loss for what to feel and how to react, I looked away and tried to focus on the patient we were assessing. I could not help but feel uneasy, however, as I caught glimpses of a motionless face from my peripheral vision. A man was dying. It was as simple as that. A man would soon be dead and in that moment, I was reminded of my own

Breath of Life from a Dying Man

THE CADUCEUS 24


There are many times when life surprises you by throwing unexpected things, people and events your way. And then there are instances when you surprise life by making choices and decisions you normally wouldn’t go for under different circumstances, i.e. if you weren’t fighting off sheer mental exhaustion. These brief moments of insanity are exceedingly common, like reading that new pocketbook instead of memorizing Netter’s, or playing that Kardashian game instead of studying for the bimonthly, or watching the latest episodes of your favorite anime/TV show/cartoon and you swear to yourself you’ll only see one measly episode and TADA! It’s 3 A.M. and you haven’t finished a single chapter in Mama Gray’s. Let the panic attack begin.

Case in point: my decision to apply for medicine was, in a word, crazy. I was not in my most sane frame of mind, in fact many would argue that I’m never in a sane frame of mind, but that’s beside the point. For some unknown, mystical, and magical reason, the universe decided to work on my side for once and miracle of miracles, I landed a spot in CIM, the best, most awesome and most kick-ass med school in the whole universe! (Dramatic music playing) So there I was, young and naive, thinking med was no biggie, enjoying

the orientation week, laughing it up, making new friends. And then the first long exam slaps me in the face with a gigantic failing mark.

Being the typical gullible, optimistic, rainbows and sunshine youth, I brushed it off (with the help of multiple cups of ice cream and a playlist of my most happy high-inducing songs on shuffle) and I somehow managed to brainwash myself with the usual make-yourself-fell-better excuses: that it was fine, it’s only the first exam, I can do better on the next one, etc. And then the first unit came and the second unit, and now the third, and my deficits only grew larger. By that time my self-esteem was near non-existent, and I had a lot of soul-searching to do, starting with the most pressing existential question of all time: where do I want to eat?

After drowning my sorrows in ice cream in typical me-fashion (diabetes, here I come), I went digging in the deepest recesses of my soul in search of the elusive mythical creature that is my reason-for-being-in-med. I wish I could say this story ends on a happy note, that I find my reason and am more psyched than ever to throw myself to the guillotine of brain-melting, migraine-inducing, insanity-causing whirlwind of med life, but in all honesty I’m still

digging. Let me be the first to admit it’s embarrassing and childish that I haven’t found a valid reason for being here, unlike other smarter, wiser, more awesome and responsible people I know, but a word from the not-so-wise: you can’t rush awesomeness.

So a quick shout-out to all my fellow wanderers meandering through life without clear purpose and meaning, you are not alone! And to all those amazing people who already figured out who exactly you want to be and where you want to go, please share the awesomeness with others less enlightened. In the end though, we’re all just vagabonds on this journey through the vast expanse of life. Let’s not get discouraged this early in the game, uncover your inner awesome and prove the universe right for putting you here in this exact place and time. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but like they say, life is about the journey, not the destination. So go crazy, make mistakes, eat ice cream! Let life surprise you, and don’t hesitate to surprise life too. Because good or bad, this is your journey, you gotta live it.

mortality. It was like waking up from a slumber I did not ever know I was in. Shuffling from lectures to labs to SGDs and hospital duties, it is so easy to get lost and one day wake up already having turned into an automaton. By pouring out every ounce of energy in learning how to save another’s life, we gradually lose our own. We forget how it is to really live and consequently, we forget the reality of death as well. This may prove to be a great disadvantage eventually. For in forgetting that the grim reaper hovers ever so closely, we fall into a false sense of security and believe that we can go on forever.

If we learn to recognize our own mortality, we are reminded of our

deficiencies and the limited time given to fill in the gaps. With this, we can choose to stay in this lull or try our hardest to be the best version of ourselves possible. If we accept that someday this world will continue to exist even after we are no longer, we can make the bold effort to leave behind a part of ourselves and pay it forward. As future physicians, we are trained to be meticulous and comprehensive in everything that we do. But as mortal beings, we are also reminded that we do not and cannot control everything. Despite our best efforts, we will not always win the battle against the disease and we must forgive ourselves when that time comes. Lastly, by acknowledging that we are mortal, we accept that it is not only by

our hands that the patient is healed but that we are merely instruments through which He does His healing.

I saw that dying man a year and a half ago. Since then, I have witnessed the same scene a number of times more and I know that still more is to come. However, the imagery of that August afternoon has stayed with me all this time and I thank that dying man for allowing me to witness his exit because by dying, he reminded me how to live. He allowed me to awaken from my slumber and I do not wish to fall asleep again. I want to always be awake, alive, so that someday when I am in his place, I may leave as gracefully as he did.

Written by Elizabeth Wagas of Batch Vertex

Awesome Takes Time (Some Freshie Feels)

25 THE CADUCEUS

M E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R S B A R D I N T H E W A R DB A R D I N T H E W A R D

Bard in the WardLIPSTICK

RedLike the blood pumping from my heart

to my arteries,increasing flow with every touch.

The color of my lipstick, or at least it used to be;

right before you took my breath away by kissing me,

silencing the mumbling of my fears.

PinkLike my cheeks in the summer, all

flushed with the warmth.More importantly, the glow after you

told me you loved me,that nothing else could quite compare

with the way I made you feel.As my hand find its way to yours under

the sheets,we belong.

OrangeLike the last sunset of our lives,

or I mean the lives we thought we’d have for good.

Your silhouette against the background,you tell me things I thought I’d never

hear;those things you swore that you’d

never say -“I love you, goodbye”.

If the pieces become too small for breaking,

what else is there left to do?

BlackLike the darkness that follow

long after the lights are turned off.The night crawling in as I twist and turn

in bed.I close my eyes and see you,

feel you, want you; in pitch black darkness,

I long for you.

You left me chapped, bleeding, all dried up.

My heart was not yours for the taking,but you did anyway.

I hope she tastes my lipstick on your lips,

kiss her gently, slowly, then all at once, passionately.

NO MOREBy: Disguised Angel

I’ve got no more tears left to cryI poured it all in that last try

I would rather go run and hide

There are no more words I can sayThat could make everything okay

I have to let you go your wayThough I really want you to stay

I have no more room in my heartAnother piece is torn apart

You turned your back on what we hadI’m angry but I can’t stay mad

The shattered pieces on the floorLook a lot like they were beforeI think it’s time to close that door

I can’t take broken hearts no more

EXAMINATIONBy: Joseph Clefil Suerte

Seated on this old wooden chairWith confidence and doubt mixing

All else seems out of my careThe growing tension foreboding

I look down on these gray papersTheir words seem to go on and on

With just little time to savorI have to answer them alone

The pages do intimidateWith questions familiar and notSome of them just have to wait

‘Til I pass the rest of the lot

Doubt slowly creeps like vines on treesGrowing, tightening each second

Nourished by my own anxietyFueled by my plain ignorance

The future looks ever fartherFor me who treads along this pathBut walk I must and travel faster

For that dream that I long to catch

These gray papers will only reflectWhat I am now and not will beThe results will have an effect

But I won’t let it define me

There will be countless more of thesePapers of different colorsTrials of different degrees

To prove your own worth to others

But for now, I’ll fight this battleWith the best that I could musterTaking steps that I can handle

To gradually become better

My pencil feels a bit lighterMy mind thinking, my heart beating

The test’s time is almost over

TREASURESBy: Disguised Angel

Wave after wave, I drownThe loneliness in me

Like a drop in the oceanI got lost in deeper sea

I went on a journeyAnd found some distant shoreVarious gems lie on the sandThat led me to an open door

Every treasured jewelHas a story to tell

With each mystery revealedI see beauty break its shell

Lusters of all colorsShine through the black of night

The hues mix into one shadeEmitting the brightest lightAnd keep all

the pain locked inside

There are no more words I can sayThat could make everything okay

I have to let you go your wayThough I really want you to stay

I have no more room in my heartAnother piece is torn apart

You turned your back on what we hadI’m angry but I can’t stay mad

The shattered pieces on the floorLook a lot like they were beforeI think it’s time to close that door

I can’t take broken hearts no more

MYSTERYBy: Disguised Angel

I wallowed myself in tearsAnd sought comfort in the dark

I ran away from my fears‘Til I lost that tiny spark

The darkness now pitch blackThere’s nothing I could see

The day you turned your backYou took my heart from me

The questions unansweredCrowd my bewildered mind

My heart’s left stunned and stirredBy answers I can’t find

I’d rather see it remainAn untold secret story

Like bright sunshine in the rainLove’s always a mystery

THE CADUCEUS 26

B A R D I N T H E W A R D

NOT ENOUGHBy: Disguised Angel

I keep telling youI am just right hereBut it hangs in airYou never did hear

You don’t have the timeTo look back and seeThat I’m still right here

Holding on to thee

I don’t know how toPut matters to playI still do love you

But I’ve lost my way

I really did waitI’d stare at my phone

Days would pass me byAnd I’d cry alone

All I’ve asked from youIs a bit time off

I offered you all mineBut that’s not enough

THAT OLD ROADBy: The Epic Poetic Tenor

That old, dark winding road,Adventures to unfold.

Walking on ancient soil,A dark path without toil. A path known by many,

So made known to many.

Walking with no hesitation, Thoughts beyond imagination.Journeying with much ecstasy,

Fantasy into reality.Riches known by many,

So made known to many.

Seeing meadows to my side,The journey I must abide.

Breathtaking sights, joyous plains,The journey I put in chains.The turn known by many,So made known to many.

Wasted days and wasted nights, Slowly dimming down my lights.

A fool am I wasting time,Yond the meadow so sublime.

The truth known by many,So made known to many.

Going back I saw the road,That same old, dark winding road.

The adventure continued, With much things to be pursued.

The path known by many,So made known to many.

STUDYINGBy: Joseph Clefil Suerte

Night comes and passes swiftly byAs I try to read and understand

These countless books and notes around

Sadly waving my sleep goodbye

The hours seem slowly drainingA luxury constantly lost

Exchanged with some knowledge to boast

But have I really learned anything?

The pages to read all pile upLike flood water to a dam

Taking bit by bit the moment’s calmTo a point where I have to stop

Stop for a break and not quittingI may be tired and tense as well

But I’m on the road I can tellTo a dream I keep on dreaming

A cup of coffee on my tableColored highlighters on my handSome music of my favorite bandFriends to chat with when able

Few crazy doodles on some graphsPacks of peanuts and chips to eat

A bit of humor while I’m at itNothing beats a refreshing laugh

Flipping pages like a wizardEyeing text like a connoisseur

I can be creative for sureMaking learning not so hard

I may not be able to finishAll of these that needs to be

But I’ll complete them eventuallyAs long as my drive’s not diminished

My ideals met the realityBut it’s still me who’ll set the limitOf what I’ll be in heart and spirit

A physician that’s what I’ll be

Dawn is surely on its wayTime to sleep the time that remainsGet the most energy to be gainedFor the new challenges of today

DENIALBy: A. Ellis

You’re so used to lyingAnd making others believe what isn’t

trueI don’t think you’ll even recognize the

truthEven when it’s right in front of you

You think you’ve fooled everybodyBut I can see through your lies

Your facade is fading The truth, clear in your eyes

You’re so adept at hidingYou see yourself a master of disguise

All I see is an idiotSmothering your own strangled cries

You won’t let people help youTelling them you don’t really care

You think you’re so convincingAt making them see what isn’t there

But not even the brightest smileCan hide a tormented soulNot even the loudest laughCan mask a broken heart

There’s no use pretendingYou don’t feel any pain

There’s no use denying itYou can’t fool me again

I know that you’re hurtingEven if you don’t admit it to yourself

I can see your heart breakingLike a glass figure fallen from a shelf

There are so many piecesYou’re not sure you can pick them all

upEven if you put them together

You don’t know the next time it might drop

So instead you let it beAnd sweep them under the rug

Ignorance is bliss, you sayIt’s your addiction, your drug

BALLOONBy: Disguised Angel

I’ve let go of our foreverThe last string that tied us togetherTime may have flown with the windBut the mem’ries stay alive within

A last glimpse of gleam in his eyeDisappears into a distant skyMy feet buried in piles of sand

Down this shore where he’d once held my hand

I remember in every wayHow he used to take my breath away

But the distance had only grownAnd I have never felt more alone

I believed in our everythingOur wish tied at the end of its string

The magic died out when it burstBut the pain it brought was not the

worst

27 THE CADUCEUS

M E Z Z A N I N E M A T T E R S P H Y S I C I A N W I T H A N A R TP H Y S I C I A N W I T H A N A R T

1

2

3

4

5

THE CADUCEUS 28

P H Y S I C I A N W I T H A N A R T

6

7

8

9

10

CONTRIBUTED BY:1, 2 : Hans Lua3 : Bede Joseph Illano4: Shera Singco5 : Liza Agpawa6, 7: Joseph Clefil Suerte8, 9, 10: Don Chiong

The Caduceus 2014-2015 Issue

Documents

Transcript of The Caduceus 2014-2015 Issue