News and Events

Celebrations at the Start of Term

The opening of classes is a much prepared event here in St. Luke’s College of Medicine-WHQM.  This gives the returning students a chance to welcome the incoming freshmen students.  To start off the ceremonies, Rt. Rev Manuel C. Lumpias gave the invocation followed by the President’s Address given by our President and Dean Brigido Carandang Jr., M.D. 

One of the much awaited part during the opening of classes is the presentation of the first year medical students.  We are happy that for this school year we have 49 first year medical students.   This group is comprised of 6 magna cum laudes and 15 cum laudes.  Although majority of the class is from the University of the Philippines (about 63%), there were also students who came from the Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Thomas, DeLa Salle University, Xavier University, Velez University and Saint Louis University. This batch has NMAT score of 90 or higher and a GWA during their undergraduate years of 2.0 or higher. They also came from different courses like BS Biology, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, BS Biochemistry, BS Nursing, BS Community Nutrition, BS Public Health, BS Psychology and BS Medical Technology.  This just proves that the college is starting to become the melting pot of the best medical students from the Philippines.

The scholarship program of the St. Luke’s Medical Center is proud to announce to have 73 scholars (about 50% of the whole student population) in the St. Luke’s College of Medicine – WHQM for this academic year.  As shared by Dr. Alejandro Ortigas, Associate Dean for Student and Faculty Affairs, there are 44 full scholars who are provided with a 100% tuition and miscellaneous fees and the full book allowance.  On the other hand, there are 27 partial scholars who are provided with 75% tuition and miscellaneous fees and the full book allowance.  This scholarship grant enables the college and the medical center to drive the deserving medical students to continue their achievements.

For this school year, there was a new addition to the usual program of the opening of classes.  It was only this year when the M.S. Molecular Medicine students were also presented in the program by Filipinas Natividad, PhD, program director of the M.S. Molecular Medicine.  The M.S. Molecular Medicine program started on the second semester of the school year 2008-2009.   There were 10 enrollees for this batch.   For the first semester of the school year 2009-2010, these incoming students were increased to 20.  This gives the M.S. program a total of 30 students for this semester alone taking into account that it is only their second semester.  There were also scholars in the M.S. Molecular Medicine program.  There are 13 DOST scholars and 4 St. Luke’s Medical Center scholars.

Students who did well in the previous academic year deserved to be acknowledged.  During the opening of classes, certificates are awarded to the top 5 students per class and the Dean’s listers.   They were presented by Dr. Maria Isabel Atienza who is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

This celebration is not only for the students.  It was also for the faculty.  This year, there were 4 faculties who were awarded due to their service in the SLCM-WHQM for ten years.  The Ten Year Service Awardees are Dr. Benjamin Campomanes of the Otorhinolaryngology Department, Dr. Ludwig Damian of the Neuroscience Department,  Dr. Ephraim Maranan, and Dr. Filipinas Natividad of the Molecular Biology and Research Department.

To lead the students in their fun filled year, the student council was also presented in the program.  It was also this time that the student council took their oath.  The opening of classes’ ceremony was ended with the college hymn.  But the celebration did not stop there.  There was also a freshman orientation and an acquaintance and start of term party that happened the same afternoon.

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