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Class '61 Alaska Cruise - August 2013


Memories To Last A Lifetime


By Philip S. Chua, M.D., FACS, FPCS

It seems like only yesterday. I feel like I have taken a quick flight in a time machine in the mid-1950s which has been transported to the mid-1990s in a split second. Indeed, time has flown by with the blink of an eye.

I still remember my father driving me to FEU in our old Woody Jeep station wagon. I usually took the bus or "jitney" to school, but he insisted on driving me this time because it was a special day. I was starting as a freshman in the Institute of Medicine. The year was 1956.

After a brief orientation, the batch of 1961 dove (or shall I say was pushed?) right into the fathomless sea of books, books and more books. The rigorous discipline of a medical education was most often overwhelming. There were simply not enough hours in the day to accomplish what we were supposed to do. It felt like a never-ending endeavor-day after day, week after week, month after month. We started to realize then the seriousness of the task of becoming physicians.

The annoying smell of formaldehyde in the anatomy lab and the penetrating "aroma" of hydrogen sulfide in the biochemistry lab soon became a part of us. It was our eau de toilette. Soon we were walking around smelling like the cadavers. And sometimes H2S became a convenient social excuse.

Most of us, at one time or another, were faced with a riddle in the dissection room trying to identify a part or parts of the anatomy that seemed strange, only to find out later that one of us had "rearranged" the tissues on the cadaver.

On one anatomy exam, Dr. Teddy Luna, our Instructor, could not properly prop up a full segment of the trachea, so he placed it between the thighs of the male cadaver and pointed the arrow at it. After checking our test papers for that quiz, he was in spasmodic laughter. He relayed to us that some poor innocent female medical students in our class thought the trachea was a male organ.

And then, there was the Biochemistry exam with open books given by Dr. Alfredo Navato, Sr. We were allowed to bring and open as many books as we wanted to. We thought it was great, a chance to perfect the score. After the time was up, many of us suffered from aching arms (for carrying several heavy books), eyestrain and headaches. And confusion!

A hilarious incident happened one day while we were waiting for a prelim exam. A classmate of ours, whose name shall remain anonymous, had meticulously written his detailed "kodiko" on the desk of his chair in one of the sectional rooms at the Girl's High. We were all finally seated when suddenly the Instructor announced that we were moving to the next room. Our dear classmate attempted unsuccessfully to carry his desk to the next room, and we were all laughing. He passed that exam without his encyclopedic desk.

Amidst the seriousness and busy academic schedule, there were lighter moments every now and then that gave us a welcome break. The class picnics, outings, and parties provided us with valued time to know each other better and make friends for life. And our class had a fair share of this R & R over the years.

Some of our classmates joined the Beta Sigma or Sigma Mu Sigma fraternity or sorority. Many were members of the Student Catholic Action, the Student PMA, and other associations. Members of United Class '61 practically dominated these organizations, including the Student Council. I had the privilege of starting The Medical Student, the official student publication of the FEU Institute of Medicine. I remember how supportive Dean Lauro Panganiban, Dr. J.B. Nolasco (Secretary of the Institute), Dr. Ricardo Alfonso (our intern class adviser) and Dr. Horacio Ylagan (our newspaper adviser) were of this project.

Student politics in college sometimes became too serious. At one time, rumors had it that I, a presidential candidate then, "was to be hurt the day before the elections" by the opposing camp to dissuade me from participating. The following day, my Beta Fraternity brod and good friend, Vic Verzosa, a defiant and stalwart Cebuano, brought in a huge bolo to school and publicly challenged "anyone to try and harm Philip." As a 94-pound weakling, the gesture made me feel more secure. Our candidates won the elections that year.

On November 5 & 6, 1960, our university and our class were in the national limelight when the Third Annual Convention of the Student PMA was held in the FEU Auditorium. The incumbent president of the Student PMA then was from FEU. All the five major universities were represented, with a total attendance of more than 800 medical students. This conference was graced with the presence of Health Secretary Paulino J. Garcia, M.D., Senator Pacita Madrigal Warns, PMA President Francisco Duque, M.D. (who later became Health Secretary himself), World Medical Association president Alberto Romualdez, M.D., Dean and Mrs. Lauro H. Panganiban, Ricardo L. Alfonso, M.D., Fe Del Mundo, M.D., Felino V. Barnes, M.D., and other faculty members.

Our class rotated through San Lazaro Hospital, Rizal Provincial Hospital, National Orthopedic Hospital, National Mental Hospital. For internship, some went to Clark Field Air Base Hospital, others to North General Hospital and the rest to FEU Hospital.

Internship was a happy and memorable time in our lives as medical students. This was the peak all of us had focused our sights on as we struggled through rough terrains with valleys and hills during those four years of hard grind and tough ascent. Finally, we were almost real doctors!

Like the first four batches ahead of us since the FEU Institute of Medicine opened its doors in June of 1952, we were fortunate to have giants and luminaries in the medical academia, among them the cream of the crop of the University of the Philippines Class '40, as our professors and heads of the various departments. They did not only teach us the science of medicine but also about discipline and the art of living itself.

The high quality of medical education at the FEU Institute of Medicine won the respect and admiration of the other six major medical schools in the country. The results of the medical board examinations each year confirmed that the recognition was well deserved. In 1961, FEU nearly made a clean sweep of the medical board examinations. Our very own Vic Versoza topped the board exam, and our class got eight of the ten top places that year. The University of Santo Tomas got the fourth and eight places.

When the much awaited event finally came on April 8, 1961, my feelings, like those of our classmates, were torn. Finally, we were graduating, and that meant we were parting with "our friends for life" and our Alma Mater. A small part of me inside was glad and another, sad. The most sentimental moment in those five years was, indeed, graduation day. It was a bittersweet segment of our lives. We were gaining something and at the same time losing many things. We were "free at last, free at last." We achieved our goal. But we were a little scared to face the world for the first time as full-fledged Doctors of Medicine.

The mixed emotions in all of us sometimes subdued the otherwise happy and triumphant occasion. We were rejoicing, and yet we felt a little sense of emptiness in our hearts. Tears were shed as we smiled, embraced and said farewell to one another. Shall we see each other again? Only God knew. But we certainly hoped and prayed so.

The government adopted the "Filipino First" Policy. The president was Carlos P. Garcia, and the vice president was Diosdado Macapagal, who later succeeded him. The Philippine economy at the time was second only to Japan, which was number one in Southeast Asia. It was a prestigious position for our nativeland. In the Vatican, the reigning Pope was John XXIII.

After graduation, we all went our separate ways. Guillermo Varona ('60), Arturo de Leon, and I, who were Adjunct Residents at FEUH, joined the Work-A-Year-With-The-People Medical Missions of then Senator Raul S. Manglapus, Manuel Quezon, Jr. and Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. Ging was assigned to Subanipa, Olutanga, Ot went to Kapangan, Benguet Mountain Province, and I, to Palanan, Isabela.

A day after my second visit to our home from Palanan, I lost my father to myocardial infraction. It was September 17, 1962, barely a year and a half after our graduation. The world crumbled beneath my feet. This was a turning point in my life. Most, if not all, of the members of our class must surely have had a milestone which permanently changed the course of their lives to what it is today.

After some serious deliberations and consultation with our elders, many of us took the ECFMG exams and later joined the Exchange Visitors Program, travelling to the United States for training. Farida and I arrived Chicago on January 1, 1963 and started our internship at the Ravenswood Hospital with a salary of $325 a month.

Our Fly-Now-Pay-Later fares advanced by the hospital were deducted from our salary ($100) every month. In spite of this, we were still thrilled with the residual amount (minus income taxes), especially after multiplying it with 3 to get the peso equivalent. "Mayaman na tayo," we joked around.

Most of our classmates who ventured to come to the land of milk and honey, the land of the brave and of the free were likewise overwhelmed by the majesty of the land, the bounty and the luxury of the American people, and their friendliness and outspokenness.

President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, gave the people their own piece of Camelot, a radiant hope and optimism that made the country strong and proud, here and abroad. When his life was cut short by sniper bullets in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, after serving only 2 years and 306 days in office, the world lost its knight in shining armor.

Other popular personalities in 1961 included the sex goddess of the silver screen, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren (Best Actress), Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee, Maximillan Schell (Best Actor), Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr., Rock Hudson, Troy Donahue, and Bobby Darin among others. The Best Movie that year was West Side Story. Three years later, the Beatles invaded America.

Back home the movie screen luminaries were Gloria Romero, Juancho and Eddie Gutierrez, Nida Blanca, Nestor de Villa, Susan Roces, Fernando Poe, Jr., to mention a few. The child superstar Tessie Agana, known as Shirley Temple of the Philippines, (now married to Rodolfo L. Jao, M.D.) and her very famous actress mother, Consuelo R. Agana (known on the screen as the beautiful Linda Estrella) immigrated to the United States earlier, accompanied by her husband, Adriano A. Agana, M.D.

Our class members pursued their individual residency training, some in the Philippines and a number here in the United States. The years that followed were of different challenges. After our training, we, like other foreign medical graduates, faced some degree of discrimination by our native medical colleagues who were U.S. graduates. Competition and economics obviously had something to do with it. It was well noted that the bedside manner of the Asian doctors was far superior.

This situation led to the proliferation of Filipino medical associations in the country. Almost every state had one. These associations supported and befriended legislators and lobbied in Congress. The PMA-Chicago and the PMA-New York, two of the pioneer organizations, had been lobbying in Washington, D.C. since the mid-1960s.

In the natural course of life, all of us have discovered new friends along the way in those three decades since we left FEU. Nonetheless, the longing, the excitement, and the thirst to see our fellow members of United Class '61 again and again had never been, nor will ever be,quenched.

The Association of Philippine Physicians in America, which would eventually be the umbrella organization of all Filipino State medical societies, was founded in 1972. The American College of International Physicians, which included other ethnic medical graduates and their respective associations, and the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America were also organized that same year.

Foremost among the lawmakers during that period who came to our aid were Rep. Stephen J. Solarz (New York), Rep. Jim Bates (San Diego), Rep. Adam Benjamin (Indiana) (deceased) and his successor, Rep. Peter Viclosky, Senator Paul Simon (Illinois), Senator Daniel Moynihan (New York), Senator Edward Kennedy (Mass.) among others. The concerted efforts eventually led to the passage of the anti-discrimination legislation to protect foreign medical graduates, signed into law by President George W. Bush in November of 1992.

The first recorded concept of "an ectopic alumni soclety" in the United States came from Dr. J.B. Nolasco, M.D., contained in his letter to me dated May 11, 1965. He has been the main dynamo behind this movement ever since, until the time he retired in 1979. With him were Horacio A. Ylagan, M.D. and Sam Green, an insurance executive in New Jersey. The father of one of the American students at FEU-IM at the time, Sam visited the school in the late 1960s and suggested the same idea. The FEUDNR Medical School Alumni Foundation was eventually organized and incorporated on October 20, 1971 in New Jersey.

Dr. Nolasco started communicating with the alumni way back close to the mid-60s. He subsequently published the Ectopic Murmur, the official newsletter of the FEU DNR Medical School Alumni Foundation. While he retired in 1979, he continued to publish it up to 1985. The bulletin did not come out in 1986. Cesar M. Reyes ('68), was appointed editor of the Ectopic Murmur in 1987, a position he still holds.

Ferdinand Marcos, whose second and final term as president of the Philippines was expiring in 1973, declared Martial Law on September 22, 1972. The ensuing 13 years of dictatorship ravaged the country's economy and the people's soul. The country was bankrupt, its national debt catapulted to 28 billion U.S. dollars. The Philippines fell several ranks in the Asian economic ladder, down to only a step above Bangladesh, which was at the bottom.

Former Senator Benigno S. Aquino, leader of the opposition and arch enemy of Marcos, was jailed for 8 years, starting September 23, 1972, without formal charges. In May of 1980, he was freed and allowed to come to the United States to undergo coronary bypass surgery. Upon his return to the Philippines on August 21, 1983, he was felled by an assasin's bullet, silenced forever.

 

 


But the silence grew deafening as days went by. It soon became a gong, then a cymbal, and utimately an explosive thunder of People Power. Led by Ninoy's widow, Cory Aquino, and backed by Jaime Cardinal Sin and the Church, the Filipinos staged a nonviolet civil disobedience. Pope John Paul II, who was elevated to the position on October 22, 1978, was the Pontiff at the time.

Eventually a bloodless revolution took place on February 22, 1986, which ousted Marcos and Imelda, the conjugal dictators, three days later. Not even the political gurus of the world thought this would be possible. In the Philippines, miracles do happen.

Appointed by Divine Providence and annointed by the Church, Cory Aquino was perfect in the role of transition president for six years from 1986. She enhanced the national pride and the prestige and the image of the Filipino people and elevated the Philippines to the international pedestal. Her People Power, honesty and dignity, and accomplishments in office shall remain a lasting legacy for generations of Filipinos to come.

Lilia P. Luna, an obstetrician-gynecologist and a distinguished member of United Class '61, was appointed Medical Director of the FEU DNR Hospital on August 9, 1985 by Dr. Josephine C. Reyes, Chairman of the Board. She was the first FEU graduate to be named to that top position. She is, indeed, our pride and joy.

On July 27-30, 1986, United Class '61 celebrated its Silver Jubilee at The Cavalier Oceanfront Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in conjunction with the 7th Annual Scientific Seminar of the FEU-DNR School of Medicine Alumni Foundation. Thirty three jubilarians attended this festive anniversary celebration. They were: Rogelio Acosta, Lydia Aquino-Mapua, Vicente 0. Asanza, Rogelio A. Averion, Abraham V. Bacarra, Alberto S. Barretto, Ellseo M. Bautista, Minerva Bruno-Racela, Moises L. Buzon, Cesar D. Candari, Amado G. Chanco, Jr., Philip S. Chua, Rufino F. Crisostomo, Jr.,Graciano B. Dichoso, Remedios Dionisio, Conrado D.Doce, Rosemary Espino-De Leon, Lionel D. Foz, Blards Garguena, Farida Isip-Chua, Arturo J. De Leon, Ernie D. Madarang, Lily Naguit-Sim, Rodoldo M. De Ocera, Zaida P. Padua-De Ocera, Lilia Pagtakhan-Luna, Gorgonia Peralta-Garguena, Celia G. Roque, Estelito B. Santos, Prospero M. Sendaydiego, Abraham Y. Sim, Leticia Subido-Dacanay and Julio D. Teodoro.

It was a joyous and warm reunion. Memories of the good old schooldays came reeling back. It was plain fun, laughter, and magic. In response to Lilia Luna's request, United Class '61 donated $20,000 to FEUH for the much needed Pulmonary Laboratory for the FEU Hospital.

Just before Christmas that year in Manila, the FEU Medical Alumni held a Grand Ball and Silver Jubilee celebration for United Class '61 at the Silahis Hotel. Some of the members of our class who attended the reunion proceeded the following evening to the residence of Lilia P. Luna at the Loyola Village in Quezon City for a get together. Among them were Roberto Amador, Manuel and Pally (Levardo) Catalan, Cesar Candari, Philip and Farida (Isip) Chua, Gerry Delfin, Shirley (Lintao) Bucag, Romy and Asuncion Lucas, Bernardo Mora, Jr., Auxilladora Reyes, Nene (Santos) Deveza, Leticia (Subido) Dacanay and Gloria (Tirol) Casabal. The whole night we did nothing but ate, reminisced, and laughed, and ate some more. The ladies giggled to no end. It was a fantastic evening.

On August 1, 1987, Emelie Oncapin ('64) a Pathologist at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, was appointed Dean of the FEU DNR Medical School, the first FEU graduate to hold such position. For family reasons, however, Dr. Oncapin resigned on May 31, 1990 an returned to her former position at St. Barnabas. Dr. Oncapin resumed her active involvement in, and became the Executive Director of the FEU DNRMS Alumni Foundation. Baltazar Solis, M.D. was named Dean to succeed Dr. Oncapin, but because of his health, he relinquished the position in 1992. Flordeliza M. Baltazar, M.D., succeeded him and is the current Dean.

United States President Ronald Reagan's strong leadership, foresight, and commitment to his unwavering philosophy of negotiating from a position of military superiority and strength soon weakened the resolve of the economically devastated USSR. Successor George Bush maintained the course, with the equal determination. The celebrated victory of the Allied Forces in the Persian Gulf's expeditious Operation Desert Storm against Iraq's Sadam Hussein showed the world America's leadership and might.

Soon other countries in Asia and in Europe would follow the proud example of the Filipino's strategy of peaceful civil disobedience and bloodless revolution. With similar People Power, the Berlin Wall was torn down on November 9, 1989 and the Iron Curtain melted on December 8, 1991. The USSR disappeared from the map of the world soon thereafter. Communism suffered a big blow.

On September 13, 1993, the unthinkable happened. PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands with Israel Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin as the whole world watched in awe, praying for the peace process in the Middle East to succeed.

Army General Fidel V. Ramos, a West Point graduate and a loyal Aquino protege, succeeded Cory as president of the Republic of the Philippines on June 30, 1992. The economy, which started to improve under the Aquino administration, began to climb new heights. The Philippine stock market flourished and remains bullish. The PLDT stock which was about $4 a share in mid-1986 shot up to $48 a share two years later. In January of 1994, it skyrocketed to a high of $86. Even the real estate market has been quite active lately. I am optimistic and am bullish on the Philippines.

Our generation, the United Class '61 here and back home, was a witness to these fateful and mind-boggling events of the past three decades and a half. Not only did we watch history in the making, we lived some of it too. They have influenced our lives, and have enriched our hearts and minds. They are cherished memories to last a lifetime, remembrances that will warm us through many winters of life to come.

What is in store for us? I do not know. But if I were to surmise what the future will bring, I would venture to guess that it will be something wonderful for the whole world, a brilliance for the entire civilization, a glory for all humankind. And that special thing is peace upon the earth and goodwill towards all men.




Class '61 Picture Gallery

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Class '61 Exotic Asia Tour - January 2015

Part 1
Part 2
Part 1
Part 2

Copyright 1998 Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS 
All Rights Reserved for FEU-DNR-SM-AF