Dare to be XXV at Tanaw (Graduation)
University of the Philippines College of Medicine Recognition Rites (aka. the “college graduation” as opposed to the “university graduation” which happened earlier, for all the graduating students from University of the Philippines Manila campus). Faculty from all departments marched into the auditorium; my colleagues from Rehabilitation Medicine came in with the clinical departments. I got to my seat ahead of them because I marched in with the basic science (i.e., non-clinical) Department of Social Medicine. Later the graduating students walked in from backstage. We had journalist Atom Araullo as graduation speaker – surprisingly, he has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics! Then we got to the main event – capping and hooding of the graduates by parents/relatives. The new physicians received their diplomas and certificates of completion for medical internship at the Philippine General Hospital.
A note about the sablay, which is that sash worn diagonally across the torso as a tropical replacement for the academic dress of cap and gown. It is worn over the traditional formal barong Tagalog for men, or a cream/ecru/beige dress for women. Graduating students wear the sablay over the right shoulder, and shift it to the left shoulder upon conferment of their degree.
