The MHAM team: (L-R) Anton Reyes, Keren Eulyna Bicar, Mel Karl Sabal, Amer Hussein Domado, Louie Lopez, William Tiu Jr., Andrea Marie Tortugo, Irish Lontoc, Mary Louise Sereño and Hanan Doro
Ten MHAM student leaders recently joined the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Student Network’s Annual Planning and Evaluation Seminar (PLEVSEM) at the Adventist University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Silang, Cavite last June 14 to 16, 2017.
This year’s 3-day PLEVSEM was jam-packed with activities participated by medical student leaders throughout the country with its theme, “HIRAYA: Forging a Network for the Philippine Medical Student”, where MHAM chosen students actively participated.
The medical student-delegates from the Visayas region
Amer Hussein Domado, Andrea Marie Tortugo, Anton Reyes, Hanan Doro, Irish Lontoc, Mel Karl Sabal, Louie Lopez, Mary Louise Sereño, William Tiu Jr. and Keren Eulyna Bicar were among the medical student-leaders from the Visayas region who aimed to bring a stronger APMC throughout the years.
Bringing closer and stronger APMC with all the student-delegates all over the country
As his first time to join the PLEVSEM, Governor-elect, Louie Lopez, considered the annual event very significant and compelling especially in his current responsibility in governing the Student Body. A recipient of the Palawan Provincial Government scholarship grant, this junior student-leader aims to keep up the good governance expressed through accountability and reliability for the greater good of the MHAM Student Body throughout the academic year.
The MHAM way: Student Body Governor, Louie Lopez (sixth from the left) with the MHAM student leaders
“The PLEVSEM was aimed to prepare student council leaders for the year ahead and we were able to hear and learn from very distinguished speakers and guests of the relevant problems facing medical students today. One of which is Mental Health Awareness which was also the chosen advocacy of this year’s APMC. Moreover, the APMC SN aims to bring the network closer not only to the student council officers but also to each and every medical student throughout the country. Personally, one of the highlights of this year’s PLEVSEM for me is the breakout session for all the student council presidents of the different medical schools in the country. The activity gave me an opportunity to know and to learn from the different leaders about their practices, their governing policies and even our shared sentiments. These learnings are what I intend to share and practice as the Student Council President of MHAM this school year 2017-2018”, said Lopez.
APMC-SN PLEVSEM 2017: “HIRAYA: Forging a Network for the Philippine Medical Student”
Meanwhile, the APMC-SN Visayas region Secretary-General, Mel Karl Sabal, could not contain his indebted support and active participation not just as a MHAM student-leader but as an APMC-SN regional officer. Having been elected as the Secretary-General for Visayas region last February 1, 2017 during the National Convention held at the Ateneo School of Medicine in Manila, this junior student started his term last June this year and was serving the medical students since last year being the Finance Officer.
#StrongerAPMC: MHAM CM student-leader and APMC-SN Visayas region Secretary-General, Mel Karl Sabal (center, standing)
MHAM student-leaders; Andrea Marie Tortugo (second from left, front row), William Tiu Jr. (third from left, back row) and Mel Karl Sabal (fifth from left, back row), joined other delegates from the Visayas region for a unified APMC
“Started with a bond which is essential in aiming a stronger APMC bearing the #StrongerAPMC, this year’s PLEVSEM gave the medical student leaders to evaluate last year’s activities and plan for the national and regional projects for 2017-2018. The seminar also paved the way for the student leaders to voice out their opinions on various issues concerning health, healthcare and medical education. The seminar was composed of various activities including revisions of rules of internal governance, dissection of the Magna Carta for Philippine Medical Students and presentations of the different Ad Hoc Committees. There were also plenary sessions and breakout sessions that were focused on project planning and management, enhancing leadership skills and starting an advocacy to name a few. Regional matters and activities were comprehensively discussed during regional caucuses. Apart from the rigorous sessions, student leaders had good times also through ‘pasalubong’ festival wherein each school has to bring delicacies from their respective regions and team building activities that fostered camaraderie and rapport and exercise their ability to work together effectively”, said this active Secretary-General.
#StrongerAPMC: Soon-to-be doctors in the medical field
During the first day of the event, the APMC-SN history, mission, vision and organizational chart were presented before the delegates along with the recap of all the activities implemented by the APMC-SN’s respective regions from the previous term. The dissection of the Magna Carta for Philippine Medical Students, team building activities and the Socials Night were highlighted on the second day. Fostering camaraderie and rapport to work together as one APMC family, the delegates completed the 3-day event with a signifying photoshoot at the AUP Centennial Park which also marked the beginning of the new challenge of being the role models in their respective schools and in empowering the advocacies and goals of the APMC-SN throughout their medical studies.
APMC-SN: Forging a network for the Philippine medical students
One mission, one vision, one APMC: Keren Eulyna Bicar (center, seated) joined other student-leaders for one unified calling
Former official APMC Representative, Keren Eulyna Bicar, also expressed her insights and sentiments as she joined the PLEVSEM for the second time with much delight. Having been actively associated with the APMC-SN’s line up activites in the region, this 24-year old MHarmony chorale member and MedLympics athlete has presented her project proposal for this school year as she was invited as the National Blood Drive Campaign Chairperson during the event.
“It is my inmost delight to enlighten the readers on what PLEVSEM is all about. The acronym stands for Planning and Evaluation Seminar; where officers, representatives and student council members are invited to listen and participate in formal sessions, breakout sessions, and regional caucuses to optimize strategies in planning and managing projects to empower student councils of respective medical schools in integrating these projects into their own schools, and to discuss elaborately the events that are to be set forth in the upcoming school year. PLEVSEM is an annual event of the APMC-SN where all its member medical schools from all over the country would gather. With collaboration as one of the main objectives of APMC-SN, the PLEVSEM serves as a venue to build the foundation for future collaboration among medical student leaders. With students from different regions coming together to throw in their own thoughts and suggestions in matters regarding the events and projects that will be started at the beginning of the school year, I think it’s fair to say that the PLEVSEM is really important”, said Bicar.
A strong bond for a stronger APMC: With the MHAM CM delegates and other respective student-delegates in the country
In addition, this junior student also gave emphasis on how MHAM students can contribute towards a stronger APMC and to empower its advocacies and in building up an empowering Student Body. “I think one of the best ways that MHAM can contribute to a stronger APMC is to participate in the activities we will be starting this school year and to engage in the projects of the national and regional sectors. I know not everybody from every school can experience the PLEVSEM; we would like to accommodate as many as we can, but due to limited resources, attendance is limited. However, if one can’t take sitting down eight to ten hours a day listening intensely to proposals, motioning and vigorously discussing amendments, then one might find participating in the projects more satisfying than the planning”, she concluded.
MHAM student-leader and APMC Ad Hoc officer, Keren Eulyna Bicar, in her National Blood Drive Campaign lecture…
To note, Bicar is the only Ad Hoc officer of the APMC national executive boards who is outside Luzon. Driven by her passion to serve with a heart, she thrivingly presented her proposed agenda for the National Blood Drive Campaign to the student-leaders in the country with a positive and favorable response.
MHAM junior student-leaders, Mel Karl Sabal and Keren Eulyna Bicar joined other medical student councils in this year’s APMC PREVSEM
Bearing the #StrongerAPMC, the national Planning and Evaluation Seminar 2017 was well-attended by one hundred eighty medical student-delegates from thirty-six medical schools coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This year’s PLEVSEM was intended to bring the united voice of the Filipino medical students on the issues pertaining to health, healthcare and medical education. (Ana Liza Abao)