Carry our "whys" more closely as we take flight to forge greater heights

Read the valedictory address of Lance Gill Mendoza Tolentino (ASMPH Batch '24) during the 2024 Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Commencement on 31 August 2024.

Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ateneo de Manila University: Ms Bernadine T Siy;  Our University President: Rev Fr Roberto C Yap SJ; Vice President for Higher Education: Dr Maria Luz C Vilches; Vice Presidents of the University, Mayor of Pasig City: Honorable Victor Ma Regis N Sotto; Esteemed Deans, Administrators, Faculty, and Staff of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health; Beloved parents, families, friends; my dear fellow graduates, good day. 

Allow me to start by paying homage to my Bicolano roots and offering a tigsik I made. Tigsiks are short verses recited in front of loved ones and friends as a form of toast or sometimes as a (friendly) sneer. I thought it fitting to recite one since you’ve been my second home for the last 5 years.

So to start: Inaalay ko ang aking tigsik sa mga nangarap, tumaya, at nagsikap.

Tigsik ko ang Batch 2024,

Pinanday, Hinulma maging oragon na klaseng doktor,

Urog kagabat asin kagayon arog kang purong 24 karat na ginto.

Masirbing susi sa manlaen-laen na pinto

To translate: A toast to Batch 2024 forged and molded into outstanding physicians each worth the weight and glimmer of 24-carat gold, ready to serve as keys opening doors for others.

My dear batchmates when we took our very first lusong during our OrSem, I saw a vast sea of potential in each one of you. It was so inspiring to see you give your all in everything that you do. I thought to myself, wow, how privileged am I that I’ll be spending the next 5 years with these people! This sea of gold!

And so began our five year journey, poring over books, presenting cringey integs, infighting during TBLs, and many “Uy ikaw na” moments during SGDs. Fun activities that were interspersed with quiet moments of “Ayoko na di ko na kaya”, which by the end of the day would somehow earn us a “Naitawid naman” and “Hey look Ma I made it”.

We took our second lusong in facing the challenges of the pandemic. We have endured despite the mental toll of on-screen learning while worrying for the safety of our loved ones and communities. We spent hours digesting information from countless lectures, but through it all, we did not remain seated. Many of us contributed in our own capacity -- translating DOH paraphernalia into different languages, organizing relief missions, among other initiatives. Just our mere persistence in our studies also showed our mettle, that despite the harsh realities the pandemic has exposed about our profession and healthcare, we held on to our promise that someday, ako naman – ako naman ang magsisilbi sa frontlines, on2the4front.

We took our next lusongs when we first donned the white coat, and had the great privilege of rotating in specialized hospitals and various communities. In these spaces, we met allied health personnel who became our dearest friends and supporters. In these spaces, we encountered grateful patients who gave us our first PF in the form of biscocho, Indian mangoes, milk tea, or warm hugs. In these spaces, we saw the situation of our healthcare system in its humblest, and in our helplessness, sought to give what we could as students. Aided by our business acumen, we left our health centers with a legacy of generosity, affording major renovations and donating new equipment.

Just as we are leaving these spaces with a legacy of generosity, our seniors also knew us as a batch na ginintuan din ang ulo. We are one opinionated and headstrong batch. But I guess that just shows how much we care for change, for justice, and accountability. I hope that wherever our wings take us, may we always find the courage to speak our truths and fight for what we believe in.

It has been 5 long years in ASMPH, and I can proudly say that the greatest honor I’ve had is the privilege of knowing you and having you as friends. Meron tayong mga ginintuang isip, na ipinamalas nina Cel at Jhene; mga ginintuang kamay sa pangunguna nina Mayan, Shalom, Rizel, at Meg; at isang daa’t animnapu’t apat na ginintuang puso, dahil di tayo makakarating sa puntong ito kung ‘di dahil sa tibay ng loob at bukas na pusong magpakababa at magsilbi sa kapwa.

Bagama’t sari-sari ang ating mga kwento, alam kong sinubok din ang inyong mga “bakit” sa pagmemedisina. Sa limang taong pagpapakadalubhasa, may mga karanasan at mga mukhang mas nagpahinog ng ating mga hilaw na “bakit”.

Kung inyong mamarapatin, hayaan niyo akong magbahagi ng akin:

Lingid sa alam ng nakararami, ilang beses na akong muntikang bumitaw sa pag-aaral ng medisina. Sa simula’t sapol, pinalad lamang po akong mabigyan ng scholarship, kaya ako naririto. Konti lang ang nagkakaroon ng ganitong oportunidad kaya minabuti kong gawin ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang maging karapat-dapat sa regalong ipinagkaloob. Kaya kahit pa man nakaranas ako ng mga dagok, kagaya ng pandemya o ang suungin ang online learning sa kabila ng sunod-sunod na supertyphoon, pinilit kong magpakatatag at ipaglaban ang aking pangarap.

Ngunit nung na-diagnose po si Papa ng isang agresibong uri ng kanser, doon ko napagtanto na marahil, dito na titigil ang paglipad ng aking mga pangarap. Handa na akong bumitaw para kumita at maasikaso ang aking tatay, full time. Nagpaalam na rin ako sa mga kaibigan para sa inaasahang Leave of Absence. Ngunit nung tinuran ng tatay ko na “Hindi pwede. Lalaban lang ako kung lalaban ka. Aattend tayo nang sama-sama sa grad mo”, nabigyan ng ibang kahulugan at mukha ang aking “bakit” sa pagpapaka-doktor.

Simula noon, 2024 ang naging pinakamalaking deadline ng buhay ko. Tipid dito, kita doon kung may oportunidad. Med student kapag duty, caregiver o bantay ‘pag from. Nakakapagod pero ika nga, if it were life-giving for my father, it was for me too. Sa pagiging bantay ko rin mas nakilala ang ating pampublikong kalusugan. Doon ko natutunang pumila ng buong araw para makakuha ng gamot, alamin ang pasikot-sikot ng red tape ng mga ahensiya, at magpasensiya at humanap ng ibang paraan kung wala talagang makuhang tulong. At sa halos dalawang taong pakikibaka ng aming pamilya, sa pakikisalamuha at pakikipag-kapwa sa mga pasyente, bantay, at iba pang mukhang nakikipaglaban para sa kalusugan ng minamahal, hindi na rin naging kaiba sa laban ng Papa ko, at sa pagpapaka-doktor ko, ang mga laban nila.

May mga kanya-kanya tayong personal na kwento, pero sama-sama tayong namulat sa realidad ng kalusugan sa Pilipinas. Salamat ASMPH, sa pribilehiyong ito. At sa sari-saring nating mga kwento at kwento ng mga pasyenteng binigo ng ating pampublikong kalusugan, nakita natin na ang mga kakulangan ay sistematiko at struktural.

Batch 2024, having served in institutions where the best practices are faithfully upheld, along with our experience of serving the underserved, has profoundly deepened our understanding of medicine and made our approach to patient care more compassionate and justice-driven. Let us strive towards building a healthcare system that protects families from financial ruin and allows its youth to continue dreaming. Let us work towards a future where no Filipino is left behind in accessing quality healthcare, and advocate for good governance from our elected leaders.

My father is not here with us today, but he continues to be one of the many faces of my “why” in medicine. Paghugutan natin ang mga mukhang ating nakasama sa ating limang taong paglalakbay dahil sa kanila natin makikilala ang kaibuturan ng ating mga bakit. Dahil laging kakabit ng bakit ang para kanino.

I found my “why” in the faces of our patients who entrusted their health to us.

I found my “why” in you dear batchmates, for staying true to your course, despite your own silent battles.

I found my “why” in the faces of our professors, residents, and consultants who have generously mentored us, and showed us the ideal versions of our future selves.

I found my “why” in my benefactor, Equitable Foundation Inc., aunt Ruth Tolentino, ate Jean Mendoza, ate Enon Tolentino, relatives, friends and our staff for their constant show of support.

I found my “why” in my parents, my superwoman, Ma Lourdes, and superhero, Pa Gil, for their unconditional love.

And so gratitude is due to all these faces, who have made all our whys all the more clearer, deeper, and familiar to all of us. We owe great gratitude to God for His ineffable ways, that despite the uncertainties of the last 5 years, brought us to this moment to continue pursuing our whys and his greater Purpose.

To close, I’d like to share one realization during my community med rotation: Sa kabila ng kasalatan at labis na kawalan, lagi’t lagi tayong may magagawa. Sa isang propesyon na ang puhunan ay isip at puso, lagi tayong may espasyo para umaksiyon.”

Wherever we may foray to bring our golden talents to use, remember to draw strength from your for whoms, take up space, and empower others, especially the vulnerable and disenfranchised, in the pursuit of health and well-being.

Batch 2024, we are now at the forefront, our first among many in this lifelong journey. As we take flight to forge greater heights, I hope that we always carry our "whys" more closely, follow our “North stars” more nearly, and love our “for whoms” more dearly. Dios mabalos po!