ON THE second year anniversary of the establishment of the University of the Philippines-Manila School of Health Science (UPM-SHS) Tarlac last March 13, Governor Susan Yap led the unveiling of the one of the most iconic statues in Philippine history, the UP Oblation.
She was joined by Vice Governor Carlito David, Tarlac second district Representative Christian Tell Yap, Tarlac mayors and vice mayors, board members, newly installed UP President Atty. Angelo Jimenez, UP School of Health and Sciences Dean Dr. Filedito Tandinco, former UP President Atty. Danilo Concepcion and UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Carmencita Padilla.
The second year anniversary was themed “Pagpupunla ng Pagpapahalaga sa Buhay Pamilya at Pamayanan: Pagpapatibay ng Edukasyon Tungo sa Wagas na Paglilingkod Pangkalusuga.”
In her message, Governor Susan Yap welcomed President UP Jimenez and the members of the UP Board of Regents and reminisced the history of how the UPM-SHS was established in the province.
“Sa atin pong bagong UP President at sa lahat ng kawani ng Board of Regents, welcome po sa Tarlac. It was more than two years when I went to UP…at that time, I have tasked our local State Universities dito sa Tarlac to put up a school of medicine because Tarlac province has five government hospitals and the Tarlac Provincial Hospital is one of the biggest in the country and it is only a training hospital run by an LGU. Sabi ko, bakit training hospital tayo bakit wala tayong school of medicine and the rest was history,” she said.
Gov. Yap said that the anniversary and unveiling is momentous because the very symbol of UP is now in Tarlac.
“This night is too momentous kasi di langtwo years. Kung walang oblation kasi parang walang UP. The Oblation tonight is so important to us…so maraming salamat for making this dream come true for us,” Gov. Yap said.
The UPM-SHS was established to develop relevant and excellent health practitioners committed to serve the marginalized sectors of the country; develop innovative undergraduate, graduate and short courses attuned to the health needs of the country; develop outstanding faculty committed to the attainment of institutional goals/mandate; strengthen the unit’s research capability and undertake researches crucial to the enhancement of innovative health sciences education and the country’s total health development, and; collaborate with other health science institutions in developing, implementing and evaluating health sciences education curricula.—Arvin F. M. Cabalu
