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A dventist University ofthe Philippines and theSeventh-day Adventistchurch in the Southern AsiaPaci c Divisionremain hopeful

that very soon amedical collegewill be estab-lished in AUP. This hope is groundedon the rm belief thatGod has been guidingand opening doors forthe COM establish-ment despite the latesttemporary setback en-countered by the uni-

versity because of thedenial by the CHEDTechnical Committeeon Medical Educa-tion (TCME) for AUPto offer the doctor ofmedicine in June 2014. Admittedly, therecent CHED TCME decision has causeda host of mixed emotions and surmisingamong concerned individuals, faculty, andalumni both locally and abroad. Some

of the questions that are being asked are,Why was it disapproved again? WasAUP prepared for the TCME visit? Hasnot God shown that AUP does not needa COM? Is God leading the universityto open the program at the best time other

than 2014? These questions and con-cerns demand answers and explanation.

In retrospect, a little history of thequest for the COM is in order for a clearerunderstanding of what is really going on

The COMGoal Lives On

and how the university has addressed the preparation issues for the realization ofthe COM goal. Looking back at previ-ous events will also show that God has

been guiding the university to accomplishthings for the COM.

It is a fact that plansfor a college of medicinehad been in the of ngfrom former administra-tors who jumpstarted yetother plans of administra-tors in the past who haddreamed about such acollege even in the Baesadays. However, it wasduring the past 10 yearsthat there were deliberateattempts and efforts to es-tablish a COM. A feasibil-ity study which was later

on revised was done and became the basis of the plan for a COM. Ground- breaking ceremonies fora college of medicine

building and hospital had been performed by past administrationsin hopes of making the dream come true.This was because past administrators wereinformed that the main requirements fora Doctor of Medicine program were for

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as AUPs base hospital. The decision was

an answered prayer and gave hope to AUPand Adventist leaders of the Southern AsiaPaci c Division. It has led AUP to fasttrack the construction of the COM build-ing through the generous support of manyalumni and friends all over the world.

In June 2013, AUP submitted acompliance report to the remaining recom-mendations of the CHED TCME Octo -

ber 2012 visit. The report was required before another TCME visit scheduled inOctober 2013; which did not happen andunexplained by the TCME. It was onlyin December 2013 that the university re -ceived an of cial communication from theCHED that the compliance report submit -ted in June 2013 did not comply with therequirements and therefore did not warranta campus visit. Hence in early Janu-ary 2014, the administration went to theCHED yet again to submit all the neededrequirements based on the CMO and theTCME visit recommendations in October2012. As a result, the TCME scheduled avisit for March 20, 2014. They came asscheduled yet once more denied AUPsdesire to offer the doctor of medicine

program in June 2014. Their exit reportstates that there are still de ciencies to becomplied with but encouraged the AUP

administration to work on the de ciencies

and reapply in June 2014. Accordingto the TCME members, their decision isactually a form of help to the universityso that AUP could recruit good studentsfor its medical school. They reasoned outthat other medical schools have alreadyrecruited students as early as October ofthe previous year and it would be too latefor AUP to recruit medical students forJune 2014. However, one thing is notice-able with the recommendations of theTCME. They looked for something notspeci ed in the CMO and not includedin the recommendations of their visit inOctober 2012 i.e., that the base hospitalmust have adequate charity patients; thatthe ratio of full-time to part-time facultyshould be 60:40; and that basic sciencesinstructors should be medical doctors withteaching experience in a medical school.These requirements are yet to be includedin the revision of the CMO as steps toelevate the quality of medical education inthe Philippines.

With the recent decision of theTCME, should AUP now give up its desireto offer the doctor of medicine program?Some say that it is enough for dreamingand it is high time to be realistic. Some

believe that God has spoken and that the

COM is not His will. The administra-

tion and the Adventist church leadership,together with others believe otherwise.God has been guiding and leading AUPto achieve its present COM status. Theysee that the answer of God to prayers ofalumni and Adventist all over the worldon the opening of the AUP Doctor ofMedicine program in June 2014 is not NO.Instead, the current administration seesthat the opening of the doctor of medicine

program is just delayed and that God isleading the university to offer it in a bettertime. Hence AUP is all set to submit its

compliance report this month of June 2014so that the TCME could revisit AUP inOctober of this year.

Meanwhile, the AUP administrationapproved that the College of Medicine

building be used temporarily by otherdisciplines as classrooms and of ces thisschool year 2014. Most of the roomswill be occupied and used by the Medi-cal Technology Department, the grosslaboratory will be used by the Collegeof Dentistry, and the area opposite of thegross laboratory at the basement intendedfor parking will be developed to house thecomputer and IT departments.

COM Building Named as Alumni HallOn March 17, 2014, the AUP Board of Trustees approved to of cially name the current COM building proj -

ect, as Alumni Hall. The main reason for the choice of the name is the fact that a substantial amount of theconstruction cost is expected to come from alumni and friends. In addition, the building will not be used solely

by the future College of Medicine as the lower ground oor will be home for the Medical Laboratory ScienceDepartment and part of the basement will house the Computer and IT departments.

The construction of Alumni Hall is so far the largest project in AUP that alumni are involved with a gift of the alumnito AUP for its upcoming centennial celebration. And so in recognition of AUPs generous donors, the board also approved anaming policy for rooms/buildings constructed in the campus which is applied in the alumni hall. The new policy providesthat a room/building can be named after a donor who exempli es values for which AUP stands and contributes a substantialamount of the construction/renovation cost of a room or a building costing 1 million pesos but below 15 million pesos.Donors for buildings/rooms below the 1 million mark will be honored through a plaque that will be placed inside the roomif donation covers a substantial amount of the project.

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GC President Visit...

ALUMNI HALLphoto updates.

GC Board ofEducation Visit...

Alumni Hall New Donors/Donors undera New Category

Patron (US$25,000 US$49,999.99 or PhP100,000 PhP229,999.99) Dr. Elmer & Mrs. Lerie Bangloy South Philippine Union Conference Adventist Medical Center BacolodSponsor (US$10,000 US$24,999.99 or PhP50,000.00 PhP99,999.99 Pedernal, Linson & Rachel [Varona)Donor (US$5,000.00 US$9,999.99 or PhP25,000 PhP49,999.99) Michael PerdonSupporter (US$500.00 US1,999.99 or PhP2,000.00 PhP9,999.99) AUPA Path nder Club

Myrna Castillo

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