A Magical Night at SUMS

I have always believed that writing was set in the perspective of the writer; the words that bring a story to life by his hands and the story to be lived by the reader. So let me tell you a story of a faraway land where witches roam, when the undead roam among the living, where princes and princesses exists, and where fairy tales are no longer only within the confides of the book. An evening in which you can let out the inner child in you and dress up as the person whom you have always wanted to be growing up, let your thoughts within thoughts within thoughts be more than just fiction, and live their story.

My dear friends, let me tell you of an evening where the old blood meet the new in a yearly event where they are welcomed, welcomed to what you may ask, well that’s another story best told through each individuals perspective. So come with me as I enchant you with the story of Silliman’s medical school acquaintance party.

The evening began at 6:00pm at the Silliman gymnasium as you walk in you are greeted by these massive trees there at which they form a walkway as if transporting you through a magical dimension, a dimension in which you have to stop halfway through to sign in your attendance; after you go through the rows of trees so beautifully finished with lights letting them glimmer, as if fireflies rested upon the branches in various colours. We were seated and then the ceremony began with the national anthem and then a rousing opening remarks by Dr. Walden Ursos, talking about how it is important that we see each other as a family and that tonight we get “acquainted” with one another, oh the play of words is strong in this one.

After the opening remarks we had our prayer, me and a couple of my friends were seated behind the doctors and for some twist of good faith the servers gave us food that were supposed to be for the doctors, we did not complain it was a blessing, but of course before we ate the food handed to us we asked permission as it would be wrong of us not to. We had a good laugh at how we did not have to fall in line with the others and we were able to begin eating immediately, now that I think about it I do not know what made them think we were part of the doctors' table.

As we were having our dinner we were watching the videos made by  each year level, one in particular that has been stuck in my mind is that of the fourth year, as every other video was all about making the others laugh theirs brought a more tense, serious atmosphere if you will. It was different, but, not in a bad way in a “this will be our last year here” kind of way. As depressing as it may sound it, we have nothing other than love for them as well as much admiration for finally reaching such a stage.

When all the eating was done, we then moved on with the games, the host of the games stated the importance of the games was to get to know each other and so we shuffled among each other having to grouped with each year level as to get familiar with each other, the games began and people laughed as others failed and others succeeded but all in a positive atmosphere. A series of events then followed such as the showing of tributes, let me elaborate; each year level will have to send two tributes a male and female, of which people select among a total of eight tributes of whom they want to pair up for a very special evening, a date. The selected male and female with the highest amounts in their respect of donations will then go on a date with one another,  Another important event that happened was when each year level performed on the dance floor it was quite entertaining and that it seemed that every year level had the same idea of dancing to “trumpets” it was exhilarating in a sense that we get to see a variation of moves with the same song over , and over, and over again. We also had the awarding of the best in costume which was amazing to see the creativity of each and every one, having so much studying to be done, it was above and beyond what I imagined people were capable of with such a workload to be done.

Finally, when all these events along with the minor events have come and done, we are then greeted by our former dean Dr. Amante and he spoke of how much he appreciated the evening but more so on the punctuality of how it began exactly at 6:00pm, he spoke that as future physicians, it was important that we be able to value time not only among peers and colleagues but more importantly to patients, having to be already in suffering we not add onto these troubles of theirs.

All in all, the evening was amazing having seen my friends in a new light, having to meet new acquaintances, and having to admire the dedication each and every one brings to the table at every moment. The evening in itself brought back new life and it truly was an evening of magic. 

-Ed Gerard Ang Gobonseng.