On December 19, 2002, at the Audiovisual Room of the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC), a historic affair occurred.

The affair was a gathering of staff from the Department of Surgery, Department of Anesthesia, and Surgical Nurses of OMMC. The hospital administration officials and other guests from other departments within OMMC were invited to witness the 3 events-in-1 gathering. The 3 events consisted of thanksgiving celebration, graduation rites, and Christmas party.

The affair was historic in the sense that it was the first time in the history of OMMC that a joint OMMC Department of Surgery and Department of Anesthesia Graduation Ceremony was held. It was also the first time that the Department of Surgery, Department of Anesthesia, and the Surgical Nurses had a joint Christmas Party.

The affair was originally scheduled at 5:00 p.m. with the graduation ceremony as the first number in the program. However, with the Hospital Director unable to come on time, the program had to be changed with dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by some games and funs while waiting for the Hospital Director. The graduation ceremony started at about 9:00 p.m. and ended at about 10:30 p.m. Dances and raffle followed and the affair ended a little passed 12:00 midnight.

Thus, the program turned out to be as follows:

Program	Participating Individuals
Dinner
Welcome Address	Dr. Edgardo Penserga Assistant Chair for Research
I. Thanksgiving Program
Exploring Possibilities – Our History in the Making	Graduating Residents’ Presentation A glimpse of what transpired during their training
Thanksgiving Prayer	Dr. Annette Guevarra Consultant, Department of Anesthesia
II. Graduation Rites
Presentation of the Graduates	Dr. Harry Go Assistant Chair for Service Chair, General Surgery Residents’ Screening and Evaluation Committee Department of Surgery Dr. John Sasin Consultant, Department of Anesthesia
Acceptance and Recognition of the Graduates	Dr. Reynaldo Joson Chair, Department of Surgery Dr. Anita So Chair, Department of Anesthesia Dr. Christia Padolina Hospital Director
Awarding of Certificates	Dr. Anthony Adrian Yu Assistant Chair for Training, Department of Surgery Dr. Dioscoro Balingit Training Officer, Department of Anesthesia
Response of the Graduates	Dr. Vivian Enriquez Department of Surgery Dr. Rhandee Cruz Department of Anesthesia
Messages of the Chairpersons	Dr. Anita So Chair, Department of Anesthesia Dr. Reynaldo Joson Chair, Department of Surgery
III. Christmas Party
Dances and Raffle

Highlights of the affair:

1. Joint program and cooperation

2. Presentation of the graduates

3. Awarding of certificates to graduates

Diploma in General Surgery to surgery graduates

4. Message of Dr. Reynaldo Joson

The GRADUATES

Department of Surgery	Department of Anesthesiology
Ana Maria G. Agoo-Llado, MD	Lyrah E. Jamoralin-Dioneda, MD
Vivian P. Enriquez, MD	Mercedes Rhandee F. Mercado-Cruz, MD
Joseph A. Estanislao, MD	Numeriano M. Samar, Jr. MD
Nolim’t Jay T. Raquel, MD	Ma. Ann Viraida B. Trinidad, MD