PALARONG
MEDISINA 2015 PRIMER
PALARONG MEDISINA 2015
FOREWORD
When the mere sight of a ball gives us the jitters, when the downy feeling of those blue and white jerseys makes us hold our breath, or when the sound of thundering drums sends shivers down our spines, we know that it’s that time of the year again. Palarong Medisina (Palarong Med)—where the 174 student-athletes of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health will take part in—is drawing near.
EDITORIAL BOARD 2014 - 2015 Maloy Almeda-Benito Supervisor and Moderator Mikhail John Esipiritu Managing Editor
Michaelangelo Cristoni Guballa Editor in Chief
Nicole Denise Villanueva Associate Editor
Katrina Caballas Secretary General
Arra Francesca Castro Finance Officer
Katrina Marie Hernandez Creative Editor
Jovitte Suzane Yalong Jerson Taguibao Article Editors
Mica Araya Hadeza Cabbadu Web Editor Deputies
Maria Bernadette Camacho John Kevin Biadomang Web Editors
WEB TEAM Leanne Chua Marketing Deputy
Carlo Luy Lordeliza Melendrez Seeker Deputies
ACKNOWLEdGEMENTS Aaron Joseph Ayro Victoria Elena Chan
ALAMPAT: Photography and make up Justin Allister Ong Elva Marita Sarte
Janelle Nicole Siu Michelle Wendy Te
Amihan Perez Maan Berbudez RC Marcelo Nicole Terre
Being a medical student and being an athlete are very similar. In games, we find ourselves in high-pressured and heart-rending situations. It’s like taking the Head and Neck finals in YL5 or taking the OSCE for the first time in YL6. At times like these, we’re left without a choice but to have the kind of mental toughness that makes one believe in the improbable, and a heart of steel that thwarts our greatest fears. Just like any medical student who spends sleepless nights to study, and tries—with all his might— to stay awake and actively listen to the most snooze-inducing lectures in class, we undergo intense preparations as well. Teams train at least twice or thrice a week after class or during the weekend. This is on top of meeting the rigorous demands of medical school, and fulfilling our obligation as family members and conscientious social beings. Just like any medical student who feels ecstatic after doing his complete physical exam perfectly for the first time (and by himself) athletes too, have an athlete’s “high”. It’s the exhilarating feeling that we get knowing, seeing, and feeling that there are more than a hundred people who have our backs—those who’ll shout louder and jump higher than us when we win, or those who’ll still bleed blue even if we lose. On behalf of all the athletes who are competing in Palarong Med, I would like to ask for the whole Ateneo community’s support. We’ve done it before, and I know that we can do it again. We’ve done it in past competitions. We’ve done it in the board exams. We’ve been doing it to our batchmates and to other batches as well— leaving no Atenean left behind, and being there for others. I hope that through a deeper understanding of what an athlete goes through, we’ll all be there and take part in giving others a ONE BIG FIGHT!
WRITERS
Leorem Asetre Daniel Macrohon
Some people dismiss the thought of playing competitive sports in medical school as impossible and regard it as an entirely different endeavor from that of becoming a doctor. I believe otherwise.
Bern Iglesia Lorenz Revillas
Michaelangelo Cristoni Guballa ASMPH Class 2017 SCOPE Editor-in-Chief 2014-2015
DETERMINATION AND FIREPOWER
words by Leorem Asetre
For many medical students, life can be too busy to make time for extra-curricular activities, especially those that require physical and mental demands. However, along with many other athletes of the school, the ASMPH Badminton Team is able to put enough determination for their Palarong Medisina preparations this school year. Led by Year Level 7 students Lisa Encarnacion and Stephen Claudio, fifteen out of the team’s 25 players will be competing in Palarong Med. They have seven players from YL5, four from YL6, two from YL7 and two from YL9. Based on how well each of the year levels are represented this year, it is in no doubt that they have a great line of players for the competition. As stated by Encarnacion, all of the players’ preparations and enthusiasm in playing badminton will definitely be a key influence for them to land the top spot this season. Further, the members of the team are confident with each other, knowing that each player has put in a lot of time and effort to achieve the gold this season. But more than this, their confidence stems from the fact that they have developed a bond as a team, thinking of each other as brother
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and sisters. The team values how they learn and grow together. This closeness allows them to believe that they will not let each other down. When asked on how they are able to handle the demands of medical school while simultaneously training for Palarong Med, Claudio replied with the old adage, “As long as there’s a will, there’s a way!” He continues, “It’s really up to you to decide what you do with your time. You should have the conviction to follow through and I believe our team has that.” Encarnacion added that all are aware that first and foremost, they are students. According to her, this allowed them to openly compromise with each other whenever requirements and schedules interfere with their training. It is not easy to balance the hassles of being a medical student and at the same time, doing one’s best as an athlete. The team recognizes that it is easy for one’s motivation to sometimes shrink in playing both of these roles. However, as Ateneans, the team knows that the determination and firepower they have laid out while training will definitely pay off this season. And just like how this team sees it, it is what one learns from the play-offs that matters most.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BADMINTON
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HUMILITY ABOVE ALL words by Bern Iglesia
It is a time-tested truth that there is strength in unity. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. This mantra is held dearly by the Women’s Volleyball team, headed by captains, Gladys Kaye Reyes and Khei Jazzle Lim. Preparing for Palarong Med 2015 is not like preparing for any other tournament. On top of being athletes, the participants are also medical students. Despite these challenges, however, Reyes says that their team takes trainings seriously. The team has been consistent with their trainings despite the fact that only a few of the clerks and interns will be coming back this year. Although this may be a key loss for their team, Reyes says that their YL6 teammates have great potentials. They have been working and training hard since last year, bringing new skills to the table. As such, the team will be highlighting them this season. Reyes further notes that while this year’s team members are quite new, they have a heart full of values consistent with the members from previous years. This heart, according to her, can be an essential element in order for the team to succeed this season. The team’s main goal is to take their place back in the top three. This may be hard but the endurance and discipline that the team has cultivated throughout their trainings will be their edge. Reyes notes that their team really has improved holistically. Adding this to their undying passion for the sport, she believes that they can reach their goal while having fun at the same time. “Humble confidence”, this is what Reyes wants to pass on to her teammates as what former captain, Joyce Guce, has done before. “In the court, it is important to be humble and to recognize our mistakes. We’re not a perfect team but we have confidence because we prepared for the tournament. Confidence is just an intimidating factor. We recognize that there are other good teams in front of us, but we’re prepared to take on their challenge,” Reyes explains. This “humble confidence” may prove to be the team’s secret weapon to taking the season’s top spot.
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WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
ONE TEAM ONE FIGHT words by Bern Iglesia
Captain Audren Wong of the Men’s Volleyball Team has high hopes for this year’s Palarong Med. With a passion strong as fire, he guarantees that the Men’s Volleyball Team will be playing their hearts out for the ASMPH community this season. Although they’ve lost two of their most skilled players, namely AJ Pareja and Ralph Tagalog, their new recruits show great promise. According to Wong, these new players from YL5 namely Jethri Cruz, Julianne Fajardo and Eddie Dumadag, are good additions to the team. The team as a whole has also been training doubly hard for the competition and they won’t go down easily without a fight. Motivation is the team’s key to success and Wong ensures that his teammates are motivated enough during trainings by being motivated himself. In doing this, he hopes that they can also internalize the drive to be better and to win. Wong perceives that constant reminders of the competition drawing near as well as small compliments and cheers are effective ways to inspire his teammates especially during stressful times. He also shares that the best thing to fire up the team is by relaying to them the feeling of being able to play at your best during the Palarong Med. According to him, nothing can beat that feeling of pride and awe after hearing your school’s overwhelming support during the games. He hopes that this image will ignite a spark within each and every one of them, especially the rookies, and can help them be physically and mentally prepared for the games. When asked about any messages for the ASMPH community, Wong simply said: “No matter what difficulties lay ahead of us- who we face, the distance we have to travel, and the odds we may have to overcome, we will bring them a One Big Fight as one Team ASMPH!”
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
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STAMINA IS THEIR BULLET words by Jerson Taguibao
Months into the rigorous preparations of the Women’s Basketball Team, team captains Misha Solano and Natalie Salazar are confident. Since the start of the academic year, they have committed to training twice a week - once for conditioning, and another for court training. This is in addition to tune-up games where the team gets a feel of their dynamics both against simulated opponents and among themselves, showing them both their progress and points for improvement. In between their scrimmages and biweekly practices, these athletes have wielded themselves with the skill, endurance, and heart for Palarong Med 2015. According to the co-captains, for whatever they lack in talent for shooting, they make up for in speed, stamina, and sheer determination to steal the title this January. “Our advantage is that we really focus on conditioning [our players],” Salazar points out. “We are faster, so we can outrun them. Our stamina is our bullet.” The two are excited to see the fruit of a semester-and-a-half’s worth of intense training, and considers it an accomplishment whatever the team places. On the team’s behalf, they extend their appreciation for the support of their classmates, the different teams and the ASMPH Athletics Council.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP
words by Jerson Taguibao
With months of well-strategized training under their belt, the Men’s Basketball Team and their captain Amai Ong Vaño are keen on the prize. In comparison to the previous year, their trajectory in preparation is said to be the same. However, the team had to double up in light of losing former players to graduation. With new recruits from the different year levels (including clerks and interns) joining the fold, the ASMPH brand of commitment to excellence is palpable. Under the ardent supervision of Coach Javier Bengzon, this close-knit team has transitioned from training once a week at the beginning of the academic year into a twice-a-week discipline. According to Ong Vaño, the luxury of having Bengzon for another year meant the continuation of the latter’s formal structure of training – with drills focused on speed, strength, and coordination – supplemented by tune-ups with groups outside of Ateneo. Aside from the hours spent in the court, the support has been equally vital. Ong Vaño recalls the many well wishes from fellow athletes and even the guards in ASMPH to defend the title. While there is significant pressure to bring home the championship for the fourth time this Palarong Med 2015, setting his focus on continually improving himself and the team is this team captain’s top priority. He cites the fact that teams from other medical schools have grown stronger in years past. “In terms of competition, [...] everyone should be tougher,” he adds. “Once Palarong Med starts, everyone’s on an even playing field. We’re all striving for the same goal.” It is clear that their confidence does not stem from talent alone; rather, it is an acknowledgment of the strong support system and, above all, the team’s hard work and dedication. On envisioning the turnout, Ong Vaño has one word for it: “Championship.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
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BEING MORE words by Maan Bermudez
With the upcoming Palarong Med drawing near, it is no doubt that the ASMPH Tennis Team has been gearing up for the matches well before January 24. Team Captain Abbey De Guia says that the team has been training each of its players for both the singles and doubles type of matches. Each player has been a key component to the team as everyone has been dedicating their time to prepare and strategize for the matches.
De Guia says that the team focuses on training hard, strategizing well, and teamwork to prepare for this season. With its regular training sessions, the team is 90% ready and is getting the remaining 10% from strategy formulation. By adding teamwork to this combination, the team is truly giving more than a 100% for Palarong Med. With the ASMPH Tennis Team on court and going for the gold this season, the matches will definitely be something to watch out for.
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DEFEND THE CROWN
words by Lorenz Revillas
Coming into the 2015 Palarong Med as defending champions, the ASMPH swim team is raring to go for a back-toback win. In last year’s competition, the men’s team struck gold in a tie with UERM while the women’s team, despite being undermanned, still managed a podium finish at third place. Co-captain Lolong Yap says the key to the championship last year was the number of players who stepped up and participated in as many events as possible. As the competition uses a point system, a player is able to earn points for his or her team for as long as he finishes in the top 8 of an event. Yap believes that this will still be the key to the championship this year. Acknowledging the UERM team’s manpower and talent, Co-captain Adel Barlisan still sees this team as ASMPH’s main competitor in both the men’s and women’s divisions. According to him, UERM is one of the few teams that can match the number of players that ASMPH fields into the competition. He adds that like ASMPH, UERM has former UAAP swimmers to lead their team. Acknowledging the UERM team’s manpower and talent, Co-captain Adel Barlisan still sees this team as ASMPH’s main competitor in both the men’s and women’s divisions. According to him, UERM is one of thefew teams that can match the number of players that ASMPH fields into the competition. He adds that like ASMPH, UERM has former UAAP swimmers to lead their team.
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Asked about the key losses and key gains to the team, Yap mentions Norbie Mendoza, who graduated earlier this year, as a key loss to the team. Mendoza, along with Barlisan, Yap, and Raffy Go, an intern, used to compose the 4-man team for the relay events. With Mendoza’s graduation, Yap says that they are still on the look-out for his replacement from the current crop of swimmers. Talking about the gains, he says that there are several new members from YL5 who have shown promise and commitment in the past months of training. The women’s team, which was shorthanded last year, has been amped up by new recruits from from YL 5 to 7. Both captains are positive that the women’s team will place better this year because of these additions. The team tries to train twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays. On top of swimming, Barlisan says that they also try to incorporate land exercises into their training. In the months leading up to the competition, the intensity and distance of workouts have increased. While in the first few months the training focused on technique and form, the past few months have seen the team focus more on speed, endurance and distance swims. Both captains admit that the team has recently found difficulty in scheduling training sessions. However, Yap believes that this is a problem shared by most varsity teams. Yap and Barlisan both believe that this year’s team is admiringly competitive and that a back-to-back championship is not out of hand. With their dedication for the sport and the support of the ASMPH community, the future looks bright for the ASMPH swim team.
SWIMMING
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THRIVE
words by Nicole Bernadette Terre
For the captains of the Table Tennis Team, Marian Basallote and Mark Darwin Fulgar, this year’s Palarong Med is truly something to look forward to. With the promise of bringing back the championship to where it belongs, the team wishes to have everyone’s support as they represent the school in the games. They see the event as something bigger than themselves. This leads them to dedicate all that they do for everyone who has put their faith into the team and for the greater glory of God. From the very start of the school year, the team saw setting clear goals as key to their preparations. They also had a head start in training through their open tournament and tune up matches with Ateneo Law last June. From then on, they’ve held weekly trainings to improve as individual players and as a team. Asked on what they thought were their key losses, the team recounted a week or two wherein their training schedule coincided with major school events, leaving them unable to train. However, they made sure to train harder in the sessions that followed.
Further, in managing the demands brought on by medical school, the team believes that it all boils down to proper time management. The captains also make sure that the training schedule is ideal for everyone and that there is ample time to study. Recognizing themselves as a big, happy family, the team takes pride in their positivity and passion. These beliefs emanate from each member—serving as what probably are the keys to a stellar performance that supporters and competitors alike can expect from them. These strategies and mindset, coupled by the school’s encouragement to be more, inspire the team to continuously do better. “We’re bringing the championship back to where it belongs” said Basallote. “You won’t want to miss this. Support us in Palarong Med!” added Fulgar. Driven by their bond, their hunger to win, and their will to thrive, the Table Tennis team marches on to victory. United and motivated more than ever, they are indeed a force to be reckoned with.
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HEART IN THE GAME words by RC Marcelo
Following a year after placing in the top 4 for the first time, the Men’s Football Team are given high expectations for this upcoming Palarong Med 2015. The goal in mind for the team is to meet these expectations and hopefully even go past them. Within the team there is no one who is most aware of this than team captain Fritz Mendoza. According to Mendoza, even with the previous success and much of the old team still intact, improvement has been their initiative from the start. Starting earlier than most, the Football team has been training and playing since even before the start of the school year. With scrimmages, technical drills, tactical sessions and physical conditioning, the football team has been able to mold their unique image and quality through the hours of practice. Boasting a vibrant offense and a robust defensive line, partly due to the addition of new and energetic players from YL5, Mendoza is more than confident of the heights that the team will reach. “From the start, there had been a lot of expectations for us to place higher than before. We have been trying all year-round to improve ourselves not only individually but as a team as well. You can expect that we will put everything that we have in the field. I hope that the school will show the support that Ateneo is known for. It would be inspiring to see the people for whom we play for. It would give us more heart to push ourselves beyond our known limitations,” said the team captain. With rigorous physical training and with their heart in the game, the Men’s Football Team is indeed one of the groups to watch out for in Palarong Med 2015.
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MEN’S FOOTBALL
JOURNEY words by RC Marcelo
Mixing a handful of veterans with a number of neophytes, Palarong Med would be the first taste of competition for some, while for others, it would be the chance to regain their success from last year. But with a new-look team composed of members from various sporting backgrounds, the ASMPH Women’s Football team is on a journey towards the unknown. However, for Women’s Captain Aimee Sy, who herself was one of those rookies last year, variety breeds strength. Although not all of the members have been trained in football prior to this school year, their different backgrounds have been their source of inspiration for an all-around training regimen. Their primary goal for the past year has been to not only work on their technical football skills but also to do cross-sport drilling. Sy has acknowledged that the task is arduous, that their team is in need of improvement; this is aggravated by the fact that they are going against teams who are much more established than they are. But she is confident that they will do what needs to be done to prepare for the competition. They have a lot of tools at their disposal; all that is left is to use them and carve their name as a title contender for Palarong Med. “The team this year is very heterogeneous. Some never had experience playing, some came from different sports, some are experts in the field. There is a long way to go before palaro, a lot needs improvement but the team will definitely do its best to reach 100% and bring out every bit of strength and knowledge we trained for all these months. I’ve seen the all out support of the school for all the teams in last year’s palaro, and it has worked magic in a lot of us. Knowing that our ‘family’ is there to support us will really push everyone to give out their everything and not let the school down.” Ultimately, both Men’s and Women’s Football are grateful to their managers, Joanna Gana and Nikki Bitoy, who have done a tremendous job in giving support--not just in logistics but in showing moral support as well.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
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PAIN IS PLEASURE words by Daniel Macrohon
3..2..1..GO! Or sometimes it’s a bang from the starter pistol. After four years of being omitted from the list of events in Palarong Med, track and field returned, no longer as a demo sport, but as a pointbearing event for teams racing to the top. Now, ASMPH’s Track and Field Team is ready to dash in this year’s interschool competition. Leading the pack is team captain Marice Sangalang (YL7). The team of 12 is composed of six men and six women coming from YL 5 to 8. Most of the team members are seasoned players in the UAAP during their undergraduate days. During their early training sessions at the PhilSports Complex, everyone began with developing, for some recalling, the basic techniques with proper form and execution. They then moved to specialize their training according to this year’s events which are 100m dash, mixed 4x100m relay, and mixed 4x200m relay. Also included in their training regimen are weight training sessions held in the Meralco Gym. In this team, pain is pleasure. The extra mile each member takes in the field means another mile for everyone in the team. Their synergy allows them to push each other to train hard and to become better athletes.
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FLYING AND FOCUSED words by Daniel Macrohon
If there’s one thing that ASMPH teams strive for, it would be the back-to-back championships. The ASMPH Frisbee Team isn’t an exception as it enjoys a 2-year reign in the sport. Immediately after Palarong Med 2014, the newly appointed team captain, Gabriel Lim, began recruiting and training members. The ASMPH Frisbee team has since grown and is now composed of 23 players coming from both YL6 and YL7. It fields a mixture of male and female players. The team’s training began with introductory rules and regulations as well as drills involving basic movement and techniques. Lim emphasizes on the importance of game knowledge since there are no referees in the game. Eventually, cross matches with other Frisbee teams were incorporated to provide an actual competitive atmosphere for the team’s development. Lim mentions a crucial loss of experienced players to the call of clerkship as last year’s roster involved several YL7 students. He also notes challenges in experience gaining and in the lack of representation from other year levels. Nevertheless, the team’s veterans and their strengthened women’s line up are key gains that make up for these losses. Intent on keeping their track record, the Frisbee team remains flying and focused on scoring yet another crown this season.
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