Mentoring at Figaro

Dr. Belen Dofitas met with us for the first time since she got back from a speaking engagement in America. She spoke at a Cochrane Colloquium in Colorado, and she shared her experiences with our mentoring group one afternoon.

The Cochrane Collaboration is a big name in the medical sciences; it does systematic reviews to aid in the practice of evidence-based medicine. Ma'am Belen was one of two Filipinos in that conference. We're glad that she has brought honor to UP and to this country.

You can watch her 14-minute talk here, but my favorite part is her disclaimer (navigate at around 2:24) about the Philippines: "I'd just like to say that, in terms of income, we may be lacking, but in many other ways we are actually rich—rich in natural resources, people, smiles, family, and resiliency . . . and faith." Beautifully said, don't you think? That's nationalism. That's pride of country.

Like we always say, she's always a breath of fresh air. She told us stories, gave us advice, and treated us to afternoon snacks. Marvyn Chan and Migz Catangui then had free derma consults.

Here are Franco Catangui, myself, Jegar Catindig, and Migz Catangui.



Elizabeth Ching and Marvyn Chan. Go, Team China!



Jegar Catindig and the unmistakable look of fierceness.



Wearing a UP jersey is Dalfie Casilang. And there's Jeggy again.



Notice anything?

I was wearing a girl's scrub suit. When I had bought that a year ago, I didn't know that there were scrubs with plunging necklines. No wonder why many female classmates in dissection told me they liked it.