It’s been 50 years since we graduated from medical school, the University of the Philippines College of Medicine Class 1975. It was a time of upheaval: martial law, resistance from UP students, and the Diliman commune back when we were graduating from Diliman. We had protest rallies and marches to Malacañang wearing our white medical uniforms, and suffered losses of our batch until we were only 93. We persevered through what was said to be an experimental curriculum and came out the better for it.

After graduation, we drifted apart, pursuing residency and fellowship trainings here and abroad, concentrating on honing our craft and/or raising families. There was no internet then, and communicating was not easy. There were several small groups of classmates living in geographically defined areas that managed to have small reunions during our time in the states, and those memories are cherished, captured in now fading color photographs.

But time has a way of circling around and catching us at the right moments, when we managed to set up chat groups to communicate with each other. Thus, the organizing of group dinners, land tours around the Philippines and planning our anniversary events.

We celebrated our Silver Jubilee with gusto, and vowed to reunite every five years. Our Ruby anniversary came and I named a hybrid cattleya orchid I created after the class: Rlc. UPCM1975 Ruby Anniversary. We proudly wore its facsimile as our boutonniere or pin.

From then on, we started planning for our Golden Jubilee. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic and everything shut down. Undaunted, some musically-inclined classmates organized into a Sapphire choir via Zoom, and while pinned down at home, created several videos of songs.

The dinners and trips resumed after two years, and planning went into high gear. We were to present a number at both the UPMASA (UP College of Medicine Alumni Society in America) and UPMAS homecomings with classmates to travel to the USA for the former and American-based classmates travelling to the Philippines for the latter.

We also planned on producing a Golden Book just like what we had during our Ruby Jubilee. An editorial team was formed that met regularly to gather materials and organize the book. Meanwhile, I had bred another orchid, this time, a Vanda, and named it Vanda UPCM1975 Golden Jubilee, which has a golden base color with brick-red lines and dots accentuating its outer petal edges.

The year 2025 arrived and we started it off with a bang at the UPMASA July homecoming in Las Vegas where our number, danced to the music and videos of the UPCM1975 Sapphire Choir, brought the house down. Not bad for a bunch of seventy-something oldies who danced their hearts out that day.

December came around and we (54 out of 93 classmates) proudly wore our gold and black shirts to the UP-PGH Homecoming Parade, many still walking all the way around the PGH and UPCM. We sneaked away to practice once more our dance number with more classmates joining the dance.

The week was a whirlwind of activities. We toured Central Luzon, visited old churches and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, stayed at ACEA hotel (great hotel) and had a sunset cruise courtesy of a classmate who didn’t wish to be acknowledged. What a great trip that was, reconnecting with friends and classmates some of whom we haven’ seen in 50 years. On the last night, we had an impromptu party where many sang and danced the night away with limoncello and red wine loosening whatever inhibitions were left, for when you get to this age, you’re entitled to loosen up a bit. Though, when I toasted to “Another 50 years!,” everyone moaned and shook their heads. “Not another 50 years!,” said some.

Travelling back to Manila, we checked into the Shangrila-at-the-Fort for the main event, the UPMAS 2025 Homecoming. The Silvers, by tradition, shouldered the cost of the Golden Jubilarians, like what we did prior. The ladies glittered in black and gold gowns while the gentlemen wore black suits with gold ties and vests. Everyone wore the Vanda UPCM1975 Golden Jubilee on their chest with pride. I was humbled by the honor of being named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, which I dedicate to our class, which has its fair share of superachievers.

Again, our number was a hit. We had unbelievable energy for septuagenarians, hopefully not stealing the limelight from the Silver Jubilarians, whose show it was.

It feels great to have our class reunite after 50 years, and we made more memories to last the rest of our lives. We missed our departed classmates and those who chose not to come. Our hearts are full with the knowledge we had done our best for our country. Such events are what makes for golden memories.